These green chili tamales bring authentic flavor to your kitchen with tangy tomatillos, savory pork, and light, airy masa that’s tender and satisfying!
Prep Time30 minutesmins
Cook Time40 minutesmins
Total Time1 hourhr10 minutesmins
Servings: 24tamales
Calories: 254kcal
Author: Melissa Griffiths
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Ingredients
8ouncespackage dried corn husks(If you cannot find corn husks, you can use parchment paper.)
Filling
1poundtomatilloscan sub mild green chilies—canned or fresh
43-inch serrano chilesstemmed, seeded and chopped (can sub jalapeno)
4large garlic cloveschopped
1 ½tablespoonsextra virgin olive oil
2cupslow sodium chicken broth
4cupscooked and shredded pork carnitas
⅔cuproughly chopped fresh cilantro
Masa Dough
½cupunsalted butter
½cupcanola oil
¾teaspoonsaltomit if already in masa mixture
1 ¼teaspoonsbaking powderomit if already in masa mixture
3cupsmasa harinacorn tamale mix
3cupssodium chicken broth
Instructions
Place the dried corn husks in a large pot and cover with water.
8 ounces package dried corn husks
Place a heavy plate or a smaller pot full of water on top of husks to keep them in the water. Let soak for 3 hours or up to 1 day, flipping occasionally until husks are softened.
Place an oven rack on the top setting. Turn the oven on broil. Peel and rinse the tomatillos.
1 pound tomatillos
Line a heavy baking sheet with foil. Place tomatillos on baking sheet and place under broiler.
Broil (grill) until black spots form on tomatillos, then flip and broil (grill) other side. This takes about 5-10 minutes per side depending on the strength of the broiler.
Place roasted tomatillos and juices from the pan into a food processor and allow to cool about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and chopped Serrano chiles and process until smooth.
4 3-inch serrano chiles, 4 large garlic cloves
Heat the olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium high heat.
1 ½ tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Add the tomatillo puree and boil, stirring continuously, for 5 minutes (it should turn thick like a paste).
Add in the chicken broth, stir to mix well. Reduce heat to medium low and allow to simmer, stirring occasionally until mixture coats the back of a spoon and is reduced to about a cup.
2 cups low sodium chicken broth
Stir in the shredded pork and cilantro. Salt to taste.
4 cups cooked and shredded pork carnitas, ⅔ cup roughly chopped fresh cilantro
Prepare the Dough:
In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream together the butter and canola oil until it’s white and creamy.
½ cup unsalted butter, ½ cup canola oil
In a separate bowl mix the masa harina, baking powder and salt. Add masa mixture to whipped butter and canola one cup at a time.
Reduce the mixer speed to low, gradually add the chicken broth. Add more or less as necessary until it has the consistence of soft cream cheese.
3 cups sodium chicken broth
Take 3 large corn husks and tear them into ¼-inch strips. (Put these back in the water until ready to use because they dry out and start breaking when you try to work with them.
Take a large pot with a steamer attachment. Pour about 2 inches of water into the bottom of the pot, or enough to touch the bottom of the steamer. Line the bottom of the steamer with corn husks.
Make Tamales:
Unfold 2 corn husks onto a work surface. Take ¼ cup of dough and, starting near the top of the husk, press it out into a 4-inch square, leaving 2-3 inches at the bottom of the husk. Place a heaping tablespoon of the filling in a line down the center of the dough square.
Fold the dough into the corn husk. And wrap the husk around the dough. Fold up the skinny bottom part of the husk. And secure it with one of the corn husk ties.
Stand them up in the steamer. If there aren’t enough tamales to tightly pack the steamer, place crumpled aluminum foil in the excess space.
Steam the tamales for about 40 minutes or until the dough deepens in color and easily pulls away from the husk.
Notes
Protein Options: Swap carnitas for shredded chicken, beef, or rotisserie chicken. For vegetarian versions, try cheese with roasted poblanos, black beans with corn, or butternut squash.Sauce Alternatives: Can't find tomatillos? Use canned green salsa or substitute with roasted green chiles (Hatch, Anaheim, or poblano) blended with chicken broth.Spice Level Adjustments: Reduce or omit serrano chiles for mild tamales. For extra heat, add diced jalapeños to the filling or incorporate hot sauce into the tomatillo mixture.Sweet Tamales: Transform this recipe into dessert tamales by adding sugar and cinnamon to the masa, then filling with pineapple, strawberry preserves, or chocolate chips.Masa Additions: Enhance the dough with cumin, garlic powder, or add shredded cheese directly into the masa for extra richness and flavor.