COLOMBIAN TAMALES BOGOTANOS | How To Make Tamales Santafereños | SyS

pork

🥗Healthier: turkey

💰Cheaper: chicken

Turkey is leaner than pork, while chicken is often more affordable.

corn dough

🥗Healthier: whole wheat flour dough

💰Cheaper: regular flour dough

Whole wheat adds fiber, while regular flour is often cheaper.

Blend white onion, green onion, garlic, food coloring, all-purpose seasoning, water, salt, and pepper in a blender for a couple of minutes.

Use pork belly with skin and fat, pork ribs (about 15), and chicken thighs (bone-in, skinless) for the tamales.

Place the meat in plastic containers or resealable bags and add the marinade. Massage the marinade into the meat and refrigerate overnight.

The next day, heat olive oil in a large pan over medium heat and add chopped white onion. Cook for about 3 minutes until translucent.

Add chopped green onion and garlic to the pan and cook for 1-2 minutes.

Add chopped red bell pepper and chopped tomato, cooking for about 8 minutes until soft.

Add food coloring and optional chicken bouillon, season with salt and pepper, and mix well.

Heat water in a large pot over medium heat, season with onion powder, garlic powder, optional chicken bouillon, food coloring, and plenty of salt, then stir and bring to a boil.

Once boiling, add precooked cornmeal and stir until it reaches a thick oatmeal consistency. Remove from heat and add frozen sweet peas.

Cut plantain leaves into medium rectangles and clean both sides with a wet paper towel. Pass fresh leaves over a low burner to soften if using fresh.

Spread a layer of dough on the ridged side of the plantain leaves, add ghee, a sprig of parsley, slices of red potatoes, carrots, cooked chickpeas, a piece of longanisa, a pork rib, a piece of pork belly, and a piece of chicken. Optionally add more dough on top.

Bring both sides of the leaf to the center and wrap tightly, then tie with kitchen twine.

Place water in a large pot and add a steaming rack. Place the tamales on the rack, cover the pot, and steam for 2 hours over low to medium-low heat.

Let the tamales rest for a few minutes after cooking before serving.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary