How to Make Delicious Hot Tamales at Home

Hot tamales are a traditional Mexican dish that has been enjoyed by people all around the world. These spicy and delicious treats are perfect for any occasion, whether it’s a family gathering, a party, or just a regular weeknight dinner. Making hot tamales can seem intimidating, but with a little bit of patience and some simple ingredients, anyone can create this flavorful dish.

To start making hot tamales, you’ll need a few key ingredients, including masa harina, dried corn husks, and a filling of your choice. The masa harina is a type of corn flour that is used to create the tamale dough, while the corn husks serve as a wrapper for the filling. The filling can be anything from chicken, pork, or beef to beans, cheese, or veggies. Once you have all your ingredients ready, it’s time to get started on making the hot tamales.

Ingredients for hot tamales

When it comes to making hot tamales, preparing the ingredients is crucial. Here’s what you’ll need to make them:

For the masa dough:

The masa dough is the most important part of the hot tamale recipe, and you can’t make tamales without masa dough. For a delicious masa dough, you’ll need the following ingredients:

– 2 cups of masa harina
– 2 cups of chicken broth (or water)
– 1/2 cup of lard or vegetable shortening
– 1 1/2 teaspoons of baking powder
– 1 teaspoon of salt

For the filling:

Hot tamales can be filled with any number of ingredients. Choose your filling based on your preferences. Here are a few options:

– 2 cups of cooked, shredded chicken
– 1 1/2 cups of cooked, shredded pork
– 1 cup of cooked, diced potatoes
– 1 cup of cooked, diced carrots
– 1 cup of cooked, diced onions
– 1 cup of cooked, diced bell peppers
– 1 cup of cooked, black beans

For the sauce:

A good sauce can take your hot tamale recipe from okay to amazing. For a delicious sauce, you’ll need the following ingredients:

– 2 cups of beef broth
– 1/4 cup of chili powder
– 1 teaspoon of garlic powder
– 1 teaspoon of onion powder
– 1/2 teaspoon of cumin
– 1/2 teaspoon of oregano
– 1/4 teaspoon of salt

Preparing the masa dough

The masa dough is the most important part of the hot tamale recipe. Follow these steps to prepare the perfect masa dough:

Step 1: Mix the masa harina and baking powder

In a mixing bowl, combine the masa harina and baking powder.

Step 2: Add the chicken broth (or water)

Slowly add the chicken broth (or water) to the mixture, stirring constantly, until the mixture forms a soft dough.

Step 3: Add the lard or vegetable shortening

In a separate bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the lard (or vegetable shortening) until it is light and fluffy. Add the lard to the masa dough mixture and mix until well combined.

Step 4: Add salt

Add the salt to the masa dough and mix until well combined.

Preparing the filling

The filling is what gives hot tamales their flavor. Here’s how to prepare the perfect filling:

Step 1: Cook the meat

If using meat for your filling, cook it until it’s fully cooked. Shred or dice the meat and set it aside.

Step 2: Cook the vegetables

If using vegetables for your filling, cook them until they’re fully cooked. Dice the vegetables and set them aside.

Step 3: Combine the filling ingredients

Combine the meat, vegetables, and any other filling ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Mix well.

Assembling the hot tamales

Now that you’ve prepared the masa dough and filling, it’s time to assemble the hot tamales. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Soak the corn husks

Soak the corn husks in hot water until they’re soft and pliable.

Step 2: Spread the masa dough on the husks

Take a corn husk and spread a thin layer of masa dough on it, leaving enough room at the edges to fold the husk.

Step 3: Add the filling

Add a spoonful of the filling to the center of the masa dough.

Step 4: Roll the tamale

Fold the edges of the corn husk over the filling and masa dough, rolling the husk until it’s completely wrapped around the filling.

Step 5: Tie the tamale

Tie the tamale with kitchen twine or a thin strip of corn husk.

Cooking the hot tamales

Now that you’ve assembled the hot tamales, it’s time to cook them. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Prepare the steamer

Fill a large steamer pot with water, and place a steamer basket inside.

Step 2: Add the hot tamales to the steamer

Place the hot tamales in the steamer basket in a single layer.

Step 3: Cover the steamer

Cover the steamer pot with a lid and steam the tamales for 1-2 hours, depending on the size of the tamales.

Step 4: Check the tamales for doneness

To check if the tamales are cooked, remove one from the steamer and let it cool for a minute. If the masa dough is cooked through and the filling is hot, the tamales are done.

Serving the hot tamales

Hot tamales are traditionally served with a side of salsa or hot sauce. You can also top them with cheese, sour cream, or guacamole for added flavor. Enjoy!

The Ingredients You Need to Make Delicious Hot Tamales

When it comes to making hot tamales, you need to have the right ingredients to make them taste just right. Here are the essential ingredients that you need to make hot tamales that you will love.

Masa Harina

To make hot tamales, you need to have masa harina, which is a type of corn flour. This flour is important because it gives the tamale its distinctive texture and flavor. You can find masa harina easily in most grocery stores.

Meat

Hot tamales typically feature some type of meat, such as beef, pork, or chicken. You can use shredded or ground meat, depending on your preference. If you are a vegetarian, you can substitute meat with beans, cheese, or vegetables.

Seasonings and Spices

To make tamales, you need to add spices and seasonings to the meat or other fillings. Some of the common ingredients used in the seasoning for tamales include garlic, chili powder, cumin, and oregano. These spices add flavor and a little bit of heat to the dish.

Corn Husks

Corn husks are used to wrap the hot tamales before steaming them. You can find them in most grocery stores, but if you cannot find them, you can use parchment paper as an alternative.

Water or Broth

You need water or broth, along with the meat or filling, to moisten the masa and create a smooth consistency for the hot tamales. You can use chicken, beef, or vegetable broth, depending on the type of tamales you want to make.

Vegetables

You can add vegetables to the meat or filling to give your tamales extra flavor and nutrition. Some of the common vegetables used in hot tamales include chopped peppers, onions, and tomatoes. If you like spicy food, you can add jalapenos or other hot peppers.

Cheese

You can add cheese to the filling to give your tamales an extra layer of richness and flavor. Cheddar or Monterrey Jack cheese is perfect for this.

Tomato Sauce

If you want to add flavor to your hot tamales, you can use tomato sauce as a topping or garnish. This will give your tamales an extra kick and add flavor.

Sour Cream

You can use sour cream as a topping for your hot tamales, along with tomato sauce or other condiments. Sour cream adds a cool and creamy contrast to the spicy and flavorful tamales.

Hot Sauce

If you want even more heat, you can add hot sauce to your tamales. There are many types of hot sauce available, from mild to extremely hot, so you can choose the one that you love the most. Add the hot sauce as a topping or mix it into the filling for extra kick.

Now that you have all the essential ingredients you need to make hot tamales, it’s time to start preparing them! In the next section, we will cover the steps you need to follow to make hot tamales from scratch.

Ingredients and Equipment Needed for Making Hot Tamales

Making hot tamales is a fun and rewarding experience. To prepare your delicious hot tamales, you will need to gather your ingredients and equipment first. Here is a list of everything you will need:

Ingredients:

Equipment:

• Large Mixing Bowl
• Cooking Pot with Steamer Insert
• Mixing Spoon
• Sharp Knife
• Large Cutting Board
• Measuring Cups
• Measuring Spoons

Preparing the Ingredients

Once you have gathered all your ingredients and equipment, it’s time to prepare your ingredients for making hot tamales. Start by soaking your corn husks in warm water for about an hour to soften them up. Drain them and set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, add the masa harina and warm water. Mix well until the dough becomes smooth. Cover and set aside.

In a separate bowl, mix together the chopped meat, minced garlic, chili powder, paprika, cumin, and salt. Set aside.

Assembling the Tamales

Now it’s time to assemble your tamales. Start by laying one husk on your large cutting board with the wider end facing you. Spread about 2 tablespoons of masa harina dough onto the center of the husk, leaving a bit of space around the edges.

Next, add about 2 tablespoons of the meat mixture on top of the masa harina. Lastly, sprinkle some Mexican cheese mix on top of the meat mixture.

To roll the tamale, start by folding the sides of the husk inward to enclose the filling. Then, fold the bottom of the husk up, and finally, roll the tamale upwards tightly. Tie each end with a piece of kitchen twine.

Repeat the process until you have used up all your ingredients.

Cooking the Tamales

Once you’ve assembled all your tamales, it’s time to cook them. Fill the cooking pot with enough water until it reaches the bottom of the steamer insert. Bring the water to a boil.

Place the tamales in the steamer insert, folded side down. Cover the pot with the lid and steam the tamales for about 45 minutes or until cooked.

Serving Your Delicious Hot Tamales

It’s time to serve your delicious hot tamales! You can enjoy them hot or cold, on their own or with your favorite toppings such as salsa, sour cream or guacamole. They also go well with a side of rice and beans.

Making hot tamales may seem intimidating, but with a bit of practice and patience, you’ll be able to master the recipe in no time. Gather your ingredients and equipment, follow the steps above, and get ready to impress your family and friends with your delicious homemade hot tamales.

That’s a Wrap!

Thanks for sticking with me as we made some hot tamales! I hope you found this article helpful, and maybe even a little entertaining. The best part about cooking is experimenting and making recipes your own, so don’t be afraid to mix up the fillings or toppings the next time you make these. As always, feel free to stop by again for more fun and delicious recipes. Happy cooking!