3467. SWEET POTATO TAMALES with BACON

makes about 25 appetizer-size tamales


4 pounds sweet potatoes
4 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)
6-8 pieces of bacon
2 1/4 cups masa harina
1/2 cup melted butter or lard (or reserved bacon fat)
2 cups chicken broth
1/2 cup golden raisins
Salt and pepper to taste
About 30 dried corn husks for wrapping tamales

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly oil a baking sheet. Place corn husks in a bowl and cover with warm water to soften them.

Slice the sweet potatoes in half lengthwise. Melt the 4 tablespoons butter. Stir 4 tablespoons (half) of the brown sugar into the melted butter. Stir in the cinnamon (optional).

Place the sweet potato halves on the baking sheet with the cut sides facing upwards. Brush the cut halves of the sweet potatoes with the melter butter and sugar mixture.

Bake sweet potatoes until they are very soft when pierced with a fork, about 45 minutes to an hour. Remove from the oven and let cool.

While the potatoes are baking, cook the bacon: Place the bacon slices (working in batches if necessary) in a heavy skillet and heat over medium heat. Cook until bacon is browned and crispy, turning at least once. Drain bacon slices on paper towels, then finely chop.

Pour excess bacon fat out of the skillet and strain into a heat proof glass or bowl. Reserve bacon fat for tamale dough, if desired. (I prefer to use butter because the bacon fat gives a lot of bacon flavor).

Slice the onion into thin slices and add to the skillet with a bit of the bacon fat. Cook onions over slowly over low heat, until they are browned and sweet. Remove onions to a bowl, and stir in the raisins and the chopped bacon.

Prepare the masa: Add the masa harina to a large bowl. Once the sweet potatoes are cool enough to handle, scoop out the inside of the potatoes (discarding the skins) and add to the bowl. Mix well with a potato masher. Add the melted butter or lard (or reserved bacon fat) and the chicken stock, mixing well. Stir in the remaining brown sugar. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Drain the corn husks and pat dry. Tear a few of the corn husks lengthwise into strips.

Place a corn husk down on a flat surface. Spread 1-2 tablespoons of the masa into a 2 1/2 inch square in the middle of the corn husk. Add some of the onion mixture to the middle of the masa. Fold the sides of the corn husk in slightly to close the filling over the onions, then unfold them. Fold the pointed end of the husk up over the filling. Fold in the sides, one over the other. Tie at the top with a strip of corn husk. Repeat until masa and/or filling run out (I can never manage to use them up equally).

Place a steaming basket or colander inside of a large pot. Fill the colander with the tamales. Fill the pot with water, keeping the water level below the tamales. Cover the tamales with a towel and then the pot lid. Heat the water to boiling, and steam the tamales for 45 minutes to an hour. Check the water level from time to time and add more water as needed.

Let tamales cool for 10 minutes or so before serving. Tamales can be reheated in the microwave, or briefly re-steamed.


bacon recipe source: Marian Blazes, South American Food Expert, South American Food/About.com

2502. CORNBREAD TAMALE BITES with JALAPENO, CHEESE and BACON

12 dried corn husks
1 package cream cheese
4 jalapenos, roast then remove seeds
3 scallion chopped
1 cup cheddar cheese
1/3 cup cooked crumbled bacon

Cornbread mixture:
1 package jiffy corn bread mix
1 egg
1/3 cup milk

Prepare corn husks by soaking them in warm water so they are pliable. Cut corn husks into 4 inch squares, then place them into a cupcake pan. Mix cornbread mix with egg and milk, add 2 tablespoons into each compartment. Mix cream cheese with diced jalapenos, scallions and cheese. Place 2 tablespoons of cream cheese mixture on top of cornbread mixture, then top with bacon. Bake at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Diane Schmidt, Created by Diane, October 24, 2011

