Tamales de Pollo con Salsa Verde

• servings: 25 servings
• active time: 25 minutes
• total time: 5 hours 10 minutes

Ingredients

Six 5- to 7-ounce bone-in chicken thighs, skin removed (about 2 1/2 pounds; 1.1kg)

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

1/2 large white onion, peeled and quartered (5 ounces; 142g)

1 large carrot, peeled, trimmed, and halved crosswise (6 ounces; 170g)

5 medium cloves garlic (25g), peeled

1 whole bay leaf

4 serrano chiles, stems removed

1 plum tomato, halved (6 ounces; 170g)

2 tomatillos, husks removed, halved (4 ounces; 113g)

1 cup fresh cilantro leaves and tender stems

3 medium cloves garlic (15g), peeled

1 1/2 teaspoons black peppercorns

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

1/2 teaspoon ground coriander

1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds

Kosher salt

25 large dried corn husks, each measuring about 8 or 9 inches long by 6 inches wide (6 ounces; 170g) (see notes)

1 cup lard, vegetable shortening, or duck fat (6 ounces; 170g), softened

3 1/3 cups masa harina (12 3/4 ounces; 361g)

1 1/4 teaspoon (6g) baking powder

1/2 teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt; if using table salt use half as much by volume

2 cups (475ml) homemade chicken, pork, or beef broth or store-bought low-sodium chicken broth (see notes)

Directions

For the chicken and broth: Generously season the chicken with salt and pepper. In a large stock pot or large Dutch oven, add the chicken, onion, carrot, garlic, and bay leaf. Add water until the mixture is submerged. Bring to a simmer and cook until chicken is fork-tender, 45 minutes to 1 hour. Using tongs or a slotted spoon, transfer the chicken to a cutting board and let cool slightly, about 15 minutes.

Once chicken is cool enough to handle, remove and discard the bones, then shred the chicken into bite-size pieces and transfer to a large bowl. Reserve the meat and the broth separately.

For sauce: Adjust oven rack to upper-middle position and preheat the oven broiler. In a bowl, toss serranos, tomato, and tomatillos in 2 tablespoons of the reserved rendered chicken fat. Transfer to an aluminum foil–lined baking sheet. Broil until well charred, flipping the vegetables halfway through, about 5 minutes total.

In a blender jar, add the charred vegetables, fresh cilantro, garlic, black peppercorns, oregano, coriander, cumin, and 1/2 cup of the reserved chicken broth. Season with salt to taste.

Pour 3/4 of blended sauce over the chicken mixture and toss to thoroughly combine. Season with salt and pepper to taste. At this point, the filling can be cooled down then refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 5 days or frozen for up to 3 months. Alternatively set the filling aside and continue with the tamales below.

For the tamales: In a large bowl, add corn husks and cover with hot water; soak until pliable, 20 to 30 minutes. Make sure they are fully submerged by weighing them down with a heavy plate, if needed.

Meanwhile, in a stand mixer, using the paddle attachment, beat the lard (or other listed fat if using) on medium speed until smooth, light and airy, about 4 minutes (see notes). Stop mixer, use a spatula to scrape down sides of the mixer bowl, and add masa harina and baking powder. Start mixer on low speed and gradually increase speed to medium and mix until well combined, about 1 minute.

With the mixer running, slowly drizzle in broth and remaining salsa verde, until well combined and dough forms, about 5 minutes. Dough should be moist , smooth, and spongy in texture.

To test dough for seasoning, flatten a small piece of dough between your fingers, then microwave on high power until cooked through, about for 15 seconds. Taste and add salt by returning to stand mixer or kneading in by hand, if needed.

Remove husks from water and pat dry with a clean kitchen towel. Working with 1 husk at a time, lay flat on work surface, cupped side up. Using a small offset spatula, back of spoon, or bench scraper, spread about 2 tablespoons (32g) of the prepared masa into a thin layer across the center of the wrapper, leaving a 1-inch border from the wide open end of the wrapper and from both sides, and leaving bottom 2-inches of the narrow tail end empty. You should have a roughly 4-inch by 4-inch flat square of dough (see notes). If necessary, remove any excess masa using a small offset spatula or butter knife.

Spread prepared filling in a thin layer over the top half of the husk.

With the corn husk’s tapered tail end facing you, fold 1 long side of the corn husk over the filling, stopping and pressing in the middle. Fold the other long side of the husk over the filling, meeting the other folded husk in the middle. Make sure both folded husk edges overlap slightly for a secure closure. Tuck the unfilled tapered tail up to create a secure pouch with 1 open end. Repeat with remaining corn husks, masa, and filling.

Fit a large pot or Dutch oven with a steamer basket, removing feet from the steamer basket if pot is short. Fill pot with water until water just touches bottom of basket and bring to a boil. Gently stand tamales in the basket with open ends facing up and seam sides facing out. Cover and steam, checking water level and adding additional water as needed, until tamales easily separate from husks, 60 to 90 minutes. Rest the tamales in the steamer basket, uncovered and off heat, until firm, about 20 minutes. Carefully Transfer to a platter. Open and serve.

Nutrition

• Calories: 207 kcal
• Total Fat: 13 g
• Saturated Fat: 5 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
• Cholesterol: 46 mg
• Sodium: 158 mg
• Total Carbohydrate: 14 g
• Dietary Fiber: 2 g
• Total Sugars: 1 g
• Protein: 9 g