Authentic Homemade Tamales

Prepare the Husks

1. Place the husks in a large bowl, or even your kitchen sink with the stopper in. Fill with warm water and weight the husks down with heavy pot(s).
2. Let soak for at least 1 hour.

Prepear the Chicken Filling

1. Place the tomatillos and jalapenos in a medium sauce pan and cover with water. Bring to a boil then lower to a smooth simmer.
2. Simmer the veggies for 20 minutes.
3. Add the cooked veggies, plus the garlic in your blender, and process to a smooth puree.
4. Heat the oil in a large skillet, or Dutch over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, add the puree all at once and stir until thicker, and a little darker, about 10 minutes.
5. Add 2 cups of the stock and simmer over medium heat until thick enough to coat a spoon, about another 15 minutes.
6. Season generously with salt, about 2 teaspoons.
7. Stir in the cilantro and chicken, and remove heat.

Prepare the Pork Filling

1. Add the peppers and the tomatillos to a medium saucepan, cover with water and bring to a boil. Lower the heat to a smooth simmer for 20 minutes.
2. Working in batches, if necessary, add the peppers, tomatillos, garlic, ½ teaspoon salt, black pepper, and cumin into a blender and puree.
3. Strain the mixture through a medium-mesh strainer into a medium saucepan.
4. Add the meat, 2 cups of the chili simmering water, and 2 teaspoons of salt.
5. Simmer, uncovered, over medium heat, stirring regularly, until the pork is fork-tender and the liquid is reduced to the consistency of a thick sauce, about an hour and a half. If the sauce becomes too thick, think with a little more soaking water.
6. Use a fork to tear the pork into small pieces. Set aside.

Prepare the Dough/Batter

1. Place the masa harina, salt (2 tsp), and baking powder in a large pan. Stir to combine. Slowly pour the warm water over the masa, using your fingers to incorporate the water.
2. Pour in the melted lard, and continue to incorporate with your hands. Now, add in the broth, one cup at a time (you may not need all of the broth).
3. Keep mixing with your hands. The consistency should be like a thick cake batter...but not runny. It should hold its shape in a spoon. Add more stock if necessary.

Forming the Tamales

1. Remove the corn husks from the water and pat them dry with paper towels.
2. Flatten a husk, and with a spoon, scoop out about ⅓ cup of the batter.
3. In the upper, wider portion of the husk, spread the batter to the size of about a postcard (or smaller, depending on the size of the husk). With the short side of the rectangle at the top of the husk, and the body of the rectangle running down the length of the husk. Leave about an inch of space on each long side of the husk (watch the video for reference). Don't worry about making the batter thick...it will expand as it steams. The layer of batter should be about ¼-inch in thickness.
4. Now, scoop out about two tablespoons of the filling mixture and spread it down the middle of the batter.
5. Fold over the right third of the husk, then fold in the left side.
6. Fold up the bottom.
7. Repeat, alternating between chicken and pork filling.

Steaming the Tamales

1. Add water to the steamer and then layer the tamales into the steamer, preferably standing upright (with the folded end at the bottom). Just allow enough room between the tamales to allow steam to move around them.
2. Heat and steam over constant medium heat for about 1 and ¼ hours. (See NOTES if using a Pressure Cooker).
3. Watch carefully to make sure that all the water doesn't boil away, add more water as necessary.
4. Tamales are done when the husks peel away from the masa easily.
5. The tamales will need to stand for at least half an hour for the dough to firm up.
6. For the best tamales, let them cool completely, then steam again to warm (you can easily heat in a microwave at this point).