Green Chile And Cheese Tamales

• servings: 24 tamales
• active time: 2 hours
• total time: 30 minutes cooking

Ingredients

48 to 72 fresh cornhusks (about 8 inches long)

1 1/2 cups masa harina (corn tortilla flour)

1 cup water

1 1/2 cups shredded cooked chicken

1 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese (6 ounces)

1 cup fresh cut corn kernels (about 2 fresh ears of corn) or frozen whole kernel corn, thawed

1/2 cup canned cream-style corn

1 4-ounce can diced green chiles

1/4 cup bottled green salsa

1 tablespoon cooking oil

1/4 teaspoon salt

Salsa Fresca (recipe, page 41) (optional)

Directions

PLACE THE FRESH CORNHUSKS, about 12 at a time, and 2 table- spoons water in a 9-inch glass pie plate. Microwave, covered, on 100 percent power (high) for 2 minutes.

FOR FILLING, in a large bowl, stir together masa harina and the 1 cup water until well combined. Stir in chicken, cheese, whole kernel corn, cream-style corn, chiles, green salsa, oil, and salt.

DRAIN cornhusks well; pat dry with paper towels. To assemble each tamale, lay out two or three fresh cornhusks (for a width of at least 6 inches) on a flat surface. Starting about 1/2 inches from the narrow end, place 2 tablespoons of the filling in the center of a cornhusk. Fold in sides to enclose filling. Bring ends together. Tie ends of tamale securely with strips of cornhusk or 100-percent-cotton kitchen string. (If necessary, use your fingers to gently push any leaking filling back into the bundle.)

TO PREPARE STEAMER, place a cone-shape ball of foil in the center of a steamer basket. Stand tamales upright in basket (don't pack tamales too tightly, but fill the basket). Place about 1/2 inches of water in bottom of steamer or Dutch oven. Place basket over water. Bring water to boiling; reduce heat to medium. Cover and steam for 30 minutes. Carefully remove tamales from steamer. Let stand 5 to 10 minutes before serving. Tamales get firmer as they cool. If desired, serve with Salsa Fresca. Makes 24 tamales.

Notes

Soak cornhusks in water overnight.

Buy cotton string to tie bundles.