1145. CHERRY BACON and DUCK TAMALES with SWEET CHERRY-ANCHO VEGETABLE RELISH

yields 12 servings


SWEET CHERRY ANCHO RELISH:
4½ dry ancho peppers
1½ lbs. frozen sweet cherries
3 cups carrots, diced
3 cups corn
3 bunches scallions
4½ tablespoons vegetable oil

DUCK MEAT AND SPICES:
4 quarts chicken stock
6 legs duck (2 lb. average)
2 lbs. cherry hardwood bacon
¼ cup corn oil
¼ cup rendered bacon fat (from the 2 lbs. bacon above)
3 tablespoons garlic powder
1½ tablespoons ground cumin
4 tablespoons dark chili powder
½ tablespoon ground black pepper
1 tablespoon table salt

MASA AND SPICES:
2 lb. bag corn masa
3 tablespoons sea salt
½ tablespoon ground cumin
3 tablespoons dark chili powder
3 tablespoons paprika
3 tablespoons garlic powder
2 cups corn oil
24 corn shucks (husks)
1 bunch fresh chives

For the relish: Slice open peppers, remove seeds and toast on griddle until you see light wisps of smoke. Place peppers in water and soak until they become fleshy (about 30 minutes). Remove and scrape the flesh from the skin with a spoon; reserve flesh and discard skin. Slack sweet cherries to room temperature and drain in a colander, reserving liquid. In sauté pan over medium high heat, cook carrots, corn and scallions in vegetable oil until fork tender. Add peppers and evenly combine. Add sweet cherries and half their liquid. Bring to boil and simmer until it thickens. Reserve to serve with tamales.

For the duck: Bring chicken stock to a boil and cook duck legs for 40-60 minutes. Allow legs to cook slightly; reserve stock for the masa. Cut bacon strips into 2-in. pieces and then render (not too crispy); reserve rendered bacon fat. Reserve 1 cup cooked bacon for garnish. Remove skin from duck legs and discard; pull off duck meat and shred it.

Mix ¼ cup corn oil, ¼ cup rendered bacon fat, and duck spices (garlic powder through table salt) in sauté pan and warm over low heat (do not cook). Pour warmed mixture over duck and remaining bacon in a medium bowl; toss until completely coated. Refrigerate duck mixture until ready to fill tamales.

For the masa: Bring reserved stock to warm temperature over low heat (do not boil). Place masa in a separate, large bowl and mix in masa spices (sea salt through garlic powder) until fully incorporated. Add 2 cups of corn oil and begin to slowly work in 2 qts. of stock, about 1 cup at a time, working mixture by hand to make the dough. (If mixture is too dry, continue to add broth 1 cup at a time until it is spreadable like thick peanut butter; if it is too thin, add more masa.)

Soak corn shucks in warm water for 1 hour or until soft. Carefully separate and pat shucks with paper towel. Fill each with ½ cup of masa mixture. Cover the bottom ⅔ of each shuck, leaving uncovered the top ⅓ and ½-in. along one side. Lay shucks out on sheet pan or cutting board as you go. Evenly cover the masa with about 2-3 Tbsps. of seasoned bacon and duck mixture. Starting on the side where the masa goes to the edge, roll the tamales all the way to the opposite side and fold the empty part over the top like an envelope, leaving tamales flap side folded under (you may flatten tamales, if desired, at this point).

Cook tamales fold-side down, packed horizontally in a steamer, maintaining about 3 cups of water for 45 to 90 minutes, or until the masa is just firm and not raw (do not allow water to boil away). When done, remove tamales and cool on sheet pan or serve immediately. Chill or freeze finished tamales in plastic wrap for later use (may be reheated in a steamer or microwave).

Blanch 1 bunch fresh chives, then use as ribbons for tying around each tamale. TO SERVE: Sprinkle each plate with reserved crushed bacon. Add 2 tamales and garnish with cherry ancho relish.


courtesy of: Jones Dairy Farm/National Sweet Cherry Growers Industry Foundation