Tamales in the Southwest

[Brokennock]

Well, I made a half recipe from the back of the Tamal masa sack.
Learned some things:
1. It's not that hard!
2. Just knead the masa and then knead in the melted lard/salt/baking powder by hand. Easy. To heck with mixers.
3. Use reasonably uniform husks (I soaked three hours) and don't mess with the ones with deep splits.
4. Don't need spreaders or anything that fancy. Cowboy Kent uses the back of a spoon. I just used my fingers.
5. A meat filling will kind of stay put, but the three (out of 15) bean/cheese tamales I made, the filling and masa kind of expanded out, maybe from boiling/melting?
6. Make at least a full recipe for gosh sakes! I kicked myself for making the half batch, and needing to stand a couple of coffee cups in the steamer to fill the empty space and keep the tamales upright while they steamed.
I still need to figure out just how much masa mix to spread on the husks and how close to the "mouth" for proper presentation. Gotta do these with green chile chicken and pork chile verde as well. Mine are more round than flat. Dunno if this makes a difference.

Nicely done. They look good....
How do they taste? How is the texture?

 

[BillinOregon]

Good flavor; the combination of masa and lard is a little different but it firms right up in the steaming. Next batch I will definitely use more seasoning to overcome the blandness of the masa. I also used refried beans out of a Rosarita can. Fresh mashed black beans would be step up.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Goes back at least to European contact
TAMALES History on Tasting History with Max Miller

LD

 

[nit wit]

We traveled to Amarillo on the way to Kansas for a buffalo hunt years ago. Found a food truck, she made the best ever! We ate steak at the Tall Texan also!
Nit Wit

 

[SciAggie]

Glad to see you make tamales. My son and I make them every year between Thanksgiving and Christmas. After you do it a couple of times you’ll get the hang of it. It’s a process, but do it with family or some friends. Then it’s called a tamalada - tamale making party.

 

[leadhoarder]

I never cared for tamales very much for the longest time. I mean I liked the flavor but I always thought they were tough. Then one day someone laughed at me for eating the corn husk.

 

[snakebit]

I never cared for tamales very much for the longest time. I mean I liked the flavor but I always thought they were tough. Then one day someone laughed at me for eating the corn husk.

Did you like them after you figured out the order of battle?

 

[leadhoarder]

Did you like them after you figured out the order of battle?

Yes, certainly better than before.

 

[snakebit]

Yes, certainly better than before.