Pork Tamales in Banana Leaves (Tamales Con Puerco)

"Received this in email - reminds me of tamales a Honduran friend described. Since the banana plants are up & growing like crazy now I thought this is the right time to give this recipe a whirl. Given the time involved to make I plan to double recipe & freeze a lot of tamales. Received in email from gourmet-recipes-from-around-the-world. Thanks Lavender! Lavender noted - Aluminum foil may be substituted for banana leaves."
 
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photo by melavid1_11710638 photo by melavid1_11710638
photo by melavid1_11710638
Ready In:
3hrs
Ingredients:
16
Yields:
16 tamales
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ingredients

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directions

  • 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.

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RECIPE SUBMITTED BY

<p>First about Buster: Buster moved onto whatever comes next on February 26, 2008. He was just shy of five years old. I miss him terribly. <br />He came into our lives when he ran out in front of my car late one night as I was driving home. A just under 4 pound ball of kitten fluff, complete with an ostrich boa tail that stayed straight up as he assessed his new domain. He became a 19 pound longhaired beast who guarded our house (he followed any new guests or servicepeople the entire time they are on the property) &amp; even killed copperheads (among other things with his hunting buddy, Fergus the short-tailed)! Friends never saw his formidible side as he smiled at them &amp; uttered the most incongruent kitten-like mews as he threaded legs! He liked to ride in the car &amp; came to the beach. <br />There are Buster-approved recipes in my offerings - however, HE decided which he wanted to consider - Buster demonstrated he liked pumpkin anything - ALOT -LOL!!! <br /> <br />Copperhead count 2006 - Buster 2 <br /> (10 inchers w/yellow tails) <br /> 2007 - Buster &amp; Roxie 1 <br /> (a 24 incher!) <br />Buster woken from beauty sleep - <br />http://www.recipezaar.com/members/home/62264/DSCN0335.JPG <br />Big whiskers - <br />http://www.recipezaar.com/members/home/62264/DSCN0333.JPG <br /> <br />For those of you who gave kind condolences - thank you so very much. <br />http://www.recipezaar.com/bb/viewtopic.zsp?t=250301 <br /> <br /> <br />I love to cook &amp; incorporate techniques from Southern/Mid Atlantic roots (grits, eastern NC BBQ shoulders, Brunswick stew, steamed crabs &amp; shrimp &amp; shellfish, hushpuppies, cornbread, greens, shad roe, scrapple) with Pacific Rim foods &amp; techniques aquired while living in Pacific Northwest, fish &amp; game recipes learned while living in Rocky Mountain region &amp; foods/techniques learned travelling to the Big Island &amp; up into BC &amp; Alberta &amp; into the Caribbean. The Middle Eastern/African likes I have are remnants of my parents who lived for many years in North Africa &amp; Mediterranean before I was thought of. Makes for wide open cooking! <br /> <br />Since moving back east we try to go annually in the deep winter to Montreal (Old Montreal auberges &amp; La Reine) &amp; Quebec City (Winter Carnival &amp; Chateau Frontenac)- for unctuous foie gras &amp; real cheeses, French &amp; Canadian meals prepared &amp; served exquisitely, fantastic music &amp; wonderful people - with the cold helping burn off some of the calories! <br /> <br />I love putting in our aluminum jonboat &amp; heading across the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) to the barrier islands for foraging &amp; exploring! Bodysurfing is a lifelong sport for me - one that a person's body never seems to forget how to do, once the knack is learned (thank goodness!) <br /> <br />I especially miss cool summers &amp; foggy/drizzly days &amp; fall mushroom foraging/anytime of year hot springing in WA, OR, MT, ID, BC &amp; Alberta.</p>
 
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