Easy Green Chile Chicken Tamales Recipes

Steps:

• For filling:
• Place husks in large pot or large bowl; add water to cover. Place heavy plate on husks to keep submerged. Let stand until husks soften, turning occasionally, at least 3 hours and up to 1 day.
• Preheat broiler. Line heavy baking sheet with foil. Arrange tomatillos on prepared sheet. Broil until tomatillos blacken in spots, turning once, about 5 minutes per side. Transfer tomatillos and any juices on sheet to processor and cool. Add chiles and garlic to processor and blend until smooth puree forms. Heat oil in medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add tomatillo puree and boil 5 minutes, stirring often. Add broth. Reduce heat to medium; simmer until sauce coats spoon thickly and is reduced to 1 cup, stirring occasionally, about 40 minutes. Season with salt. Mix in chicken and cilantro. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.)
• For dough:
• Using electric mixer, beat lard (with salt and baking powder, if using) in large bowl until fluffy. Beat in fresh masa or masa harina mixture in 4 additions. Reduce speed to low and gradually beat in 1 1/2 cups broth, forming tender dough. If dough seems firm, beat in enough broth, 2 tablespoons at a time, to soften.
• Fill bottom of pot with steamer insert with enough water (about 2 inches) to reach bottom of insert. Line bottom of insert with some softened corn husks. Tear 3 large husks into 1/4-inch-wide strips to use as ties and set aside. Open 2 large husks on work surface. Spread 1/4 cup dough in 4-inch square in center of each, leaving 2- to 3-inch plain border at narrow end of husk. Spoon heaping tablespoon filling in strip down center of each dough square. Fold long sides of husk and dough over filling to cover. Fold up narrow end of husk. Tie folded portion with strip of husk to secure, leaving wide end of tamale open. Stand tamales in steamer basket. Repeat with more husks, dough, and filling until all filling has been used. If necessary to keep tamales upright in steamer, insert pieces of crumpled foil between them.
• Bring water in pot to boil. Cover pot and steam tamales until dough is firm to touch and separates easily from husk, adding more water to pot as necessary, about 45 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Cool 1 hour. Cover and chill. Before serving, re-steam tamales until hot, about 35 minutes.)

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400°F. Generously spray 13x9-inch (3-quart) baking dish with cooking spray.
• In large bowl, stir 1/4 cup of the shredded cheese, the milk, eggs, cumin, red pepper flakes, cream-style corn, cornbread mix and chopped green chiles until just combined. Spread evenly in baking dish.
• Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until corn mixture is just set and edges are lightly golden brown.
• Use fork to poke holes in top of corn mixture. Pour enchilada sauce evenly over top.
• Toss chicken with taco seasoning mix, then sprinkle over the top. Sprinkle remaining 1 cup shredded cheese on top of chicken.
• Bake about 15 minutes or until cheese is melted. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.
• Top with chopped green onions, chopped cilantro and dollops of sour cream.
• To freeze: Cool completely after baking, then cover tightly with plastic wrap and foil before freezing. When ready to bake, remove plastic wrap and foil. Heat oven to 400°F. Cover dish with just foil. Bake 40 to 45 minutes or until heated through. Tip: If you plan to freeze your dish, I'd suggest baking it ahead of time in a non-glass dish--otherwise, you'll want to let the dish thaw for a bit before placing it in the oven so the glass doesn't run the risk of shattering.

