HISPANIC HERITAGE Cookbook FINAL

SWEETPOTATO TAMALES

ME A L

Created exclusively for NCSPC by Sweet Arielle Bakery, Chef Ambassador, Norma Kessler Raleigh, NC

INSTRUCTIONS Roast the sweetpotatoes: 1. Preheat the oven to 350F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper 2. Bake sweetpotatoes for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, (until tender) Remove sweetpotatoes from oven and cool. When sweetpotatoes are cool enough to handle, slip off the skins. Prepare the corn husks: 1. While sweetpotatoes are cooking, rinse the cornhusks under cold water and place in a large bowl making sure they are covered with water. 2. Place a couple of plates on top of the husks to keep them submerged. 3. Let husks sit in water for 1 hour or until soft. Prepare the masa: 1. Place butter in a large, heavy bowl and beat for 2 minutes at medium-high speed. 2. Add, sugar and mix for 2 minutes at medium-low speed until the mixture is very creamy and light yellow. 3. Add the roasted sweetpotato and mix it until fully incorporated and the mixture is fluffy. Add corn flour, rice flour, baking powder and salt and mix at low speed. 4. While the mixture is running, slowly add milk. 5. Blend until ingredients are fully incorporated. Assemble the tamales: 1. Drain the cornhusks and give the husk an extra shaking to dispel any excess water. 2. Lay one husk flat in your hand or on a work surface. 3. Scoop about a 1/4 cup of the masa mixture into the center of the husk. If the husks are too small or broken, put 2 husks together, overlapping them. 4. Using the back of a spoon, spread the masa on the husk in a thin layer to the top part of the husk and down. 5. Place 3 pecans, 3 raisins and 1 1/2 tablespoons diced pineapple in the center of the masa. 6. Fold in the sides of the husk so that dough covers the filling. Fold up the narrow bottom of the toward the back. 7. Set the prepared tamales on a tray and cover with a damp cloth while you assemble the rest. Steam the tamales: 1. Fill a large pot with enough hot water reach just underneath but not touching a steamer basket. Place three coins in the water to. The coins will be your water measuring devices while you are cooking. When they stop jingling, the water is getting dangerously low, and more water must be added 2. Cover the bottom of the steamer basket with some of the leftover cornhusks. Arrange the tamales vertically, standing them on their bottom fold and letting them rest against one another. Cover the tamales with more leftover husks or a kitchen towel. 3. Cover the pot with lid and cook over medium heat until the tamales slide out of the wrappers, about 1 to 1 1/2 hours. 4. Try never to let water in the steamer go off the boil once you have started cooking.

INGREDIENTS For the masa:

• 2 pound sweetpotatoes, scrubbed and unpeeled • About 30 dried corn husks • 3 1/2 sticks of butter • 3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon • 1 cup white rice flour • 1 tablespoon of baking powder • 1/2 teaspoon salt • 2 1/4 cups whole milk For the filling: • 1 1/2 cups whole N.C. pecans • 3/4 cup raisins • One 3-pound fresh pineapple cut into 1-inch dice Garnish: • 1 can sweetened condensed milk granulated sugar • 2 cups corn flour

Washing: When washing, do not scrub vigorously to avoid damaging the skin.

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North Carolina Sweetpotato Commission

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NCSweetpotatoes.com