3618. BACON JALAPENO and MONTEREY JACK TAMALE BITES

makes 45 tamale bites 


7 slices hardwood smoked bacon
3 scallions, bottom 1 inch removed, sliced thin
2-3 jalapenos, seeded and diced fine
2 medium tomatoes, seeded and diced
small handful cilantro, chopped
1½ cups monterey jack cheese
1½ cups masa harina (also called golden corn flour)
1 cup chicken broth, heated
2 tablespoons vegetable shortening
vegetable spray

In a large skillet, fry the bacon until cooked but not crispy, Remove to a paper towel lined plate, blot excess grease, and chop.

Drain the bacon grease from the pan, return to the heat, add the jalapeno, scallions, and tomatoes and saute for about 5 minutes or until the onions are just beginning to soften. Add the bacon and cilantro and cook for a few more minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and allow to cool.

While the filling is cooling, prepare the tamale base. In a medium bowl combine masa harina, vegetable shortening, and HEATED chicken broth. Stir until mixture resembles large crumbs, then form into dough using your hands.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Spray two mini muffin pans (if you have two, otherwise you will be making one full batch, and then another small batch) with vegetable spray. Press a thin layer of maza dough into the bottom and up the sides of each well, pushing up and removing excess from the top.

Put an equal amount of filling into each lined well. Bake for 12 minutes, top each tamale bite with cheese, and return to the oven for 5 minutes more. Allow to cool for a few minutes before removing, and serve warm.


bacon recipe source: Bernadette, Rants From My Crazy Kitchen, January 27, 2014