Homemade Paches (Tamales)

I’ve been trying to make paches since 2 years ago and I have to say that I really did a great job this time yummy!

For those of you that don’t know, this are called paches because are made with a mixture of potatoes and masa and I always like to put a big peace of meat and some slices of jalapeno peppers 🙂 Also, I will double the sauce next time because this time it was barely enough.

I did start making them around 11 am and finish around 4 pm but I took 2 hours break plus taking some short time brake to take care of my kids. Hope you enjoy them and have fun making them.

Ingredientes

2 1/2 Pounds Potatoes
3 – 4 Pounds pork country ribs
3 Cups Water
1 Pound Tomatoes — sliced
2 Large Scallion — finely chopped
8 Cloves Garlic — finely chopped
1 small onion
2 tbs olive oil
1 bay leave
thyme
1 Small Red Bell Pepper — finely chopped
5 Large Jalapeno — finely sliced
9 Tablespoons Margarine — melted
2 Cups Tortilla Flour — Maseca
2 Teaspoons Salt
1 1/2 Teaspoons Ground Allspice
1 1/2 Teaspoons Pepper
1/4 Teaspoon Achiote — dissolved in
2 Teaspoons Hot Water
Aluminum Foil
4 bags of Goya Banana Leaves

Directions

If your banana leaves are frozen make sure to defrost them over night.

Fill up with water a large pot, cook the potatoes over moderate heat until they are soft, about 30-40 minutes. Cool and peel. While they are warm mashed them leaving small pieces like the size of a grape. Set aside.

Cook together 1 cup water, tomatoes, scallions, 4 garlic cloves, bell pepper and 2 jalapeno peppers over low heat for 20 minutes. Process to a smooth sauce and strain through a metal sieve to remove any lumps. There should be about 3 cups sauce.
Cut in small pieces and season the ribs with salt, pepper and other season you will like, set aside.
In a pre-heated pan add olive oil, 4 garlic cloves and 1 small onion finely chopped.

Fry them for about 1 or 2 minutes. Add ribs and saute them in every side until gold color. Set aside.
In a large pot add the tomato sauce and the ribs, bay leave, thyme and bring it to boil, reduce heat to simmer and let it cook for about 2 hours, stir occasionally making sure you always have a least 2 1/2 cups of sauce, add chicken broth or water and season if it needs it.
Mix together into a smooth moist paste, the mashed potatoes, 1/2 cup of sauce, margarine, tortilla flour, salt, allspice, pepper and dissolved achiote. Mix welll.
Soak in water the banana leaves and dry them. Cut them in squares, set aside.

Slice the jalapenos. Put 3-4 tablespoons of the masa mixture onto a square of banana leave and foil, place a piece of meat in the center, 2 slices of jalapeno pepper and 1 tbs of sauce, fold into a rectangle.