Best Tamales Wrapped In Banana Leaves Recipes

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TAMALES WRAPPED IN BANANA LEAVES



Tamales Wrapped in Banana Leaves image

The people in southern Mexico often wrap their tamales in banana leaves instead of corn husks, first wilting the leaves by quickly holding them over a flame or a very hot electric burner. It is said that "the good tamale is known by its wrapper," so try to make a secure and attractive package. Frozen banana leaves from the Philippines can be found in most Asian and Mexican markets.

Provided by Honey Sweet

Categories     Pork

Time 3h20m

Yield 6-8 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 13

1 lb lean pork
3 garlic cloves
1/2 onion, cut in half
1 teaspoon salt
6 dried ancho chiles, seeds and membranes removed
8 dried guajillo chilies, seeds and membranes removed
2 tomatoes
1 teaspoon dried marjoram
4 black peppercorns
2 whole cloves
1 lb masa dough
5 tablespoons lard
banana leaf, 1 large (plus more leaves to line steamer)

Steps:

  • In a large saucepan, cover pork with water and add 1 garlic clove, 1 onion quarter and 1/2 tsp salt. Bring to a boil, cover and simmer until the pork is tender, 45-60 minutes. Shred the meat, reserving the stock.
  • Heat a comal or iron skillet over medium heat. Place the chiles in the hot skillet, using a spatula to press them against it slightly. Turn them so that both sides begin to change color. This will take 1-2 minutes. Be careful not to burn them. Place the chiles in a bowl, cover with warm water and soak for 20 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, place the tomatoes on a comal or griddle and grill until the skin is charred. Alternatively, put the tomatoes in a baking pan lined with foil and broil until skin is blackened, turning once. Peel and purée in a blender.
  • Roast the other onion quarter, 2 cloves garlic, marjoram, peppercorns and cloves. Drain the chiles and transfer to a blender. Add the roasted onion, garlic, marjoram, peppercorns, cloves and 1 cup (8 fl oz/250 ml) of reserved stock, then purée until smooth.
  • Melt 1 tablespoon of the lard in a skillet and sauté the chile purée in it for 5 minutes. Add the puréed tomatoes and sauté for another 5 minutes; add the pork, stir and cover. Lower the heat and cook for 10 minutes.
  • Hold the banana leaf directly over the heat for 5 seconds. Cut into 5-in (13 cm) squares.
  • Knead the masa with 2 tablespoons (1 oz/30 g) of the lard for 5 minutes.
  • Use the remaining lard to grease one side of the banana leaf. Place 3-in (7.5-cm) square of masa on the lard and top with 1 1/2 tablespoons of pork mixture.
  • Fold the opposite edges of the leaf toward the center, then do the same with the same outer edges to form a closed rectangle. To secure tie the tamales with narrow strips of leaf.
  • Place 2 cups (16 oz fl oz/500 ml) water in a pressure cooker, then cover the steamer basket with a layer of flattened banana leaves. Add the tamales to the steamer basket and cover with another layer of leaves. Place the lid on the pan and cook 20 minutes. If you use an ordinary steamer, follow the same procedure but use 4 cups (32 fl oz/1 L) water and cook for 1 hour.
  • Serve warm, with frijoles refritos (refried beans).

Nutrition Facts : Calories 268.1, Fat 16.6, SaturatedFat 5.8, Cholesterol 54.7, Sodium 438.7, Carbohydrate 12.2, Fiber 4.7, Sugar 1.5, Protein 18.8

TAMALES OAXAQUEñOS (OAXACAN-STYLE TAMALES)



Tamales Oaxaqueños (Oaxacan-Style Tamales) image

This authentic homemade tamales recipe comes from the Mexican region Oaxaca. The tamales are stuffed with a homemade masa and chicken filling made with tomatillos and 2 different types of chile peppers - ancho chile and mulato chile. [Recipe originally submitted to Allrecipes.com.mx]

