Mushroom Tamales
Recipe courtesy of Chef Hugo Ortega, Hugo's, Houston
Yield: 24 servings
Ingredients
Masa
2 pounds fresh masa for tamales
1/2 cup lard, softened
1/2 cup chicken stock
Salt
Filling
Oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 ounces white onion, diced
6 ounces button mushrooms, sliced
6 ounces shiitake mushrooms, sliced
1/2 ounce fresh parsley, chopped
Salt and pepper, as needed
24 corn leaves, soaked in hot water
Directions
To make Masa: Combine fresh masa with lard and stock in mixer using paddle attachment. Mix on medium speed for about 20 minutes. Season with salt to taste.
To make Filling: Heat oil in large sauté pan. Sauté garlic, onion, and mushrooms until just tender. Mix in parsley and salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.
Drain corn leaves. Working one at a time, lay out a leaf with pointed end facing you. Scoop 1 1/2 ounces Masa onto leaf and spread, forming a rectangle lengthwise 3/4 inch from top and 1 inch from each side. Masa should only extend halfway down leaf. Spoon 1 tablespoon Filling on top. Roll one side of leaf over Filling, roll over the other side to enclose it. Fold up bottom and tie tamale closed with a strip torn from another corn leaf.
To cook: Place tamales vertically in steamer, with open ends facing up. Steam, covered, for 30 minutes, until they fluff up and become somewhat firm. Serve immediately, or cool and refrigerate. Resteam briefly to reheat.