Butternut Squash Tamales

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.

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