Pork Tamales in Banana Leaves
(Tamales con Puerco)
Ingredients
1 pound boneless pork shoulder, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
3 cups water
1 small white onion, halved
2 cloves garlic
1 pound fresh tomatillos, husks removed
Boiling water
3 fresh poblano chiles, roasted, peeled, seeded and de-veined
10 small Romaine lettuce leaves
3 sprigs fresh cilantro
3 tablespoons chopped white onions
7 1/2 tablespoons lard or vegetable shortening (at room temperature)
2 cups Masa Harina
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
4 or 5 banana leaves *
Tomato wedges
* Aluminum foil may be substituted for banana leaves.
Instructions
Place pork, the 3 cups water, onion halves and 1 clove of the garlic in
medium saucepan. Heat over medium heat to boiling; reduce heat to low. Simmer,
partially covered, until pork is fork-tender, 20 to 30 minutes. Drain pork,
reserving 1 1/2 cups broth.
Place tomatillos and boiling water to cover in medium saucepan. Simmer over
medium heat until fork tender, 8 to 10 minutes; drain. Place tomatillos, chiles,
2 small lettuce leaves, cilantro, chopped onion and remaining clove garlic in
blender container; process until smooth.
Heat 2 tablespoons lard or vegetable shortening in 4-quart saucepan over
medium heat until hot; add tomatillo mixture. Cook and stir until slightly thickened,
3 to 4 minutes. Stir in pork; simmer, stirring occasionally, until pork is very
tender, 20 to 30 minutes.
Mix Masa Harina, salt and baking powder in medium bowl. Beat remaining 5
1/2 tablespoons lard in large mixer bowl until light and fluffy, 5 to 10 minutes.
Beat in masa mixture, 1/4 cup at a time; beat until thoroughly blended. Heat
reserved pork broth jut until warm; gradually beat into masa mixture to form
soft, moist dough.
Rinse banana leaves well; using scissors, cut out an discard center rib.
Cut leaf halves crosswise into 24 (8-inch) squares. Set stove burner at medium
heat. Pass each leaf square quickly across burner a few times until pliable;
do not overheat or it will become brittle. Cut remaining 8 small lettuce leaves
crosswise into halves. Spread about 2 tablespoons dough into a 3-inch square
on center of 1 banana leaf piece. Top with about 2 tablespoons pork mixture;
cover with 1/2 lettuce leaf. Fold sides, then ends of banana leaf over filling
to enclose. Repeat to make 16 tamales.
Line large steamer basket with remaining 8 banana leaf squares. Stack tamales
sin basket, folded sides down; cover with kitchen towel. Place steamer basket
over 3 to 4 inches boiling water; cover with lid. Adjust heat to maintain gentle
boil; steam tamales until dough is cooked through, about 1 hour.
Transfer to serving bowl lined with large lettuce leaves; garnish with tomato
wedges.
Serve hot.
Yield: 16 tamales
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