Steps:

• Place corn husks in a bowl, cover with boiling water, and soak for 30 to 60 minutes. Drain, place on a work surface, and cover with a clean, damp towel.
• Place chicken in a pot, season with salt, and cover with water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, reduce heat, cover, and simmer until chicken is cooked through, 20 to 25 minutes. Drain chicken and shred with 2 forks.
• Place tomatillo and serrano peppers in a pot while chicken is cooking, cover with water, and bring to a boil. Cook until tomatillos are soft and have changed color, but are not falling apart, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Combine tomatillos, serrano peppers, onion, cilantro, and garlic in a blender; blend into a smooth sauce.
• Heat 1 tablespoon butter in a saucepan over medium heat and add tomatillo sauce. Cook until sauce has slightly thickened, 3 to 5 minutes. Add shredded chicken and season filling with salt.
• Beat remaining butter in a large bowl with an electric mixer until creamy. Add chicken broth, masa harina, baking powder, and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and beat well until combined and the consistency of cookie dough. Test if the masa is ready by dropping a small ball of masa into a glass of cold water; if it floats, it's ready, if not, keep beating for a little longer.
• Select 1 wide corn husk or 2 small ones. Spread about 2 tablespoons masa mixture onto the the corn husk, filling it up to 2 inches from the bottom and 1/4 inch from the top. Add 1 tablespoon of filling down the center of the masa mixture. Fold sides of husk together, one over the other. Fold the bottom of the husk over the seam of the 2 folded sides. Repeat with remaining husks.
• Place a steamer insert into a saucepan and fill with water to just below the bottom of the steamer. Bring water to a boil. Add tamales with the open side up and cook until filling is heated through and separates from the husk, about 1 hour. Let tamales stand for 15 minutes before serving.

Steps:

• Filling Directions:.
• Place husks in large pot or large bowl; add water to cover. Place heavy plate on husks to keep submerged. Let stand until husks soften, turning occasionally, at least 3 hours and up to 1 day - I find that over-night is perfect.
• Preheat boiler. Line heavy baking sheet with foil. Arrange tomatillos on prepared sheet and broil until tomatillos blaken in spots, turning once (about 5 minute per side). Transfer tomatillos and any juices on sheet to processor and cool.
• Add chiles and garlic to processor and blend until smooth puree forms.
• Heat oil on medium sauce pan over medium-high heat. Add tomatillo puree and boil 5 minutes, stirring often.
• Add broth and reduce heat to medium; simmer until sauce coats spoon thickly and is reduced to 1 cup, stirring occasionally, about 40 minutes.
• Season with salt and mix in chicken and cilantro (can be made 1 day ahead, cover and chill).
• I usually double this portion of the recipe and freeze half, it holds very well in the freezer.
• Dough Directions:.
• Using electric mixer, beat shortening (with salt and baking powder if using) in large bowl until fluffy.
• Beat in fresh masa or masa harina mixture in 4 additions.
• Reduce speed to low and gradually beat in 1 1/2 cups broth, forming tender dough. If dough seems firm, beat in enough broth, two tablespoons at a time to soften.
• Fill bottom of pot with steamer insert with enough water (about two inches) to reach bottom of insert. Line bottom of insert with some softened corn husks.
• Tear 3 large husks into 1/4-inch-wide strips to use as ties and set aside. This isn't necessary, I only do it when I want to make the tamales look "pretty".
• Open 1 large husks on work surface. Spread 1/4 cup dough in 4-inch square in center of each, leaving 2-3-inch plain border at narrow end of husk.
• Spoon heaping tablespoon filling in strip down center of dough square. Fold sides of husk towards center and the narrow bottom end up so that the chicken mixture is "contained" in the center of dough and husk. This is where you can tie them with a strip of husk, but I find it isn't necessary. Leave wide end of tamale open.
• Stand tamales in steamer basket, open end UP. Repeat with more husks, dough and filling until all filling has been used. If necessary, to keep tamales upright in steamer, insert pieces of crumpled foil between them.
• Bring water in pot to boil, cover and steam tamales until dough is firm to touch and separates easily from husk, adding more water to pot as necessary, about 45 minutes.
• Let stand 10 minutes.
• Can be made 2 days ahead. Cool one hour, cover and chill. Before serving, re-steam tamales until hot, about 35 minutes.

