Vegetarian Tamales Recipes

VEGETARIAN TAMALES

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Place the cornhusks in a large pot and completely cover them with hot water. Soak the cornhusks for 30 minutes to an hour until they soften and are pliable.
• In a medium bowl, mix the cornmeal with a pinch of salt and 1 1/2 cups of vegetable stock.
• Add the vegetable shortening and work the fat into the mixture with your fingers. Add more vegetable stock in small amounts, kneading after each addition, until you have a smooth, soft dough. The dough should be moist and a little sticky, not stiff.
• Add the vegetable oil to a heavy skillet and saute the tomatoes, green onions, cumin and sugar over medium heat. Cook until most of the water is evaporated and the vegetables are soft and fragrant, taking about 10 minutes.
• Cut corn kernels off the ears of corn and stir into the vegetable mixture. Saute 2 more minutes, seasoning with salt and pepper to taste. Remove from heat and stir in cilantro leaves and the aji amarillo paste, if desired.
• Drain the corn husks and spread them out flat.
• Place about 3 tablespoons of masa harina dough in the middle of each corn husk. Use your fingers to press the dough into a 2- by 3 1/2-inch rectangle.
• Top the dough with 1 1/2 tablespoons of the corn and tomato mixture and a few crumbles of the queso fresco. Place another 2 tablespoons of masa dough on top.
• Fold the sides of the cornhusks in over the filling, then turn the pointed ends up to the middle, then fold the top flap down, making a little package (for the best outcome make sure you know the proper way to wrap a tamale ).
• Tie the tamales with a strand of cornhusk or twine to secure the husks around the filling.
• To make larger tamales, you can overlap 2 cornhusks and use them together to wrap the tamale.
• Bring 1 to 2 inches of water to boil in a steamer pot or a large pot with a colander or steaming basket set into it.
• Fill the colander or basket with one layer of tamales; you might have to steam them in batches. The tamales should be above the waterline. They are cooked only by the steam.
• Cover the tamales with a dish towel and the pot lid and steam them for 30 to 40 minutes; add water to the pot when necessary.
• Remove tamales and serve warm.

VEGGIE TAMALES

Steps:

• For the filling: Add the shortening to a large skillet over high heat. Once the oil is shimmering, add the squash and cook, stirring only once, until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the bell pepper, jalapenos and garlic and stir to combine. Add the onion, chili powder and cumin and cook until the onion is softened, about 3 minutes. Add the vegetable broth, crushed tomatoes and salt and cook until thickened, about 10 minutes. Transfer a bowl and chill to cool.
• For the tamales: In a stovetop pressure cooker, add 3 cups of water along with the corn husks. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for locking on the lid. Cook under high pressure just until the pressure is reached. Quick-release the pressure and carefully remove the lid. Remove the husks and cover with a damp towel, reserving the hot liquid.
• Place the masa in a medium bowl and whisk in the salt and baking powder. Add the vegetable shortening by pinching it together with the masa, rubbing it together to disperse. Add all of the hot water from the pressure cooker and stir until a batter is formed.
• Lay the husks out and spread a large golf ball-sized amount of the masa in a thin layer, leaving a 1/4-inch border. Add about two tablespoons of the chilled filling. Fold the tamale like an open-ended envelope, starting with the sides and then the bottom. Place the tamale seam-side down in a steamer basket to let gravity hold it in place. Continue with the remaining husks and filling. Very carefully wrap the whole bunch of tamales in foil, leaving the tops exposed, and stand the tamales on their ends so they stand upright in the steamer basket. If your steamer basket has handles, this will help. Add 1 cup water to the pressure cooker, then lower in the filled steamer basket, and pressure cook over high heat at high pressure for 10 minutes. Quick-release the pressure, then remove the basket and plate your hot tamales.

VEGETARIAN TAMALES

Steps:

• In a food processor blend corn and cheese until corn is in nearly a meal consistency.
• Add butter, Masa flour, salt, sugar, pepper and baking powder and process until the mixture is loosely mixed.
• Add broth and mix until just smooth.
• Place about 2 tbsp of mixture into soaked corn husk or parchment paper.
• Fill with some cheese, slices of roasted chili pepper and tomatoes.
• Close parchment paper or corn husk around filling, trying to cover filling with Masa flour mixture. If you have trouble closing or have too much filling try using less in your subsequent tamales.
• Roll wrapper closed, roll and fold over ends and set aside.
• Once they're done they can be refrigerated or frozen, or placed immediately in steaming tray above boiling water for about 30 minutes, or until Masa flour mixture is set.

VEGETARIAN TAMALE PIE

Steps:

• Combine tomatoes and boiling water; let stand 20 minutes.
• Drain tomatoes in a sieve over a bowl; set aside, reserving 1 Tbs tomato-soaking liquid.
• Combine 4 cups water, cornmeal, and salt in a large saucepan, and bring mixture to a boil.
• Cook cornmeal mixture over medium heat 5 minutes or until mixture is thick, stirring constantly with a whisk.
• Stir in cheese.
• Pour half of cornmeal mixture into a lightly greased Pyrex pan, 13 x 9.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• In a large skillet, saute onion in a little olive oil til onion is soft.
• Add tomatoes, reserved tomato liquid, oregano, chili powder, beans, corn, and chiles, and cook 1 minute.
• Spoon bean mixture evenly over cornmeal crust.
• Drop remaining cornmeal mixture onto bean mixture.
• Bake pie at 400 degrees for 30 minutes or until set.
• Serve pie with low-fat sour cream.