Hallacas Guajiras De Pollo (Chicken Tamales)

"This is a recipe for Venezuelan or Colombian style chicken tamales. These are unlike Mexican tamales since they are wrapped in banana leaves rather than corn husks. If you absolutely cannot find banana leaves (I buy them frozen sometimes and always find them in a Latino market) you can just use aluminum foil to make the packets. That would be a pity, though, because the banana leaves impart their flavor to these in a most appealing way. These are really easy, but a little tedious to make. The tendency is to make them too big, so curb your enthusiasm! Pun intended."
 
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Ready In:
2hrs 30mins
Ingredients:
28
Yields:
30 packets
Serves:
15
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ingredients

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directions

  • In a large saucepan, combine chicken, onion, garlic, chopped red and green peppers, green onions, cumin, sazon, salt and water; bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover, and cook until the chicken is very tender, about an hour (most of the water will have cooked out).
  • Let cool a bit, then shred chicken, discarding bones and skin.
  • Place chicken back in the sauce pan and add in the peas and carrots, green beans, capers, minced red bell pepper, and raisins.
  • Meanwhile, prepare the alinos by placing all the ingredients in a food processor or blender and processing to form a paste; you will only use 1/2 cup of this, but the rest can be stored in the refrigerator for a week or frozen for longer storage (it is fantastic in rice, soups, or stews).
  • Now place the masarepa in a large bowl; add water, salt, 1/2 cup of the alinos, and achiote oil.
  • Mix with your hands until smooth.
  • To assemble: On a clean work surface, place a banana leaf, then place another one perpendicular to sort of form a cross.
  • Spread out about 5 tablespoons (not rounded) in the center and top with 3 tablespoons of the filling.
  • Make a package by folding up the inner banana leaf, then the other; tie with kitchen string.
  • Repeat with remaining masa and filling.
  • Place water under the steamer basket, bring to a boil, reduce heat and steam, covered, until the masa is tender and cooked through, about 45 minutes.

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<p><span>&nbsp;</span></p> <p>We may live without poetry, music and art;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>We may live without conscience and live without heart;</p> <p>We may live without friends; we may live without books,</p> <p>But civilized man cannot live without cooks.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>He may live without books -- what is knowledge but grieving?</p> <p>He may live without hope-- what is hope but deceiving?</p> <p>He may live without love -- what is passion but pining?</p> <p>But where is the man that can live without dining?</p> <p>-- Owen Meredith</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>I'm an all-American original, having lived in Hawaii, New York, Texas, South Carolina, and Miami. &nbsp;I also served 7 years in the US Army. &nbsp;My husband is from Bogota, Colombia and has also lived in the former Soviet Union. &nbsp;But now we are both in NY.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Tomasi enjoyes a bath!</p> <p><br /><a href=http://s845.photobucket.com/albums/ab15/luseaann/?action=view&amp;current=tomas.jpg target=_blank><img src=http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab15/luseaann/tomas.jpg border=0 alt=Photobucket /></a> <br />&nbsp;<br />Some of my recipes:</p> <p> <object width=480 height=360 data=http://w845.photobucket.com/pbwidget.swf?pbwurl=http://w845.photobucket.com/albums/ab15/luseaann/12cdcf0a.pbw type=application/x-shockwave-flash> <param name=data value=http://w845.photobucket.com/pbwidget.swf?pbwurl=http://w845.photobucket.com/albums/ab15/luseaann/12cdcf0a.pbw /> <param name=src value=http://w845.photobucket.com/pbwidget.swf?pbwurl=http://w845.photobucket.com/albums/ab15/luseaann/12cdcf0a.pbw /> <param name=wmode value=transparent /> </object> <a href=http://photobucket.com/slideshows target=_blank><img src=http://pic.photobucket.com/slideshows/btn.gif alt=/ /></a><a href=http://s845.photobucket.com/albums/ab15/luseaann/?action=view?t=12cdcf0a.pbw target=_blank><img src=http://pic.photobucket.com/slideshows/btn_viewallimages.gif alt=/ /></a> <br />&nbsp;<br />&nbsp;<br />I also have the genealogy bug!&nbsp; I've been tracing my roots for at least 10 years.&nbsp; One branch came to America just after the Mayflower in the early 1600s.&nbsp; Others came in the early 1700s, late 1890s.&nbsp; So, my American roots run pretty deep and I am deeply patriotic.&nbsp; Just wish someone had thought to same me some land!</p>
 
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