White Corn Tamales
Description
This is another version of a raw corn tamale. Lots of layers of flavors, as usual with Sarma's recipes.
Ingredients
Portobellos
3 medium or 2 large portobello mushroom caps,
sliced into sticks about 2 inches long and 1/4-inch thick
1/2 cup pumpkin seed oil
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tablespoon mince fresh oregano
1 teaspoon sea salt
Mole Sauce
3 dried chili peppers (such as ancho, pasilla, or cascebel)
3 tablespoons raw cacao nibs
1/2 cup pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds
1/4 cup sesame seeds
3/4 cup raisins
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/4 cup raw almond butter
1 tablespoon cocoa powder
2 tablespoons walnut or other nut oil
Sea Salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Corn Filling and Tamales
12 corn husks
6 cups fresh white corn kernels, cut from 4-5 ears
1 cup pine nuts
1 cup cashews
1/2 teaspoon cayenne
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 small handful cilantro, finely chopped
Salsa Verde
2 to 3 medium green tomatoes
2 to 3 medium tomatillos
Sea salt
2 jalepeno peppers, seeds to taste, chopped
1 very large handful cilantro
1 green onion, white and 1 inch green, chipped
2 tablespoons lime juice
Tart Sour Cream
1 cup coconut meat
3 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon white miso paste
1 cup filtered water
1/2 cup cashew nuts, soaked for 1 to 2 hours
1 teaspoon sea salt
Serving
1/2 cup Tart Sour Cream
Cacao powder for dusting
Baby cilantro or regular cilantro for garnish
Methods/steps
Portobellos
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In a medium bowl, toss the mushrooms with the pumpkin seed oil, garlic, oregano, and salt.
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Add a bit more oil if necessary to coat all the mushrooms.
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Transfer the mushrooms to a Teflex lined dehydrator tray and dehydrate for 115 F for 12 to 24 hours (tossing them around from time to tome) or until the mushrooms taste as if they have ben sauteed.
Mole Sauce
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In a bowl, add the chilies, cacao nibs, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, raisins, and cumin and mix to combine.
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Add enough water to the bowl to cover and let stand at room temperature for 1 to 2 hours.
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Transfer the mixture to a Vita-Mix or high-speed blender, add the almond butter and cocoa powder and blend until completely smooth, adding as much filtered water as necessary to get it to a thick sauce consistency.
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Add the walnut oil, and sea salt and black pepper to taste and blend to combine.
Corn Filling and Tamales
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Soak the corn husks in warm water for 1 to 2 hours to make them pliable.
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Place 5 cups of the corn in the food processor with the pine nuts, cashews, cayenne, and salt and process just until smooth, but do not over-process.
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Fold in the remaining 1 cup corn and the cilantro and adjust seasoning if necessary.
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Transfer to a bowl and mix in the dehydrated mushrooms.
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Dry the corn husks with a towel.
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Transfer to a bowl and mix in the dehydrated mushrooms.
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Tear a thin strip off the side of each husk — this will be used as string to tie the tamale together.
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Lay the corn husks flat and place about 1/2 cup of the corn mixture onto the center of each.
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Fold the bottoms up over the filling and then fold the sides over.
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Using the husk strips, tie the tops of each tamale.
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Place the tamales in the dehydrator at 115 F to warm them through, ideally for about 2 hours before serving.
Salsa Verde
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Quarter and salt the tomatoes and tomatillos.
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Let sit for 1 hour and then drain the liquid and place them in the food processor.
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Add the jalapeno, cilantro and green onion and pulse until chunky.
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Drain any additional excess liquid and discard, and season the mixture with lime juice and salt to taste.
Tart Sour Cream
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In a blender, blend the coconut meat with the lemon juice, cider vinegar, miso, and 1/2 cup of the water until smooth.
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Add the soaked cashews and more water, 1 tablespoon at a time and blend until completely smooth (you may need more then 1 cup of water).
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Season with salt and blend further.
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Transfer to a squeeze bottle or covered container and refrigerate until ready to use. Can be kept for up to 2 or 3 days.
Serving
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Spoon mole sauce onto each plate and spread to make a wide pool.
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Using a sharp knife, carefully slice open the tamales and place 2 or 3 on top of the sauce on each plate.
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Gently pull the tamales open a bit and top each with a heaping tablespoon of salsa.
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Place a spoonful of sour cream on the mole sauce dust the plate with cocoa powder, and garnish with cilantro.












