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Pork and Red Chile Tamale Filling





Yields
Makes enough filling for about 3 dozen tamales (serving size: 1 tamale)




Total Time
3 hrs

Cookbook author Marcela Valladolid showed us how to put on a tamalada--a tamale-making party--at her house near San Diego; this was one of the several tamales that day. Dried guajillo chiles have a rich, fruity flavor and mild heat. Look for chiles as supple as soft leather--they are fresher and better-tasting than dried-out crackly ones.
 

su-Pork and Red Chile Tamale Filling Image




Photo: Thomas J. Story

  For pork:
 2 pounds bone-in pork shoulder or pork shoulder chops
 1 white onion, halved
 3 garlic cloves
 2 bay leaves
  For red chile salsa:
 12 guajillo chiles
 1 white onion, quartered
 4 garlic cloves
 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  About 1 tsp. salt, divided
 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  About 1/2 tsp. pepper
Step 1
1

Cook pork: Put all ingredients for pork in a large heavy pot and add enough water to cover pork. Bring to a boil, skimming foam periodically, then reduce to a simmer. Cover and simmer until a paring knife slides in easily, 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Remove from heat and let cool. Lift out meat and onions (reserve broth for tamale dough if you like, and the onions for soup) and tear meat into bite-size shreds, discarding bones and excess fat. Rinse out pot and reserve.

Step 2
2

Make salsa: Snip chiles open with scissors. Remove stem, seeds, and any white membranes. Add chiles, onion, and garlic to a pot with 3 1/2 cups water. Bring to a boil and remove from heat. Stir in cloves, cumin, and 1/2 tsp. salt. In 2 batches, whirl in a blender until smooth.

Step 3
3

In same pot you used for pork, heat oil over medium-high heat. Pour in salsa and bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook 15 minutes. Add shredded pork, remaining 1/2 tsp. salt, and the pepper and cook until salsa is thick and clingy and flavors are incorporated, about 15 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Step 4
4

Make ahead: Up to 2 days, chilled.

Nutrition Facts

Servings 0


Amount Per Serving
Calories 164Calories from Fat 52
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 9.6g15%

Saturated Fat 2.9g15%
Cholesterol 19mg7%
Sodium 512mg22%
Total Carbohydrate 12g4%

Dietary Fiber 1.2g5%
Protein 7.7g16%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.