Dinner for 20

Red Chicken Tamales

Name: Red Chicken Tamales
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 20 servings
Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients: 1 5-6 pound whole chicken; 2 white onions; 6 tomatoes; 2 sticks ceylon cinnamon sticks; 2 tbsp plus 2 teaspoons kosher salt; 1 tbsp black peppercorns; 20 dried new mexico chiles; 20 cloves garlic; 1 tsp dried oregano; 1 cup chopped fresh cilantro; 2 cups chicken cooking liquid; 4 lb banana leaves; 2 lb fresh masa; 1 cup chicken cooking liquid; 1 cup fat such as lard; 1 tsp kosher salt; 1 tsp baking powder

$10.17for 430 minServes 20

Fresh masa wraps shredded chicken and red chile sauce in banana leaves before steaming until firm and fully cooked.

Photo: holajalapeno.com

What it costs

Pick your city to see which ingredients are on sale

Ingredient	Amount	Cost
	Whole chicken, 4 lb$1.69/lb typical	4 lb	$6.76Typical price
	Onions, 0.8 lb$1.29/lb typical	0.8 lb	$1.03Typical price
	Fresh tomatoes, 1.9 lb$1.99/lb typical	1.9 lb	$3.73Typical price
	Garlic, 2$0.75 each typical	2	$1.50Typical price
	Fresh herbs (cilantro, 0.5$1.49 each typical	0.5	$0.74Typical price
	Chicken breast, 0.95 lb$3.49/lb typical	0.95 lb	$3.27Typical price
	Bananas, 4 lb$0.62/lb typical	4 lb	$2.48Typical price
	Cornmeal, 32 oz$0.08/oz typical	32 oz	$2.56Typical price
Total for the servings shown		$50.84

Swaps

Swap chicken breast for chicken thighsabout $1.20/lb less at typical prices
Swap onions for red onionsabout $0.20/lb more at typical prices

Pantry staples you likely have

Dried herbs, spices and seasoning blendsSalt and pepperCooking spray, shortening, ghee, coconut and sesame oilBaking powder and soda

Not included in the cost.

30 minstart to table
Easydifficulty
20servings as written
$$typical cost tier

Mexican Gluten-free Budget Family Dinners Lunches Instant Pot

Typical price

$2.54 per serving$10.17 for 4

City Store

Typical price: Salefork's estimate of an everyday US shelf price for each ingredient. Pick your city to price it from this week's ad.

Ingredients

1 5-6 pound whole chicken
2 white onions
6 tomatoes
2 sticks ceylon cinnamon sticks
2 tbsp plus 2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 tbsp black peppercorns
20 dried new mexico chiles
20 cloves garlic
1 tsp dried oregano
1 cup chopped fresh cilantro
2 cups chicken cooking liquid
4 lb banana leaves
2 lb fresh masa
1 cup chicken cooking liquid
1 cup fat such as lard
1 tsp kosher salt
1 tsp baking powder

Steps

Cook the whole chicken in water in a pressure cooker for 20 minutes, then release the pressure and confirm the meat reaches 165 F.
Blend the tomatoes, onions, cinnamon, chiles, garlic, oregano, pepper, salt, cilantro, and 2 cups cooking liquid until smooth.
Simmer the chile sauce in a large pot over medium heat for 5 minutes, then shred the chicken and stir it in.
Beat the masa with the fat, remaining cooking liquid, salt, and baking powder until spreadable.
Cut the banana leaves into squares, spread each with masa, add chicken filling, and fold the leaves closed.
Steam the tamales in a covered large pot for 30 minutes, until the masa is firm and the filling reaches 165 F.

Main ingredient on sale this week? See what to make with whole chicken on sale.