Swiss Chard Tamales Recipe

• 30 corn husks
• 1 1/2 pounds Swiss chard, stems removed and leaves halved lengthwise
• 1/2 cup coarsely chopped fresh cilantro
• 1/4 medium white onion, finely chopped
• 4 medium garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 3 medium serrano chiles, seeded, ribs removed, and finely chopped
• 2 tablespoons kosher salt
• 4 1/2 cups masa harina, such as Maseca
• 3 3/4 cups cold water
• 1 1/2 cups cold lard or vegetable shortening
• 1 1/4 cups crumbled queso fresco

1. Place corn husks in a large bowl or baking dish, cover completely with hot water, and weigh down with a plate or bowl to fully submerge.
2. Soak until husks are very pliable, at least 2 hours at room temperature or overnight in the refrigerator.
3. Drain, squeeze out excess water, and wipe dry.
4. Bring a large saucepan of heavily salted water to a boil over high heat.
5. Add chard and cook until just wilted, about 30 seconds.
6. Drain (reserving 3 tablespoons of cooking liquid in a separate bowl) and squeeze out any excess liquid.
7. Finely chop the chard; set aside.
8. Place cilantro, onion, garlic, chiles, 1 tablespoon of the salt, and the reserved cooking liquid in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a blade and blend until smooth, stopping frequently to scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula; set aside.
9. Combine masa harina and water in a large bowl and mix with your hands until ingredients are evenly incorporated and dough is moist throughout; set aside.
10. Combine lard or shortening and remaining 1 tablespoon salt in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment and beat on high speed until shiny and white in color, about 2 minutes.
11. Reduce speed to medium high and add reserved dough in handfuls, letting it mix in before adding more, until all the dough has been added, about 2 minutes.
12. Continue beating until ingredients are well combined and a smooth, soft dough has formed, about 1 minute more.
13. Transfer dough to a large bowl, add reserved chard, cilantro mixture, and queso fresco and mix with your hands until all ingredients are just incorporated.
14. Cover dough and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to 24 hours.
15. Place a steamer basket in a large pot and fill the pot with enough water to reach the bottom of the steamer.
16. Cover and bring the water to a simmer over low heat.
17. Lay a corn husk on a clean work surface with the wide edge toward you (this is the bottom).
18. Measure 1/3 cup dough and shape into a cylinder about 3 inches long and 1 inch in diameter.
19. Lay dough lengthwise in the center of the husk, leaving about a 1/2-inch border at the bottom.
20. Tightly close the left side of the husk over the filling and roll to the right as if rolling a cigar.
21. Fold the top of the husk (the empty, tapered edge) back over the filled husk to close.
22. (If your husks are particularly small or they dont want to stay closed, use a bit of butchers twine to tie them closed.)
23. Repeat to make about 30 tamales.
24. Arrange tamales upright in the steamer with the open ends facing up.
25. If your steamer is too big to hold all of the tamales snugly together, place a small heatproof bowl upside down in the center to stabilize the tamales.
26. Cover and steam until the dough is set, no longer raw-tasting, and pulls away easily from the husks when unwrapped, about 2 to 2 1/2 hours.
27. Turn the heat off and let the tamales rest for 15 minutes before serving.

corn husks, swiss chard, fresh cilantro, white onion, garlic, serrano chiles, kosher salt, masa harina, cold water, cold lard, queso fresco

Taken from www.chowhound.com/recipes/swiss-chard-tamales-18886 (may not work)