Tamales
This approachable recipe for Tamales features a flavorful masa dough and an easy vegetarian filling, perfect for family gatherings and holiday traditions!
Servings: 6 servings (2 each)
Calories: 439kcal
Equipment
- Large Pot with Lid
- Medium Bowl
- Spatula
- Spoon
- Small Bowl
- Steamer Basket
Ingredients
- 13 corn husks $4.28
- 2 cups corn masa flour 250g, $0.55*
- 1 tsp baking powder $0.02**
- 1 tsp salt $0.04
- ¼ tsp garlic powder $0.01
- ¼ tsp onion powder $0.02
- ⅛ tsp ground cumin $0.01
- ½ cup vegetable oil 4 oz ($0.41)***
- 2¼ cups vegetable broth warmed (18 oz) $0.33****
- 1 cup queso fresco grated, (125g) $1.39
- 15.5 oz. can pinto beans drained, rinsed, & slightly mashed, $0.86
- ¾ cup jarred salsa verde $0.95
Instructions
- Gather and prepare all ingredients.
- Soak the corn husk in a large pot with hot water for at least 30 minutes. Make sure to weigh them down so they are fully submerged. After 30 minutes, the corn husks should be soft and flexible.
- Pat both sides dry, then lay 12 husks smooth side up on your work surface. (Lightly run your fingernail along the husk. The ridged, bumpier side goes face-down on the counter, while the smooth side faces up for filling.) Take the 13th husk and pull it into 12 thin strips, and set them aside.
- To make the dough, add the corn masa flour, baking powder, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and cumin to a medium bowl. Using a spatula, mix to combine all dry ingredients.
- Next, add the vegetable oil and continue combining.
- Lastly, slowly add the warm vegetable broth, mixing with the spatula to combine. Keep folding until the liquid is absorbed. The dough should be spreadable, with a consistency similar to soft peanut butter.
- With the wide end of the husk facing you, and the pointed end at the top, scoop about ¼ cup of the masa dough onto the center of the husk (the amount depends on the size of the husk). Use a spoon to spread the masa into a thin, even rectangle or square, leaving a border of ½ to 1 inch on the sides and top, and about 2-3 inches of space at the narrow/pointed end. Continue until all the dough is divided and spread.
- Evenly distribute the queso fresco in the middle of each masa dough, sprinkling lengthwise. Next, place the drained and rinsed pinto beans into a small bowl. Using the back of a spoon or fork, slightly smash the beans. Evenly distribute the beans on top of the queso fresco. Lastly, top the beans with about 1 tablespoon of salsa verde.
- To fold the husks, bring one long side of the corn husk over the filling to meet the other side of the masa dough, encasing the filling. Fold the other long side over the first, overlapping them to create a sealed tube or cylinder shape.
- Fold the narrow/pointed end of the husk up toward the wide end to fully enclose the bottom.
- Tie the husks with a thin strip torn from the extra corn husk to secure.
- Place a steamer basket into the large pot and fill it with water just under the basket*****. Turn the heat to medium-high. Arrange the tied husks upright in the basket, with the filling side facing up and the tied end on the bottom.
- Lid the pot and once you start to see steam, turn the heat to medium-low.
- Steam them for 1 hour to 1 hour and 30 minutes, checking every 20 minutes or so, to make sure there is enough water in the pot. I had to refill it once.
- The tamales are done when the husk easily peels away from the masa dough. You can take one out and let it rest for about 5-10 minutes, then check. Once cooked, let them all rest for about 10-15 minutes before serving. Peel the husks back and serve with your favorite toppings, and enjoy.
See how we calculate recipe costs here.
Video
Notes
*I used the brand Maseca Gluten Free Instant Corn Masa Flour 4 lb bag.
**Baking powder makes the masa dough light and tender. It helps puff the dough slightly while steaming for a softer texture, helping achieve that classic airy consistency, especially when not using lard.
***Pork lard is traditionally used to make tamales. I wanted to keep this recipe vegetarian and use a more common vegetable oil. You can also use vegetable shortening, chicken fat, or other oils, such as canola. If you use lard or shortening, be sure to whip it first until light and fluffy.
****I like to use Better Than Bouillon to make broths to keep costs low. I chose vegetable broth so this recipe could be vegetarian. You can also use chicken broth instead.
*****If you do not have a steamer basket, you can use a metal strainer/colander, a wire cooling rack, or create one by setting up a heat-proof plate and creating aluminum foil balls to hold the plate above the boiling water. You can also carefully poke holes into an aluminum pie pan if you have one.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving (2 each) | Calories: 439kcal | Carbohydrates: 44g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 25g | Sodium: 1365mg | Fiber: 6g