World Flavors Cookbook

Hallacas de Navidad

Name: Hallacas de Navidad
Cook time: 60 min
Cuisine: Venezuela
Ingredients: For masa: 1kg masarepa, 300ml chicken broth, 100ml oil, 2 tbsp achiote, salt; For filling (guiso): 300g beef, 300g pork, 200g chicken (all finely diced); 2 onions; peppers; tomatoes; olives; capers; raisins; spices; Banana leaves; String

Venezuelan Christmas tamales — corn masa dyed with achiote and filled with a rich beef, pork, and chicken stew with olives, raisins, and capers, wrapped in banana leaves.

Cuisine: Venezuela

Ingredients

For masa: 1kg masarepa, 300ml chicken broth, 100ml oil, 2 tbsp achiote, salt
For filling (guiso): 300g beef, 300g pork, 200g chicken (all finely diced); 2 onions; peppers; tomatoes; olives; capers; raisins; spices
Banana leaves
String

Instructions

Make guiso: cook meats together with onions, peppers, tomatoes, spices.
Add olives, capers, and raisins at the end. Cool completely.
Make masa: mix masarepa with achiote broth and oil until orange-colored and pliable.
Soften banana leaves over flame.
Spread masa thinly on leaf.
Add guiso filling. Fold leaf.
Tie tightly. Boil 45-60 minutes.