Real Homemade Tamales Recipe
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Real Homemade Tamales

By: SADDIECAT 
"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."

This Kitchen Approved Recipe has an average star rating of 4.5 Rate/Review | Read Reviews (133)

Prep Time:
35 Min
Cook Time:
3 Hrs
Ready In:
3 Hrs 35 Min

Servings  (Help)

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Original Recipe Yield 16 tamales
 

Ingredients

  • Tamale Filling:
  • 1 1/4 pounds pork loin
  • 1 large onion, halved
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 4 dried California chile pods
  • 2 cups water
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
  •  
  • Tamale Dough:
  • 2 cups masa harina
  • 1 (10.5 ounce) can beef broth
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2/3 cup lard
  • 1 (8 ounce) package dried corn husks
  • 1 cup sour cream

Directions

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.

Nutritional Information open nutritional information

Amount Per Serving  Calories: 236 | Total Fat: 16.6g | Cholesterol: 37mg Powered by ESHA Nutrient Database

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 view all reviews »  

The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 4.5 star rating.
Reviewed on Feb. 12, 2004 by TRPTGODDESS1   view full review
A few things for the beginner: it's better to boil the peppers(any kind will do) and all the...
The reviewer gave this recipe 4 stars. This recipe averages a 4.5 star rating.
Reviewed on May 4, 2011 by JOSLYN H. Supporting Member (Click to learn more about Supporting Membership)  view full review
If you are going to take the time to make tamales, be sure to double or triple the recipe, the...
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 4.5 star rating.
Reviewed on Mar. 29, 2007 by GINAELIAS   view full review
The directions for preparing the Masa are right on. It's a lot easier than you would expect....
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 4.5 star rating.
Reviewed on Dec. 18, 2006 by Debbie W.   view full review
Good recipe! I used canola oil rather than lard and instead of using a can of beef broth, I...
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 4.5 star rating.
Reviewed on Dec. 4, 2009 by ~TxCin~ILove2Ck   view full review
Tamales are a Christmas tradition here and these are the real deal. I got raves on mine this...
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 4.5 star rating.
Reviewed on Apr. 21, 2006 by galleria gal   view full review
Excellent! I had a hard time spreading the masa on the husks. I ended up using a moist corn...
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 4.5 star rating.
Reviewed on Dec. 21, 2003 by Jamie®   view full review
My husband is from New Mexico, and this is the type of food he is used to eating.I am from the...
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 4.5 star rating.
Reviewed on Sep. 5, 2005 by kelliegirl21   view full review
This is a good recipe...you just need to add your own touches. For the masa..you can go to...
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 4.5 star rating.
Reviewed on Jun. 29, 2005 by SARAHCOLEMAN72   view full review
I had tried other recipes and had almost given up.This recipe is fool proof I've made it many...
The reviewer gave this recipe 3 stars. This recipe averages a 4.5 star rating.
Reviewed on Dec. 29, 2003 by CAMMIE324   view full review
This recipe doesn't say what to do with the onion that cooked with the meat, or the cooking...

 

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