Corn, cheese, and chili tamales with tomatillo-avocado salsa

Olga Woltman

ingredients

Tamales

Tamales
1 6-ounce package dried corn husks
1 lbs large poblano chilies
2 C Masa Harina (corn tortilla mix)
6 tbsp (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
3 tbsp sugar
2 1/4 tsp salt
1/2 C canned low-salt chicken broth
5 C frozen baby white corn kernels (about 25 ounces), thawed
3 C (packed) coarsely grated sharp cheddar cheese
1 tsp baking powder
1/8 tsp ground black pepper

Tomatillo-Avocado Salsa

12 tomatillo, husked, rinsed well
1 small onion, quartered
6 large garlic cloves, peeled
2 to 3 serrano chilies, stemmed
2 ripe avocados, peeled, diced
1/2 C chopped fresh cilantro
2 tbsp fresh lime juice

directions

1
Make Salsa:
2
Cook first 4 ingredients in heavy large skillet over high heat until charred in spots but still firm, turning occasionally, about 5 minutes. Transfer to processor; using on/off turns, chop coarsely. Add all remaining ingredients. Blend to coarse puree. Season with salt and pepper. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover; chill.)
3
Make Tamales:
4
Selecting the largest and cleanest husks, place half of husks in large bowl; fill bowl with warm water. Weigh husks down with plate; soak husks until soft, separating occasionally, about 2 hours. Form 36 ties by tearing several husks into 1/2-inch-wide strips.
5
Char chilies directly over gas flame or under broiler until blackened on all sides. Place in medium bowl; cover tightly with plastic. Let stand 10 minutes. Peel, seed, and chop chilies.
6
To make dough, blend Masa Harina, butter, sugar, and 1 teaspoon salt in processor until coarse meal forms. Add broth and blend in (mixture will be crumbly). Transfer masa mixture to large bowl. Blend 2 1/2 cups corn, 1 cup cheese, baking powder, pepper, and 1 1/4 teaspoons salt in processor until coarse puree forms. Stir puree, then 2 1/2 cups corn into masa.
7
For each tamale, open 1 large softened husk. Place 1/3 cup tamale dough in center of husk. Make depression in center of dough; fill with 1 tablespoon chilies, then 1 tablespoon cheese. Using moistened fingertips, press dough over filling to cover; shape filled dough into 3-inch-long log parallel to 1 long edge of husk. Fold 1 long side of husk over filling and roll up to enclose. Tie ends of filled husks tightly with husk strips.
8
Add enough water to large pot containing steamer insert to reach bottom of insert. Layer tamales in steamer insert. Bring water to boil; cover pot. Steam until tamales are firm, removing insert and adding boiling water to pot to maintain water level as needed, about 1 hour. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cool slightly. Refrigerate. Before serving, re-steam 45 minutes to heat through.) Serve tamales in husks with salsa.