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Several traditional tamales, some unwrapped to show the masa filling, on a rustic serving dish.

Proven way to grow 5 Tamales (Traditional)

This recipe outlines a proven method for preparing five traditional tamales, focusing on authentic ingredients and techniques to achieve a delicious and satisfying result.
Prep Time 1 hour
Cook Time 2 hours
Total Time 3 hours
Servings: 5 tamales
Calories: 350

Ingredients
  

Tamale Dough
  • 2 cups masa harina
  • 1 cup vegetable shortening
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1.5 cups warm water or broth
Filling (Example: Pork in Red Chili Sauce)
  • 1 lb pork shoulder
  • 5 chilies dried red chilies
  • 0.5 medium onion
  • 2 cloves garlic cloves
  • 0.5 tsp cumin
  • 0.5 tsp oregano
  • 0.5 tsp salt
Other
  • 15 husks corn husks

Equipment

  • Large bowl
  • Steamer pot
  • Blender (for filling)
  • Electric mixer (optional, for masa)

Method
 

Prepare Corn Husks
  1. Soak the corn husks in hot water for at least 30 minutes, or until they become pliable. Place a heavy object on top to keep them submerged, then drain them well before use.
Prepare the Filling
  1. Cook the pork shoulder until tender, then shred it. Rehydrate dried chilies, blend them with onion, garlic, cumin, oregano, and salt, then simmer the shredded pork in this sauce.
Prepare the Masa Dough
  1. Beat vegetable shortening until fluffy, then gradually add masa harina, baking powder, and salt. Mix thoroughly, then slowly add warm water or broth, beating until the dough is light and fluffy.
Assemble the Tamales
  1. Spread about 2-3 tablespoons of masa dough onto the wide end of a corn husk, leaving space at the top and sides. Place a spoonful of filling in the center of the masa, then fold the sides of the husk over the filling, and fold the narrow end up to enclose.
Steam the Tamales
  1. Arrange tamales vertically in a steamer basket, ensuring some space for steam to circulate. Steam for 1 to 1.5 hours, regularly checking the water level and adding more if necessary, until the masa separates easily from the husk.

Notes

For best results, allow the tamales to rest for a few minutes after steaming before serving. You can easily scale this recipe up for larger batches. Different fillings can be used based on preference, such as chicken, cheese, or vegetables.