Colombian Food and International Flavors

Hallacas Guajiras de Pollo (Chicken Hallacas)

by Erica Dinho on November 7, 2011

Hayacas or Hallacas are a traditional dish from Venezuela as well as La Guajira department of Colombia. This delicious dish is usually made with precooked cornmeal(masarepa) filled with beef, pork or chicken, and vegetables, raisins and capers. The meat is cooked with different seasonings, spices and herbs, such as, garlic, cumin, achiote, cilantro, amongst others, and wrapped with banana leaves or aluminum foil. They are similar to our traditional Colombian tamales, but smaller.

I didn’t have banana leaves on hand, so I used aluminum foil to wrap my Chicken Hallacas.

Buen provecho!

Ingredients:
(About 30 hallacas)

Filling: 
3 chicken breasts, bone in and skin on
1 large onion, diced
4 garlic cloves
1 large red bell pepper, diced
1 large green bell pepper, diced
4 scallions, chopped
4 tablespoons ground cumin
3 tablespoons of achiote
Salt
2 cups water 1 cup peas (fresh or frozen) 1 cup carrots, peeled and diced
1 cup green beans
2 tablespoons capers
1/4 cup finely chopped red bell pepper
3 tablespoons of raisins

Masa:
1 pound yellow precooked corn meal or masarepa
5 cups water
Salt
½ cup aliños
2 tablespoons achiote oil
Banana leaves or aluminum foil

Directions:

1.Place the chicken in a large pot. Add the onions, garlic, pepper, scallions, ground cumin, achiote, salt and water.

2.Cook over medium heat until the chicken is very tender, about 1 hour. Let it cool and shred the chicken using your hands or a fork. Place in a saucepan.

3. Add the peas, carrots, green beans, red bell pepper, capers, salt and raisins.

4. To prepare the masa: Place the masarepa in a large bowl, add the water, salt, achiote oil and aliños. Mix well with a wooden spoon or your hands.

5. To assemble the hallacas: Place 1 piece of the leaf on a work surface and place a second leaf on top, pointing in the opposite direction, like forming a cross.

6. Spread about 5 tablespoons of masa in the center of the banana leaves or aluminum foil, at the point where they connect and form a cross.

7. Add about 3 tablespoons of the filling in a line down the center of each portion of the masa. Fold the banana leaves up, one of the four sides at the time, so that the leaves enclose all of the filling, like you’re making a package. Tie with butcher’s string. Continue the process until all the hallacas are wrapped and tied.

8. Position a steamer basket inside a large pot (such as a stockpot or pasta pot). Add water and place the hallacas in the steamer basket, cover the steamer, and bring to a boil. Steam the hallacas until masa is completely cooked through and tender, about 45 minutes.