Ingredients

  • MEAT FILLING
  • 1 lb top round beef, cut into 1/4-to 1/2 inch-dice
  • 1 lb lean pork, cut into 1/4-to 1/2-inch dice
  • 1/4 lb bacon, strips cut into 1/2-inch lengths
  • 3 medium tomatoes, peeled and seeded
  • 1 onion, peeled
  • 3 garlic cloves
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons marjoram
  • 1 medium leek, diced
  • 1/4 cup capers
  • 1 tablespoon mustard relish, pickle, minced
  • 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
  • 1 bell pepper, cut into 1/4-to-1/2-inch dice
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • 1/2 cup raisins
  • MASA DOUGH
  • 2/3 cup lard or 2/3 cup vegetable shortening
  • 1 teaspoon annatto seeds (achiote, optional for colour)
  • 2 cups masa harina flour (dehydrated, treated corn flour)
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1 1/3 cups warm water
  • FINAL PREPARATIONS
  • 24 dried corn husks (or 24 (9-inch squares parchment paper or tinfoil)
  • 1 lb shredded cooked chicken
  • 4 hard-boiled eggs, sliced
  • 1/4 cup blanched almond
  • 2 ounces pimientos, sliced
  • 5 ounces pimento stuffed olives, cut in half
  • Tabasco sauce

Method

  • FOR THE MEAT FILLING: Put beef, pork, and bacon in a large pan. Puree the tomatoes with the peeled onion and garlic. Add mixture to the meat pan along with the salt, marjoram, and leek. Cover and bring to a boil. Lower heat and continue cooking until all meat is tender, about 2 hours.
  • When meat is tender, add to the meat mixture the capers, mustard pickles, vinegar, bell pepper, Worcestershire sauce, and sugar. Salt and pepper to taste.
  • Raise the heat to high and cook the filling, stirring, until almost all liquid in the pan has evaporated, about 10 minutes. Add the raisins and set filling aside.
  • FOR THE MASA DOUGH: Over a low heat, melt 1/3 cup lard with the annatto seeds. Simmer 2 to 3 minutes.
  • Whip remaining lard until fluffy. Beat in masa harina, salt, cayenne peper, and water. Finally, beat in melted, strained lard, discarding annatto seeds. Form dough into 24 balls.
  • FOR THE FINAL PREPARATIONS: Put a ball of Masa Dough in the center of each corn husk. Flatten dough out to 1/8-inch thickness. Top each masa-coated husk with an equal distribution of the meat mixture, chicken, hard cooked eggs, almonds, pimentos, and olives. Sprinkle on Tabasco sauce to taste.
  • Fold corn husks to completely encase the filling. Tie each hallaca with thin strips of corn husk or kitchen string. When tightly assembled, steam halacas for 1 hour. Serve piping hot.
  • NOTE: Hallacas are easily refrigerated or frozen. Reheat by steaming again until hot. Makes 24 Hallacas.
  • source--Macuto-Sheraton Hotel, Caracas, Venezuela.