Provided by mega

Categories     World Cuisine Recipes     Latin American     Mexican

Time 3h

Yield 36

Number Of Ingredients 12

11 ounces lard, divided
salt to taste
9 cups masa harina
1 cup warm chicken broth, divided
3 fresh tomatillos, husks removed
1 ancho chile pepper - stems, seeds, and veins removed
1 mulato chile pepper - stems, seeds, and veins removed
1 clove garlic, minced
1 pinch freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
1 pinch crushed dried oregano
1 pound shredded cooked chicken
36 banana leaves, softened

Steps:

  • Beat 9 ounces lard in a large bowl with an electric mixer until creamy. Add salt and continue beating for a few minutes. Add masa harina and beat well until combined. Add chicken broth, 1/4 cup at a time, beating until masa has a smooth and workable consistency similar to cookie dough, about 3/4 cup total. Test if the masa is ready by dropping a small ball of masa into a glass of cold water; if it floats, it's ready, if not, beat the dough a little longer.
  • Combine tomatillos, ancho chile pepper, mulato chile pepper, garlic, salt, pepper, and oregano in a blender; blend until smooth.
  • Heat remaining 2 ounces lard in a skillet and cook tomatillo sauce until lightly thickened, 3 to 5 minutes. Add shredded chicken and a little of the remaining chicken broth. Cook over low heat until chicken filling has thickened, about 10 minutes.
  • Spread 2 to 3 tablespoons masa mixture onto 1 banana leaf, filling it up to 2 inches from the bottom and 1/4 inch from the top. Add 1 tablespoon of the chicken filling in the center of the masa mixture. Fold sides of banana leaf together, one over the other. Fold the bottom of the banana leaf over the seam of the 2 folded sides and tie together with kitchen string. Repeat with remaining banana leaves.
  • Place a steamer insert into a saucepan and fill with water to just below the bottom of the steamer. Bring water to a boil. Add tamales with the open side up and cook until filling is heated through and separates from the leaf, 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours. Let tamales rest for 15 minutes before serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 209.9 calories, Carbohydrate 21.9 g, Cholesterol 18.1 mg, Fat 11.2 g, Fiber 3.9 g, Protein 5.8 g, SaturatedFat 3.9 g, Sodium 46.7 mg, Sugar 0.1 g

NACATAMALES (ANY BANANA LEAF WRAPPED CENTRAL AMERICAN TAMALES)



Nacatamales (ANY Banana Leaf Wrapped Central American Tamales) image

These tamales are very different from the regular mexican tamales. The masa is different as is the filling and the wrapping. Nacatamales are usually only made for special occasions or christmas as they are very time consuming and labor intensive but the end product is well worth it. Learning how to make these is a huge milestone in my culture. They can be made vegeterian if you subsitute the chicken broth for veggie broth, the lard for veggie shortening, omit the meat and add sliced zucchini/spinach/sauted poblano peppers with onions or anything else you wish. The masa is the most difficult part. It requires alot of water/broth and constant mixing so that is does not burn (almost like making a roux). It might take a couple of tries before you can get the consitency of the masa right. Too much lard, the masa is too greasy. Too much water it becomes very sticky (like cookie dough). Too little water, the masa will be very dry. Once you can make the masa right, you can make these with your eyes closed

Provided by Chef Sarita in Aust

Categories     Mexican

Time P1DT3h

Yield 25 tamales, 25 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 19

6 cups masa harina for tamales (Preffer Maseca)
2 cups lard or 2 cups shortening
1 tablespoon salt (and extra for seasoning)
pepper (to season)
2 -3 tablespoons powder chicken bouillon (preffer knorr)
3/4 cup sour orange juice (1/2 for masa and 1/4 for meat, preffer Goya marinade)
8 -10 cups chicken stock or 8 -10 cups broth, UNSALTED
3 lbs pork butt, cubed into stew meat sizes
paprika (to season)
cumin (to season)
1 -2 tablespoon chipotle salsa
3/4 cup long-grain white rice, soaked in 1/2 cup warm water for 30 minutes, do not drain water
3 large white potatoes, peeled, sliced into 1/4-inch small cubes (the size of a marble)
1 cup olive (or about 25 of them)
1 (16 ounce) can green peas or 1 (16 ounce) can garbanzo beans
1/2 cup whole cilantro leaf
2 tablespoons cooking oil
12 pieces banana leaves, washed, hard spine removed and cut into 10x10-inch rectangles
12 pieces aluminum foil, cut into 10x10-inch rectangles

