Tamal de Limon
- 30 dried cornhusks
- 1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1/2 cup vegetable shortening
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 2 cups masa harina
- Green food coloring (optional)
- 2 cups whole milk
- 2 tablespoons grated lime zest
- Pinch of salt
- Rinse the cornhusks under cold water, place them in a bowl, and cover with boiling water (put a plate on top and weight it with a large can to keep them submerged).
- Let sit for at least 30 minutes, or until soft.
- In a bowl, combine the butter, shortening, and sugar with your hands or in a mixer with the paddle attachment until very creamy.
- Add the masa and mix well (itll look a bit like coarse meal).
- Combine a few drops of the food coloring with 3 tablespoons of the milk, then add that and the rest of the milk gradually while mixing until incorporated.
- Stir in the lime zest and salt.
- Drain the cornhusks and scoop about 1/4 cup of the batter into a husk, spreading it with the back of a spoon and leaving at least 1 inch all around (a little more on the long sides).
- If the husks are too small or broken, put two together and overlap them.
- Fold one of the long sides toward the center, and then fold the other long side on top.
- Tuck the exposed sides underneath; if they are still too small, wrap the tamale in another husk and tie it with a thin strip of husk (this isnt necessary but is just an extra precaution).
- Repeat to use up all the batter.
- Fill a pot with enough hot water to reach just underneath, but not touching, a steamer (you can use the collapsible kind if you dont have a special pot).
- Cover the bottom of the steamer with leftover cornhusks and arrange the tamales vertically, standing them up so they rest against one another.
- Cover with any remaining leaves or scraps, cover with a lid, and cook over medium heat until the tamales slide out of the wrappers, 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
- Add more boiling water to the bottom pot as needed to make sure water reaches the bottom of the steamer.
- Serve warm.
- The tamales can be stored in the freezer, wrapped tightly, for up to 3 months.
- There is a theory that many home cooks firmly believe in.
- To test whether the dough has been beaten enough and is ready to be put in the husks, put a bit of dough in a glass filled with cold water.
- If it begins to float, its ready and you can be sure that your tamales will be light and fluffy.
- If it doesnt, just beat a bit longer.
cornhusks, unsalted butter, vegetable shortening, sugar, masa harina, green food coloring, milk, lime zest, salt
Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/tamal-de-limon-384144 (may not work)