What is Thanksgiving all about? Giving thanks for what we have with family and close friends over a wonderful meal even if you are not eating turkey! I love the flavors of Thanksgiving like Pumpkin. Anything made with Pumpkin, from pumpkin pie to pumpkin gnocchi or pumpkin pancakes and there are still plenty of pumpkins on the farmstands of the North Fork.
So if you like pumpkin and love tamales, try these at home for Thanksgiving along with your meal. You will make vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike very happy.
Menu
Savory Pumpkin Tamales with queso fresco
Saffron rice
Haricots Verts almondine
Spicy Cranberry relish
10 ingredient vegetarian stuffing
Mushroom Gravy
Pear Crisp with Salted Caramel ice cream
Savory Pumpkin Tamales with queso fresco
Equipment: large stock pot
16 dried corn husks (soak in water until pliable)
Tamales
3 cups of Maseca or Masa Harina
1 cup of roasted cheese pumpkin (peeled)
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 tablespoon salt
2 teaspoons ground coriander (the seeds of the Cilantro plant)
1/2 whipped vegetable shortening
3 cups of vegetable stock (make night before/organic store bought ok)
Filling
1 cup of fresh corn off the cobb
2 lbs of queso fresco or Farmer’s cheese
2 cups of green salsa
Measure dry ingredients-mix well. Add pumpkin and shortening. Add broth a little at a time until you reach consistency of wet but not sticky. Cover with a wet towel and set aside.
Corn husks
strip ends to make ties for the tamales (need two per tamale)
arrange in rectangle and apply masa to the bottom.
add tablespoon of filling and roll. tie each end.
Arrange the tamales in your pot with a steamer top. Steam tamales for 2 hours or until they are firm to touch.
Serve in their pouches on a platter. Place finger bowls of creme fraiche and more green salsa for garnish.
Saffron rice
Equipment: rice cooker
Ingredients: Arborio rice, saffron thread, tumeric, salt, olive oil, vegetable stock
Add three cups of Arborio rice to pot
Add two cups of vegetable stock
1/4 teaspoon of salt
1/4 teaspoon of saffron threads
1/8 teaspoon of Tumeric
1 tablespoon EVOO
Stir ingredients and push button — a rice cooker will perfectly steam your rice until done.
