Vegetarian Tamales

Photo: flickr user yummyporky

Ingredients

3 ounces Dried corn husks

1 cup TVP granules or flakes

cup Hot water

2 tablespoons Olive oil

cup Onion, chopped small

3 Cloves garlic, minced

1 Green pepper, chopped small

1 tablespoon Chili powder

2 teaspoons Cumin

teaspoon Garlic salt

cup Tomato puree

Dash of cayenne

2 cups Masa harina

1 teaspoon Salt

2 tablespoons Margarine or oil

Preparation

Soak the dried corn husks in cold water for 1 hour.

For the filling, soak the TVP in 7/8 c. hot water for 5 minutes. Saute the olive oil, onion, garlic and green pepper in a skillet.

Add the chili powder, cumin, garlic salt, tomato puree and cayenne to the reconstituted TVP. Mix TVP and onions and heat together for 2 minutes.

Taste the filling and add a little hot sauce, if desired.

To make the masa dough, place the masa harina and salt into a bowl. Slowly add enough warm water (about 1 1/2 cups) to make a firm but moist dough, working in the margarine or oil as you knead the mixture.

To form the tamales, use the palm of your hand to slap-pat the masa dough into flat patties a quarter-inch thick. Fold patty around a spoonful of filling and place in a drained corn husk. Fold the husk over to enclose the filling. If husks are small or broken, use several pieces. Place 1 cup hot water in thebottom of a kettle, place a steamer rack in the kettle and stack tamales on rack. Cover pan, bring water to a boil, reduce heat and steam tamales 45 minutes. You may want to cook them in two batches, depending on the size of your steamer.

Makes 36-40 tamales.