Simple step-by-step instructions for making authentic Tamales filled with pork, chicken or beans and cheese and cooked on the stovetop or in the instant pot.

COURSE: MAIN COURSE

CUISINE: MEXICAN

SERVINGS: 24 TAMALES

CALORIES: 72

PREP 25MINUTES MINS

COOK 20MINUTES MINS

TOTAL 45MINUTES MINS

Ingredients:

For the Dough:

• ▢4 cups Masa Harina
• ▢3 cups broth (beef, chicken, or vegetable broth)
• ▢2 teaspoons baking powder
• ▢1 teaspoon salt
• ▢1 teaspoon cumin
• ▢1 1/3 cups lard
• ▢8 ounce package dried corn husks

Filling ideas:

• ▢Red chili pork
• ▢Salsa verde chicken See notes for recipe
• ▢bean and cheese See notes for recipe
• ▢Authentic Mexican Rice , for serving, optional

Instructions:

1. Soak the corn husks in a bowl of very hot water for 30 minutes or until softened.
2. Prepare desired fillings*.
3. Make the tamal dough: In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the lard and 2 tablespoons of broth until fluffy, about 3-5 minutes. Combine the masa flour, baking powder, salt, and cumin in a separate bowl; stir into the lard mixture and beat well with an electric mixer.
4. Add the broth, little by little to form a very soft dough. Beat on high speed for several minutes. The dough should spread like creamy peanut butter and be slightly sticky.* Cover the mixing bowl with a damp paper towel, to keep the dough from drying out.
5. Assemble the tamales: Lay a corn husk, glossy side up, on the counter with the wide end at the top. Scoop about ¼ cup of dough onto the top, center of the corn husk. Lay a piece of plastic wrap over the dough and use your hands to press and spread the masa into a thin layer, about ¼ inch thick. Keep the dough spread along the top half of the corn husk to allow plenty of room to fold the bottom husk up, when it’s time.
6. Place 1-2 tablespoons of desired filling in a line down the center of the dough. (You
   don’t want too much filling).
7. Fold in one long side of the husk over the filling. Fold in the other long side, overlapping the first (like folding a brochure). Fold the bottom of the husk up. 
8. Tying tamales (optional): You don’t have to tie a corn husk string around the tamales–it does take more time and they will hold together without it. However, if you’re making multiple fillings, tying ones of a certain kind can help to identify them.
9. Cook on the stove-top or Instant Pot: Add water to the bottom of your steamer or instant pot. (About 1 cup for IP and a few cups for a steamer pot—don’t fill above the steamer rack.) Lay a few extra corn husks on the bottom rack to keep the tamales from falling through and any boiling water from directly touching them.
10. Place tamales standing upright, with their open end up, just tightly enough to keep them standing. If using a steamer pot, lay a few soaked corn husks or a wet towel over the top of the tamales before closing the lid.
11. Steamer: Bring water to a boil (in Mexico they would often place a coin at the bottom of thesteamer and when the coin started to tap in the pot you know the water was boiling.) Once boiling, reduce to a simmer and steam for 45 minutes to 1 hour, or longer. Check them after 45 minutes.MInstant Pot: Cook on Manual/High Pressure for 25 minutes. Allow pressure to naturallyrelease for 10 minutes, and then quick release.
12. To test if the tamales are done: Remove one and try to pull the husk off. If the husk pulls away cleanly from the tamale they’re done. If the dough is still sticky or wet looking, cook them for 5-10 minutes longer and try again.
13. Store leftover tamales in the refrigerator for 5-7 days depending on the freshness of your ingredients.

Notes:

Tamale Filling Suggestions: You’ll need about 3 ½-4 cups of filling for one batch of tamale dough.

• Salsa verde chicken: 3 ½ cups cooked, shredded chicken mixed with 16 ounce can salsa verde (I like Herdez brand)
• Bean and cheese: 15 oz can refried beans and 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• Red chili pork: 1 recipe red chili pork

Freezing Instructions: Allow the cooked tamales to cool, then place them in a freezer safe bag and freeze for up to 3 months.

Reheating: Wrap leftover or frozen tamales in a few dampened paper towels and microwave until warmed through.  The wet paper towels will help them “steam” as they are reheated. Be careful when unfolding them–they will be hot!

Nutrition:

Calories: 72kcal Carbohydrates: 15gProtein: 2g Fat: 1g Saturated Fat: 1g Sodium: 216mg Potassium: 89mg Fiber: 1g Sugar: 1g Vitamin A: 204IU Vitamin C: 1mg Calcium: 46mg Iron: 2mg