Tamales are a traditional Mesoamerican dish made of masa or corn dough that is steamed or boiled in a corn husk or banana leaf. Tamales can be filled with various ingredients, including meats, cheeses, vegetables, and fruits. They are a popular dish in many Latin American countries, and there are many different regional variations. This article provides recipes for three popular types of tamales: chicken, pork, and vegetarian. Each recipe includes step-by-step instructions and a list of ingredients. With its detailed instructions and helpful tips, this article is a comprehensive guide to making delicious tamales at home.
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TAMALE DOUGH
Provided by My Food and Family
Categories Recipes
Time 5h
Yield Makes enough for 26 servings, 2 tamales each.
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Mix masa harina, lard, salt and baking powder in large bowl with wooden spoon until well blended. Gradually add just enough of the hot water to make a smooth stiff dough, stirring constantly.
- Assemble tamales, using about 2 Tbsp. of the masa mixture and 1 to 2 Tbsp. of your favorite filling for each tamale.
- Stand tamales in a steamer basket in large pot filled 1/4 full with water. (Make sure tamales are not touching the water.) Bring water to boil; cover. Steam 1 hour or until tamales pull away from the corn husks, adding more water to the pot when necessary. Cool slightly.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 180, Fat 13 g, SaturatedFat 5 g, TransFat 0 g, Cholesterol 10 mg, Sodium 310 mg, Carbohydrate 0 g, Fiber 1 g, Sugar 0 g, Protein 2 g
BASIC MEXICAN TAMALE DOUGH RECIPE
This master dough recipe for Mexican tamales makes a light and flavorful tamale that can be stuffed with your favorite filling, like green chili and pork or red chili with chicken.
Provided by Joshua Bousel
Categories Snacks
Time 1h20m
Yield 30
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Combine lard, salt, and baking powder and, using an electric mixer, beat at medium-high speed until well whipped, about 1 minute.
- Add one-fourth of the masa at a time to the lard, beating between additions until thoroughly incorporated. Add chicken stock and continue beating until dough is light and has a soft and spreadable hummus-like texture. Cover masa with plastic and refrigerate for 1 hour.
- Remove masa from refrigerator and re-whip, adding additional chicken stock 1 tablespoon at a time, if necessary, to return it to original hummus-like texture. Use tamale dough in any tamale recipe (see links above for ideas, assembly, and cooking instructions).
Nutrition Facts : Calories 111 kcal, Carbohydrate 9 g, Cholesterol 7 mg, Fiber 1 g, Protein 1 g, SaturatedFat 3 g, Sodium 119 mg, Sugar 0 g, Fat 8 g, ServingSize Makes enough dough for about 30 tamales, UnsaturatedFat 0 g
REAL HOMEMADE TAMALES
I had been looking for a Tamale recipe for years. One day I went to the international market and stood in the Mexican aisle till a woman with a full cart came by. I just asked her if she knew how to make Tamales. This is her recipe with a few additions from me. The pork can be substituted with either chicken or beef. This is great served with refried beans and a salad.
Provided by SADDIECAT
Categories World Cuisine Recipes Latin American Mexican
Time 3h35m
Yield 16
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Place pork into a Dutch oven with onion and garlic, and add water to cover. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer until the meat is cooked through, about 2 hours.
- Use rubber gloves to remove stems and seeds from the chile pods. Place chiles in a saucepan with 2 cups of water. Simmer, uncovered, for 20 minutes, then remove from heat to cool. Transfer the chiles and water to a blender and blend until smooth. Strain the mixture, stir in salt, and set aside. Shred the cooked meat and mix in one cup of the chile sauce.
- Soak the corn husks in a bowl of warm water. In a large bowl, beat the lard with a tablespoon of the broth until fluffy. Combine the masa harina, baking powder and salt; stir into the lard mixture, adding more broth as necessary to form a spongy dough.
- Spread the dough out over the corn husks to 1/4 to 1/2 inch thickness. Place one tablespoon of the meat filling into the center. Fold the sides of the husks in toward the center and place in a steamer. Steam for 1 hour.
- Remove tamales from husks and drizzle remaining chile sauce over. Top with sour cream. For a creamy sauce, mix sour cream into the chile sauce.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 235.9 calories, Carbohydrate 12.6 g, Cholesterol 36.8 mg, Fat 16.6 g, Fiber 2.1 g, Protein 9.1 g, SaturatedFat 6.9 g, Sodium 401.4 mg, Sugar 0.4 g
TAMALE DOUGH
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Ingredients Pasta and Grains
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Combine masa harina, lard, and salt in the bowl of a food processor and pulse until mixture is the texture of coarse cornmeal. Transfer to a large bowl. Add 2 cups corn kernels to processor bowl, puree, and transfer to bowl with masa mixture. Stir in remaining corn kernels and chicken broth. Knead mixture with hands until a dough forms. Cover dough with a damp towel until ready to use.
BASIC TAMAL DOUGH
Though the amount of salt may seem excessive, a lot of the salt will be lost when the mixture is steamed inside the tamal wrapping. You can reduce the amount somewhat, but remember that the particular flavor of masa in tamales is complemented by salt.
Provided by Zarela Martinez
Categories Hominy/Cornmeal/Masa Corn Christmas Dinner Wheat/Gluten-Free Tree Nut Free Soy Free
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- If using fresh masa, skip to next step. If using masa harina, place it in a large bowl and reconstitute by adding 4 cups warm stock. Beat with a wooden spoon or mix with your hands until you have a stiff, smooth dough like a medium-pliable bread dough. Use a little more stock if necessary, but mixture should not be loose.
- Beat lard in the large bowl of an electric mixer on medium speed until very fluffy and fully aerated, about 3 minutes. It may take longer if your mixer is not of the most powerful. (A heavy-duty machine such as a KitchenAid is best.) The best alternative to a mixer is not a spoon but your bare hand: Whip and beat the lard with a rapid folding motion until you feel it lightening and continue to whip until it is fluffy and full of air. It should be as light as butter creamed for the lightest butter cake.
- Keeping mixer on medium speed, begin adding masa or reconstituted masa harina to lard a handful at a time. Stop to scrape down sides of bowl with a rubber spatula as necessary. If mixture becomes too stiff to beat, add up to 1 cup tepid chicken stock a little at a time. Alternatively, beat in masa or reconstituted masa harina using your bare hand as a whipping and folding tool, adding up to 1 cup chicken stock as necessary. When all masa or reconstituted masa harina has been incorporated the mixture should be very light and delicate, the texture of buttercream frosting. Beat in salt.
- The mixture is now ready to be filled or spread onto corn husks, banana leaves, or other wrappers, and steamed.
Tips:
- Use fresh masa harina for the best flavor and texture.
- If you don't have a steamer, you can boil the tamales in a large pot of water.
- To prevent the tamales from sticking to the steamer or pot, line it with parchment paper or banana leaves.
- Be careful not to overcook the tamales, as this will make them dry and tough.
- Serve the tamales hot with your favorite toppings, such as salsa, guacamole, or sour cream.
Conclusion:
Making tamales is a fun and rewarding experience. With a little planning and preparation, you can create delicious tamales that your family and friends will love. So next time you're looking for a unique and flavorful dish to serve, give tamales a try!
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