Grilled Southern Turkish Tamales Turkish Pork Kabobs With Mediterranean Orzo Pilaf Recipes

Steps:

• 1. 1.) Prepare Mediterranean orzo pilaf. Bring chicken broth to a boil in a large Dutch oven; stir in orzo. Reduce heat; simmer 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove from heat and cover. Melt 2 tablespoons unsalted butter in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add green bell peppers, green onions and garlic; sauté for 2 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside. Drain any excess broth from orzo. Combine orzo and buttered sautéed vegetable mixture into a 2-quart round casserole dish, fold in diced tomatoes and sliced black olives; set aside.
• 2. 2.) Wash out Dutch oven clean, dry inside out completely to prepare Southern Tamale leaves. Fill Dutch oven to 2-inches from rim with hot water. Bring water to a rapid boil. Turn off heat and add collard leaves. Let sit for 3 - 5 minutes. Quickly remove leaves from water and place leaves flat along side each other onto a few layers of paper towels. Place a large spoonful of Mediterranean orzo pilaf mixture in the center of each collard leaf. Fold the ends over the pilaf mixture to form a sealed packed. Secure each with toothpick for added protection. Place tamales onto a plate; set aside. Reserve remaining Mediterranean orzo pilaf to serve later with completed meal.
• 3. 3.) Prepare pork kabobs. Season all sides of pork with a little salt and ground black pepper. Tread seasoned pork, eggplant, zucchini and red bell peppers alternately on each of 10 bamboo skewers, leaving about 1-inch space free from tops of each skewer. Brush each lightly with Italian dressing. Heat coal or gas grill for medium heat level. Place kabobs on lower rack of grill along side each other. Cover and grill kabobs over medium heat 10 minutes, turning and brushing with Italian dressing every 2 minutes. Add tamales onto outer edge or upper rack of grill and cook, for an additional 5 minutes longer for kabobs, brushing kabobs with Italian dressing and turning tamales one time within 2 ½ minutes, or until pork is no longer pink and vegetables plus tamales are tender.
• 4. 4.) To serve, place grilled kabobs and tamales onto serving platters, along side of Mediterranean orzo pilaf, or serve even portions of each onto 6 individual serving plates.

Steps:

• Make the filling: Put the pork in a deep saucepan and cover with cold water (about 6 cups). Add 2 teaspoons salt, the onion, thyme, oregano, bay leaves and peppercorns; cover and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to maintain a gentle simmer and cook until the pork is tender, 1 hour, 30 minutes to 2 hours. Transfer the pork to a plate and shred. Strain and reserve the cooking liquid; keep warm.
• Meanwhile, soak the corn husks in a bowl of hot water, using a plate to keep them submerged, until pliable, 1 hour.
• Combine the pork, cumin, 1/3 cup chili powder, the garlic, flour, sugar, vegetable oil and 1 cup of the reserved cooking liquid in a large skillet. Bring to a simmer over medium heat; cook, stirring occasionally, until most of the liquid is absorbed, about 25 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make the dough: Mix the masa harina, lard, 2 teaspoons salt, the remaining 1/2 teaspoon chili powder and 2 2/3 cups of the reserved cooking liquid in a bowl until combined.
• Drain the husks and pat dry. Starting 1/2 inch from the wide end, spread about 3 tablespoons of the dough down a husk, leaving a 1-inch border on the sides. Spoon 2 tablespoons of the pork 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 up in the steamer, folded-side down. Bring the water to a boil over medium-high heat, cover and steam until the dough is firm, 45 to 50 minutes. Remove from the steamer and let cool slightly before unwrapping.

Steps:

• In a 5 qt Dutch oven, bring pork, water, onion, garlic and 1 1/2 salt to boil.
• Simmer covered, about 2 1/2 hours or until meat is very tender.
• Remove meat from broth and allow both meat and broth to cool. (Chilling the broth will allow you to easily remove the fat if you desire to do so).
• Shred the meat using 2 forks, discarding fat.
• Strain the broth and reserve 6 cups.
• In a large sauce pan, heat the red chili sauce and add meat; simmer, covered for 10 minutes.
• To make masa beat shortening on medium speed in a large bowl for 1 minute.
• In a separate bowl, stir together masa harina, baking powder and 2 teaspoons salt.
• Alternately add masa harina mixture and broth to shortening, beating well after each addition. (Add just enough broth to make a thick, creamy paste).
• In the mean time, soak corn husks in warm water for at least 20 minutes; rinse to remove any corn silk and drain well.
• To assemble each tamale, spread 2 tablespoons of the masa mixture on the center of the corn husk (each husk should be 8 inches long and 6 inches wide at the top. If husks are small, overlap 2 small ones to form one. If it is large, tear a strip from the side).
• Place about 1 tablespoon meat and sauce mixture in the middle of the masa.
• Fold in sides of husk and fold up the bottom.
• Place a mound of extra husks or a foil ball in the center of a steamer basket placed in a Dutch oven.
• Lean the tamales in the basket, open side up.
• Add water to Dutch oven just below the basket.
• Bring water to boil and reduce heat.
• Cover and steam 40 minutes, adding water when necessary.
• To freeze these for future meals, leave them in the husks and place them in freezer bags. To reheat, thaw and wrap in a wet paper towel and reheat in the microwave for 2 minutes for one or two or re-steam them just until hot.