Steps:

• Soak the corn husks in a bowl of hot water, using a plate to keep them submerged, until pliable, about 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, make the filling: Bring the chicken base and 4 cups water to a simmer in a medium pot over medium heat. Add the chicken breasts and thighs and simmer until cooked through, 12 to 15 minutes. Remove the chicken and let cool; cut into small pieces. Reserve the broth.
• Puree the cilantro and 1 1/4 cups of the reserved broth in a food processor until smooth (save the remaining broth for another use). Transfer to a medium pot. Add the salsa, cumin and garlic and bring to a simmer over medium heat; cook until slightly reduced, about 12 minutes. Stir in the chicken and season with salt. Remove from the heat and let cool.
• Make the dough: Soak the ancho chile in hot water until soft, about 15 minutes. Drain the chile, then mince to make a paste. Combine the chile paste, masa harina, lard, 3 cups warm water and 2 teaspoons salt in a bowl. Mix with your hands (or use a mixer with the paddle attachment) until you can float a marble-size ball of the dough in water, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Drain the husks and pat dry. Starting 1/2 inch from the wide end of a husk, spread about 3 tablespoons of the dough down the length of a husk, leaving a 1-inch border on the sides. Spoon about 2 tablespoons of the chicken filling down the center of the dough, then fold in the sides of the husk, wrapping the dough around the filling. Fold up the narrow end of the husk. Repeat with the remaining husks, dough and filling.
• Set a steamer basket in a large pot filled with 1 to 2 inches of water. Arrange the tamales standing open-end up in the steamer. Bring the water to a boil over medium-high heat, then cover and steam until the tamales pull away from the husks, about 1 hour. Remove from the steamer and let cool slightly before unwrapping.

Steps:

• Combine the roasted poblanos and tomatillo salsa in a blender of food processor. Puree until smooth. Add the pureed chile mixture to the masa dough and mix well to combine. Reserve at room temperature. Follow method of filling and steaming as in Turkey Tamale recipe.
• In a blender place tomatillos, jalapenos and water. Puree until just chunky. Add remaining ingredients and puree about 2 minutes more, or until no large chunks remain. This salsa keeps in the refrigerator, in a covered container, about 3 days.

Steps:

• In a small bowl, mix oil with oregano and cumin. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high. To the skillet add 2 tablespoons of the seasoned oil, half of the chicken, and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is no longer pink and is lightly golden, about 5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon or spatula, transfer chicken to a plate. Add 1 tablespoon of the oil and remaining chicken to the skillet and repeat.
• Add the remaining 1 tablespoon oil, onion and bell pepper to the empty skillet and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 3 minutes. Stir in garlic until fragrant, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Add green chiles, broth and chicken (along with any accumulated juices) and bring to a simmer. Cook, stirring occasionally, until all of the liquid is absorbed, the mixture is thick and the chicken is cooked through, about 8 minutes.
• Divide the chicken mixture among the tortillas. Top with shredded cabbage, pico de gallo, avocado, sour cream and cilantro. Serve with lime wedges.

Steps:

• PLace the chicken breasts, garlic cloves, whole 1/4 onion, jalapenos, serranos and salt in a large stock pot. Fill with water until the breasts are covered.
• Cook on medium high heat for 25-30 minutes or until chicken is tender and almost falling off the bone.
• Take the chicken breasts out of the water and set aside.
• Place the jalapenos, serranos, garlic, and whole onion in the blender. Add in 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid and blend on high for a minute or so until the chiles are pureed.
• Heat the oil in a saute pan. While the oil is heating up, cut the zuchinni into a small dice about the size of sweet peas. Add the zuchinni and diced onion to the saute pan. Saute the mixture for 5 minutes or until the zuchinni starts to soften. Add in the 1/2 chicken bouillon cube and stir until it is melted. Pour in the chile and stir to combine. Let the mixture cook for 2 minutes on a low boil.
• Next, shred the chicken using your fingers or two forks. Add the shredded chicken into the chile. Stir to combine. The mixture should not be too thick, if it is add an additional 1/4 cup of the cooking broth.
• Taste for salt and add if necessary.
• The mixture is now ready to be stuffed in tamales or whatever you may be using it for.