Hallacas Guajiras De Pollo (Chicken Tamales) - cooking recipe

Ingredients

Chicken filling
3 chicken breasts, bone in and skin on
1 onion, chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 red bell pepper, seeded and diced
1 green bell pepper, seeded and diced
4 green onions, chopped
4 tablespoons ground cumin
1 tablespoon sazon goya con culantro y achiote or 3 tablespoons ground achiote
salt
2 cups water
2 cups frozen peas and carrots
1 cup green beans
2 tablespoons capers (rough chop if large)
1/4 cup red bell pepper, minced
3 tablespoons golden raisins
Masa
1 lb masa harina (yellow masarepa precooked corn meal)
5 cups hot water
salt
2 tablespoons achiote oil
Alinos
1/2 green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
1/2 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
1/2 onion, chopped
4 green onions, chopped
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1/2 tablespoon sazon goya, con azafran
1/2 cup water (more if needed)
banana leaves or aluminum foil

Preparation

In a large saucepan, combine chicken, onion, garlic, chopped red and green peppers, green onions, cumin, sazon, salt and water; bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover, and cook until the chicken is very tender, about an hour (most of the water will have cooked out).
Let cool a bit, then shred chicken, discarding bones and skin.
Place chicken back in the sauce pan and add in the peas and carrots, green beans, capers, minced red bell pepper, and raisins.
Meanwhile, prepare the alinos by placing all the ingredients in a food processor or blender and processing to form a paste; you will only use 1/2 cup of this, but the rest can be stored in the refrigerator for a week or frozen for longer storage (it is fantastic in rice, soups, or stews).
Now place the masarepa in a large bowl; add water, salt, 1/2 cup of the alinos, and achiote oil.
Mix with your hands until smooth.
To assemble: On a clean work surface, place a banana leaf, then place another one perpendicular to sort of form a cross.
Spread out about 5 tablespoons (not rounded) in the center and top with 3 tablespoons of the filling.
Make a package by folding up the inner banana leaf, then the other; tie with kitchen string.
Repeat with remaining masa and filling.
Place water under the steamer basket, bring to a boil, reduce heat and steam, covered, until the masa is tender and cooked through, about 45 minutes.