PORK TAMALES

Pork Tamales image

Categories Corn Pork Christmas New Year's Eve Dinner Steam

Number Of Ingredients 17

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Ingredients

1 red bell pepper, chopped
1/2 large onion, chopped
1 1/2 cups fresh orange juice, divided
6 scallions
5 cloves garlic
2 serrano chiles, stemmed and chopped
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
3 tablespoons ground cumin
2 tablespoons ground coriander
1 teaspoon sazon seasoning with saffron (such as Goya)
1 tablespoon fine sea salt, divided
12 ounces boneless pork shoulder roast, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
12 ounces boneless, skinless pork belly, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
3 1/2 cups masarepa (precooked white cornmeal)
4 cups warm water
24 (12-inch) banana or palm leaf pieces
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper

Steps:

Process the bell pepper, onion, 1 cup orange juice, scallions, garlic, chiles, lime juice, cumin, coriander, sazon and 1 teaspoon salt in a blender until smooth. Reserve 1 cup of the marinade.
Place the pork shoulder and belly in a gallon-size ziplock plastc bag and add the remaining marinade. Seal and place in refrigerator; marinate for at least 2 hours and preferably 24.
When ready to assemble the tamales: In a large bowl, stir together the masarepa, reserved 1 cup marinade, remaining 2 teaspoons salt and 4 cups warm water to form a spreadable smooth dough. Add more water by 1/4 cupfuls if dough is too stiff.
Wipe the leaves with a damp towel to remove any dirt. Lay 1 banana leaf piece on a work surface, shiny side down and ribs running horizontally and lay a second piece on top, shiny side down and ribs running vertically.
Spread about 3/4 cup of tamale dough in center in a 5-inch square. Top with 1/4 cup marinated pork. Fold the top leaf over the dough and meat to enclose, then fold the bottom leave around the packet to fortify. Secure the packet with kitchen twine (I like to tie them like gift ribbons) then place in a large steamer basket.
Repeat with remaining banana leaves, tamale dough, and meat.
Set the steamer basket over a pot of boiling water. Cover and steam until pork filling is rendered and cooked through and masa is firm, about 1 hour and 30 minutes. Let stand 15 minutes before serving.
Stir together the remaining 1/2 cup orange juice, crushed red pepper, and a pinch of salt. Serve sauce with tamales.