Green Chili Cheese Tamales

green chili cheese tamales with homemade red and green sauce

Each year a group of graduate students in Forestry host a "tamale party" where people come together to make and eat homemade tamales and other sides.  The event is one of the highlights of the year and features a warm fire outside and a group of musicians that play blue grass music while folks mingle and eat some delicious food.  Unfortunately, I missed this year's event, though I still ended up making some of my own tamales with a friend and her family who were visiting.  The best part of making tamales is having leftovers for many lunches to come, so I strongly recommend doubling or tripling the recipe below and freezing whatever is left.  They make excellent and quick microwaveable meals.

Makes about 20 tamales
Serves: 4-5
Prep Time:  1-hr
Cook Time: 45 min

Ingredients:

2 cups instant masa
2-3 cobs of corn (or 1 can)
2 cups water
2 vegetable bullion cubes
1 cup vegetable shortening (optional)
1 cup diced roasted green chilis
20-25 large corn husk wrappers
1 1/2 cup crumbled queso fresco (farmers's cheese)
1 cup chopped cilantro

Directions:

• soak corn husks in water
• steam corn on the cob for 20-30 min 
• warm water to dissolve bullion cubes (or use 2 cups veggie broth)
• mix together masa, broth, corn and shortening so that the consistency is thick like mashed potatoes
• take 3-4 husks and rip into long strips that are about 1/4 in.
• place about 3-4 Tbsp masa into the center of the corn husk
• top with desired amount of green chilies, cheese, and cilantro (avoid overstuffing)
• fold over the two lateral sides of the husk
• fold over the top and then the bottom flap
• make sure the bottom overlaps the top 
• tie husk string so that it is taught but not too tight
• repeat until ingredients are gone
• place in steamer for 45 min to 1 hr (or until tamales puffed up)
• serve hot with red and/or green sauce

Potential Alternatives:

• there are seemingly an endless number of types of tamales you can make, I have made the following:
• curried squash (vegan)
• chipotle black bean
• carne asada (carnivorous)