Pork Nacatamales are a culinary delight from the Central American region. This dish consists of a corn dough filled with pork, rice, vegetables, and spices, all wrapped in banana leaves and then steamed.
It is a labor-intensive recipe but the final result is simply spectacular.
Pork Nacatamales
Ingredients
5 cups of Corn flour
1 cup of Lard or vegetable fat
½ cup of Cooked rice
1 cup of Cooked potato cut into cubes without skin
8 10 seedless olives
½ cup of Diced carrot
Banana leaves for wrapping
Cinnamon stick or string for wrapping
½ cup of Cilantro leaves
1 cup of Chopped yellow onion
1 tablespoon of Ground garlic
½ cup of Chopped green chili
¼ cup of Apple juice
½ cup of Chopped tomato
2 cups of Chicken, beef, or pork broth
1 cup of Chopped yellow onion
1 tablespoon of Ground garlic
½ cup of Chopped green chili
½ cup of Chopped tomato
3 tablespoons of Annatto powder
1 cup of Chicken, beef, or pork broth
1 pound of Pork leg
¼ cup of Pineapple juice
1 cup of Chopped red onion
½ cup of Chopped radish
2 tablespoons of Chopped cilantro
2 Lemon
1 pinch of Salt
1 pinch of Pepper
Preparation
Step 1 : To prepare the tamales, first mix the red onion, radish, cilantro, and lemon juice in a bowl, seasoning to taste with salt and pepper.
Step 2 : Then, in a blender, combine cilantro, onion, garlic, green chili, apple juice, tomato, and chosen broth, processing until smooth.
Step 3 : Add this mixture to the corn flour and mix in a bowl.
Step 4 : Next, set aside 4 to 5 spoonfuls of the mixture.
Step 5 : In a large pot, melt the lard and add the dough, mixing to integrate with the fat.
Step 6 : Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly for 10 to 15 minutes.
Step 7 : Meanwhile, blend onion, garlic, green chili, pineapple juice, tomato, annatto, and broth until smooth.
Step 8 : Cut the pork leg into cubes and season with salt, pepper, and cumin.
Step 9 : Sear the meat in a large pan over high heat, then add the blended mixture and cook over medium heat for 10 minutes.
Step 10 : Remove the meat and set aside the liquid.
Step 11 : Add the reserved dough to the cooking liquid of the meat, cooking for 5 to 8 minutes over medium heat to form a sauce.
Step 12 : Extend and pass the banana leaves over steam.
Step 13 : Place two leaves in the shape of a cross and in the center, put the dough, pork, rice, carrot, potato, and sauce, sealing with more dough.
Step 14 : Wrap with the banana leaves and securely tie with cinnamon or string.
Step 15 : Place banana leaves in the bottom of a pot, add the tamales, and cover with more banana leaves.
Step 16 : Add water until almost half of the pot is filled and cook the tamales.
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