Cancun Masa Tarts

Submitted by That Napa Chicken R

"We had these at a bbq recently and begged for the recipe! Prepared Masa is not that hard- follow the recipe on the masa bag and save about 3/4 lb for this recipe!"

 

• Ready In: 1hr 50mins
• Ingredients: 15
• Serves: 24

ingredients

• Masa Tart Shells

• 3⁄4 lb prepared masa harina flour (homemade or purchased)
• 1⁄3 cup shortening
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 1 teaspoon guajillo chili powder
• ancho chili (not chili powder)
• 1⁄4 cup chicken broth
• 1⁄4 cup Cotija cheese, crumbled

• Custard Filling

• 3 heads garlic, pureed
• olive oil, to drizzle
• 3 egg yolks
• 1 1⁄2 cups heavy cream
• 1⁄3 cup red bell pepper, minced
• 1⁄3 cup yellow bell pepper, minced
• 1⁄3 cup orange bell pepper, minced
• salt & freshly ground black pepper

directions

1. Prepare Custard Filling:

2. Note: Reserve a small amount of minced peppers for garnish.
3. Preheat oven to 350°F Cut heads of garlic in half horizontally and place cut side up in a roasting pan. Drizzle 1 teaspoon olive oil over each half. Sprinkle pan with 2 to 3 tablespoons water, cover tightly with foil, and bake for 30 to 40 minutes.
4. Uncover and continue baking until garlic is golden brown, 5 to 7 minutes more. Remove from pan and let cool. Squeeze softened garlic from husks and purée in a blender with a small amount of olive oil.
5. In a mixing bowl, whisk egg yolks and set aside. In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, bring cream, bell peppers, and puréed garlic to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes. Gradually add cream mixture to egg yolks, stirring continuously with a spoon. Season with salt and pepper.

6. Make the Masa Tart Shells:

7. Note: You will need a muffin tin with cups measuring 1 1/2 inches in diameter to make bite-size tarts.
8. Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Using an electric mixer, combine masa and shortening.
9. Add salt and powdered chile and mix again. Add chicken stock in 3 batches, mixing well with a spoon after each addition. Dough should be a thick paste; add more masa if too thin.
10. Using your fingers or a small spoon, press dough 1/8 inch thick into each cup of muffin tin.

11. Assemble Tarts:

12. Ladle custard to just under rim. Bake in a water bath for 1 hour and 10 minutes.
13. Remove muffin tin from oven, loosen tarts with a knife, and remove from tin. Sprinkle with cotija cheese and garnish with minced peppers.
14. Tarts can be cooked up to 2 days ahead and refrigerated. Reheat at 350°F for about 10 minutes. Makes 24 tarts.