Steps:

  • Season the pork with salt, pepper,cumin and paprika to taste. Add 1 to 2 tablespoons of the chipotle salsa (depending on how hot you like it) to the pork. Place in a large bowl and pour 1/4 cup sour orange juice over pork. Cover and let marinate for about 30 minutes in refrigerator.
  • Place the masa harina, lard,salt, and 2 tablespoons of the chicken knorr in the bowl of an electric mixer. Blend on a low speed to incorporate the fat into the masa harina and give it a mealy texture. You may have to do this and the next step in two batches if your mixer bowl is not large enough to hold all the ingredients without overflowing.
  • With the mixer still on low speed, add remaining 1/2 cup of the sour orange juice and enough chicken stock to make a soft, moist dough (about 7 cups added intermitently between mixing). It should be almost like the texture of mashed potatoes but thicker. Increase the mixer speed to medium-high and beat for 2-3 minutes to incorporate some air into the masa and make it fluffier. Cover the bowl and set the masa aside to rest for at least 30 minutes.
  • After the resting period, place the masa in a large pot and on medium heat, stir the masa slowly and constantly for about 20 mintues adding 2 more cups of water or chichen stock (1/2 cup every 5 minutes for the 20 mintues of stirring). Remove from heat and set aside.
  • Drain the marinade from the pork and set aside. Heat oil in large frying pan on high heat. Once it is heated, add the cubed pork and brown for abour 3 minutes (being careful of splattering oil). Set aside and let cool for about 5 minutes Reserve pan juices from pork in another bowl.
  • Place the rice (with the watere still in it) in a microwave safe bowl and cook for about 2 minutes. The rice will be semi cooked. Set aside.
  • Assemble all of your filling ingredients and assembly items on a large table or work surface. Gather family and friends to help in an assembly line.
  • Lay out a banana leaf square with the smooth side up. Place 1 cup of the masa in the middle of the banana leaf and, using wetted hands, spread it out a little. Put about 4 pieces of pork on top of the masa and sprinkle 1 or 2 tablespoons of rice over the pork. Lay 5 or 6 pieces of potato on top of the pork, add 1 table spoon green beans/garganzo beans, add 1 olive and add a little bit of the pan juices from the pork. Top off with 1 or 2 cilantro leaves.
  • Fold the top edge of the banana leaf down over the filling. Bring the bottom edge of the banana leaf up over this. Then fold in both sides to make a rectangular package. Be careful not to wrap it too tightly or the filling will squeeze out. Flip the package over so it is seam side down.
  • Set the tamal in the middle of an aluminum foil square and wrap it up tightly the same way you wrapped up the banana leaf. Set aside and repeat with the remaining ingredients to make 10 to 12 nacatamales in total.
  • Add 2 or 3 inches of water to a tamalera or pot large enough to hold all the nacatamales. (You may have to use two pots if you don't have one big enough to hold the nacatamales in one batch.) Place a rack in the bottom or toss in enough wadded up aluminum foil to hold the nacatamales mostly out of the water. Add the nacatamales and bring to a boil over high heat. Cover tightly, reduce heat to low and steam for about 3 hours. Add more water as needed to keep the pot from boiling dry.
  • Once cooked, drain the water and let tamales rest for atleast 2 hours in the pot so that the masa can become firm.
  • Remove the nacatamales from the pot, take off their aluminum foil covering and serve warm. Each diner opens the banana leaf on his or her own nacatamal before eating.
  • This is MY family recipe. Nacatamales are a general name used for ANY central American tamale wrapped in a banana leaf, not just Nicaraguan. If you make yours differently, that's great! But keep in mind that there is no authentic recipe so PLEASE do not compare MY recipe to other recipes as I am sure everyones is different. It is very helpful to others if you rate according to your experience and result with this particular recipe. Thanks and enjoy!

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