Pork Tamales

Ingredients

FOR THE PORK BUTT:

• 2 ½ lbs. Boneless pork butt
• 1 Tbsp. Garlic powder
• 1 Tsp. Salt
• 1 Tsp. Black pepper

FOR THE MASA:

• 10 lbs. Masa (cornmeal flour)
• 4 cups Pork lard
• ¼ cup Water
• 3 Tbsp. Baking powder
• 2 oz. Chile Ancho to color masa

FOR THE TAMALE ASSEMBLY:

• 6 dozen dried corn husks

FOR THE CHILE SAUCE:

• ½ lb. Chile Ancho
• 1 Tsp. Garlic powder
• ½ Tsp. Ground cumin
• 2 cups Water (stock saved from boiling the Chile Ancho)
• 2 Tbsp. Pork lard
• 2 Tbsp. Salt

Instructions

1. 1
   PORK: Place pork butt in medium-size stock pot. Add the garlic, salt and pepper. Add cold water to cover the pork. On high heat, bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium low and let it simmer partly covered for about 1 ½ to 2 hours. Remove pork from the stock and let it cool at room temperature. When cook, begin shredding the meat into fine threads.
2. 2
   CHILE SAUCE: In a large saucepan, boil the chile ancho for about 10 – 12 minutes or until softened. Drain the chiles and reserve the water. Rinse the seeds out of the boiled chiles. Put the chiles, garlic and cumin in a blender and blend well. Add the 2 cups of reserved water. In a heavy, large-size saucepan, heat 2 tablespoons pork lard over medium high heat. Add the drained chile puree very carefully because it will splatter. Reduce the heat to low. Cook over low heat for about 10-15 minutes. Take sauce off the heat. (Reserve about 2 ounces of this sauce to color the masa). Combine the pork with the chile sauce.
3. 3
   MASA: Place 10 pounds of masa in a large mixing bowl. Pour water and add the baking powder over the masa evenly. Add salt and begin mixing the masa with your hands. Add the pork lard and two ounces of chile ancho sauce (this adds color to the masa) and knead the masa once more. Masa is ready when it starts to feel thick and compact. Pad it down in bowl and set it aside.
4. 4
   TAMALE ASSEMBLY: Soak the dried husks in warm water for about an hour and a half or until soft. Drain the husks well; pat dry with paper towels. For each tamale spread about 2 tablespoons of the masa mixture on each cornhusk. Spoon 2 tablespoons of the filling lengthwise down the center. Fold husk and secure with strips of cornhusk. Steam for about 1 hour.
5. 5
   STEAM TAMALES: At this point, the tamales are ready to be steamed. Use a stock pot with wire lining or steamer insert. Add enough water as to keep it below the steamer. Add a few husks to prevent the tamales from getting wet. Tamales must be placed open side up along the inside perimeter of the stock pot. Place extra husks on top the tamales and cover the pot. Steam for about an hour or until the husk peels away from the masa easily.
6. 6
   Serve warm or freeze after cooling.