Easy-Ish Chicken Tamales | Rachael Ray

For the husks, bring a pot of water to a slow boil.   

10-Quart Covered Stockpot

10-Quart Covered Stockpot

Rachael Ray

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Add husks and remove from heat. Let the husks stand for 20 to 30 minutes, then drain well and pat dry. 

For the salsa verde and chicken, preheat broiler and char the tomatillos, poblano peppers, jalapeno or serrano pepper, onions and garlic to blacken skins. Transfer poblano peppers to a bowl and cover with plastic to sweat. Cool to handle, then peel the skin off the peppers and remove the seeds, if you want a less spicy salsa. Remove garlic from skins and add everything to the bowl of a food processor, along with the cumin, lime juice, hot sauce, cilantro, salt and pepper. Process to combine. 

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Char the tomatillos and poblano peppers under the broiler until blackened. Transfer peppers to a bowl and cover with plastic to sweat. Once cooled, remove the skins and seeds. Heat olive oil, 2 turns of the pan, over medium to medium-high heat. Add the jalapeno or serrano pepper, onions, cumin and salt and soften them a few minutes, stirring often. Add garlic, stir, add lime juice and hot sauce and stir to combine. Add to processor with poblanos and tomatillos. Add cilantro, salt and pepper and process until smooth.  

Place about two-thirds of the salsa in bowl, add chicken and stock and combine.       

For the masa, whip the shortening in a stand mixer until fluffy or whisk by hand.   

Add the baking powder and salt and whip to combine. 

Add the masa harina and combine until you have a thick, but shaggy dough.  

Slowly add the warm stock in stages, reserving a cup.  

Fill a water glass with warm water. Add a small bit of corn dough; if it floats, your masa is good. If not, add more warm broth and combine.       

To serve, set up a steamer over a pot with 5 inches of moderately boiling water. Keep it at a medium simmer. You can also make a steamer of sorts by placing a colander over a large pot with a lid.   

Fill each husk with about 3 to 4 tablespoons of the masa and top the masa with a bit less of the chicken filling, 2 to 3 tablespoons, depending on size of the husk. 

Tuck in 3 sides of each tamale, leaving the cut end open, and stack on an angle in steamer with cut end of husk up. Reduce heat to a low simmer and cook 45 to 60 minutes.  

Serve the tamales, opened up from their husks, with dots of the remaining salsa on top.