Ingredients
- About 16 corn husks or 22 corn husks for smaller tamales (soaked in water until soft)
Dough:
- 2 cups diced butternut squash
- 3 cups vegetable broth
- 1/2 cup chopped scallion, (white and green) 1 bunch or 6 scallions
- 1 tablespoon canned chipotle en adobo sauce (chiles for filling)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 3 cups masa harina, preferably Columbian such as Pan Harina,
- 3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
Filling:
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 small bunch scallions, (white and green) finely chopped, about 1/2 cup
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 chipotle chiles in adobo, sliced
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 cup Spanish olives with pimentos, chopped
- 1/2 cup golden raisins
- 1/4 cup capers
- 1 cup vegetable broth
- 1 scant teaspoon finely grated orange zest
- 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
- Hot sauce for serving, optional
Directions
For dough:
Put butternut squash in a medium pot with broth, scallion, adobo sauce, garlic, salt, and cumin. Bring to a simmer and cook until squash is tender, about 15 minutes.
Remove the squash with a slotted spoon, and reserve the broth. Set aside half of the squash for the filling, then mash the remaining squash is a large bowl. Mix in the masa with a fork. Slowly pour the seasoned broth over the filling, mixing with a fork (or hands) until smooth. Slowly stir in oils, a little at a time until dough is soft and moist. Cover with plastic wrap, set aside.
For filling:
Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the scallions, garlic, chiles, cumin and salt and cook until soft, about 1 minute,. Add reserved squash, olives, raisins, capers, and cook, stirring gently, until well combined, about 1 minute longer. Add broth and orange zest and cook, stirring occasionally until broth is slightly absorbed, about 2 minutes. Stir in cilantro, remove from heat.
To assemble:
Cut 2 husks into 24-inch lengths about 1/2-inch wide. Place other soaked corn husks on cutting board, open side up. Place about a 1/4 cup dough in the center of each husk, leaving enough corn husk free to enclose tamale. Spoon 2 to 3 tablespoons filling on top. Then cover filling with about 2 to 3 tablespoons more of dough. Wrap the husks around the filling and twist and tie ends with reserved strips to make party favor shaped tamales.
Set up a 10-inch steamer basket. Lay tamales in steamer, cover and cook until the husks get slightly translucent, about 50 minutes. Remove tamales from steamer, and let rest for 5 to 10 minutes before serving with additional hot sauce if desired.
Cook's Note: These can also be made into smaller finger sized tamales, and then steamed for 45 minutes as well.
Copyright 2008 Television Food Network, G.P. All rights reserved
Halloween 2008 Web
Photo: Butternut Squash Tamales Recipe

















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By cooking4joshua
Grass Valley, CA
on August 07, 2012
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Wow!!! I have not found a person yes you did not think these are the best tamales they ever had. I agree with the previous review you make these now.
By jchaley_7164264
Austin, TX
on February 20, 2012
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MAKE THESE NOW!!! Tons of flavor, not difficult, a fantastic option for a meatless monday meal. I loved the way the spice of the chipotle played off the mild sweetness of the masa and the briny, saltiness of the olives and capers. Get a helper if you want to cut the prep time down and make assembly easier.
By cookwithkindness
Sedona, AZ
on January 15, 2012
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Excellent Tamales! I had just roasted some butternut squash and wanted to do something different. I followed the recipe fairly closely. I even used the capers (of which I am not a fan. I made a double batch and I think I made about 30+ tamales. I shared these with many friends and everyone said they were the best tamales they have ever had! WOW, what a compliment. I took my time preparing this and enjoyed the process. Froze a few, then thawed and re-steamed them and they were perfect. I paired this with a homemade salsa and a simple black bean soup one night then a southwest chopped salad another night.
Fantastic!!! Look forward to making them again.
Read all 14 reviews