Beef Tamales with Red Chili Sauce

By Leslie Blythe  , ,   ,

December 23, 2016

Every Christmas eve my mother-in-law served tamales and albondigas soup. She got her tamales from a local source in East Los Angeles. My friend asked if I wanted to make tamales with her. Absolutely! We corralled another friend, who actually knows what she’s doing and my daughter. We each brought our own filling. I made beef and we also had pork and chicken. I had made tamales in the past, but only one dozen. This time, we made 150! My friend said that you have to take a shot after every dozen is completed! Given that it was 10 am when we started, I only did 2 shots, and then there were those mimosas…. It was so much fun, that I want to do it every year.

  • Prep: 1 hrs
  • Cook: 4 hrs 30 mins
  • Yields: Makes 3 dozen

Ingredients

2 pounds beef shoulder roast

Salt and pepper, to taste

2 onions, peeled and sliced

1 garlic bulb, cloves removed and peeled

4 ounces dried New Mexico chilies

2 ounces ancho chiles

2 ounces pasilla chiles

2 tablespoons cumin seed, toasted

1 tablespoons salt

2 bags dried corn husks, about 3 dozen

4 cups masa mix

1 tablespoon baking powder

2 teaspoons salt

4 cups reserved beef broth, warm

1 cup vegetable shortening

Red Chile Sauce

2 garlic cloves, minced

2 Tablespoons cooking oil

2 Tablespoons flour

6 Tablespoons red chile powder

2 cups chicken stock or water

1 teaspoon cumin

1 dash red wine vinegar

2 teaspoons oregano (optional)

1 potato, cubed and cooked (optional)

salt to taste

Directions

1Season the beef shoulder all over with salt and pepper then brown in a large heavy pot over medium heat. Once browned on all sides, add enough water to cover the roast along with the 1 sliced onion and about 6 cloves of garlic. Cook until the meat is fork tender and comes apart with no resistance, about 2 hours. When done, remove the roast to a platter to cool, reserve the beef broth. Hand shred the meat and set aside.

Red Chile Sauce

1Sauté garlic in oil. Add flour and brown by pressing the flour flat in skillet. Add liquid and chile and remaining ingredients. Stir and simmer.

2Pre-soak chile in liquid for 20 minutes. Sauté garlic in oil. Add flour and brown by pressing flour flat in skillet. Add liquid, chile and remaining ingredients. Stir and simmer.

3The red wine vinegar is the secret ingredient - it makes the flavor come alive! This sauce can be frozen and used later.

4Add the shredded beef to the bowl of chili sauce, and mix thoroughly. Refrigerate until ready to use.

5Go through the dried cornhusks, separate them and discard the silk, be careful since the husks are fragile when dry. Soak them in a sink filled with warm water for 30 minutes to soften. In a deep bowl, combine the masa, baking powder, and salt. Pour the broth into the masa a little at a time, working it in with your fingers. In a small bowl, beat the vegetable shortening until fluffy. Add it to the masa and beat until the dough has a spongy texture.

6Rinse, drain, and dry the corn husks. Set them out on a sheet pan covered by a damp towel along with the bowls of masa dough and beef in chili sauce. Start with the largest husks because they are easier to roll. Lay the husk flat on a plate or in your hand with the smooth side up and the narrow end facing you. Spread a thin, even layer of masa over the surface of the husk with a tablespoon dipped in water. Do not use too much! Add about a tablespoon of the meat filling in the center of the masa. Fold the narrow end up to the center then fold both sides together to enclose the filling. The sticky masa will form a seal. Pinch the wide top closed.

7Stand the tamales up in a large steamer or colander with the pinched end up. Load the steamer into a large pot filled with 2-inches of water. The water should not touch the tamales. Lay a damp cloth over the tamales and cover with lid. Keep the water at a low boil, checking periodically to make sure the water doesn't boil away. Steam the tamales for 2 hours.

8The tamales are done when the inside pulls away from the husk. The tamale should be soft, firm and not mushy. To serve, unfold the husk and spoon about a tablespoon of remaining beef filling on top.

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