Making tamales is a labor of love and a delicious way to celebrate special occasions or enjoy a traditional Mexican meal. The key to a great tamale is the perfect balance of flavors in the filling, and pork is a classic choice for its rich and savory taste. Whether you prefer traditional red pork tamales or something with a unique twist, there are many delicious pork tamale recipes to choose from. This article will provide you with some of the best pork tamale recipes that will surely impress your family and friends.
Let's cook with our recipes!
PORK FOR TAMALES
A delicious recipe for preparing pork to use in making pork tamales. After the meat is cooked and shredded, mix with salsa and refrigerate overnight. If you are making your own tamale dough, you may want to reserve 1 1/4 cup of the broth before draining.
Provided by APPLUVR
Categories World Cuisine Recipes Latin American Mexican
Time 1h20m
Yield 16
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Trim fat from pork butt. Cut into chunks and place in a large saucepan. Add water, onion, garlic, bay leaf, salt, peppercorns and chile pepper. Bring to a boil; skim foam from surface. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 1 hour.
- Drain broth, let meat cool and shred with a fork. Refrigerate overnight if desired.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 32.3 calories, Carbohydrate 0.7 g, Cholesterol 10.3 mg, Fat 1.7 g, Fiber 0.2 g, Protein 3.4 g, SaturatedFat 0.6 g, Sodium 15.3 mg, Sugar 0.2 g
TRADITIONAL TAMALES (PORK)
This tamale recipe is about as traditional as you can get, although I use a roast instead of the whole pig head that many Mexican women use. I have also used beef, but they just do not taste quite the same. These take about all day to make and are a lot of work, but they are so worth the time and the effort. Not for the faint-hearted cook for sure. They are a huge hit here in the West. For added flavor, top with either some of the red sauce used to prepare this recipe, or with my favorite, green chili sauce with pork, recipe #20574. Serve with sides of Spanish rice, refried beans topped with cheese and frosty margaritas for a delicious authentic Mexican meal. For an online tamale-making tutorial, including pictures, please see http://www.recipezaar.com/bb/viewtopic.zsp?t=188623 posted in the Mexican cooking forum.
Provided by Karen From Colorado
Categories Pork
Time 6h
Yield 50 Tamales
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- In a 5 qt Dutch oven, bring pork, water, onion, garlic and 1 1/2 salt to boil.
- Simmer covered, about 2 1/2 hours or until meat is very tender.
- Remove meat from broth and allow both meat and broth to cool. (Chilling the broth will allow you to easily remove the fat if you desire to do so).
- Shred the meat using 2 forks, discarding fat.
- Strain the broth and reserve 6 cups.
- In a large sauce pan, heat the red chili sauce and add meat; simmer, covered for 10 minutes.
- To make masa beat shortening on medium speed in a large bowl for 1 minute.
- In a separate bowl, stir together masa harina, baking powder and 2 teaspoons salt.
- Alternately add masa harina mixture and broth to shortening, beating well after each addition. (Add just enough broth to make a thick, creamy paste).
- In the mean time, soak corn husks in warm water for at least 20 minutes; rinse to remove any corn silk and drain well.
- To assemble each tamale, spread 2 tablespoons of the masa mixture on the center of the corn husk (each husk should be 8 inches long and 6 inches wide at the top. If husks are small, overlap 2 small ones to form one. If it is large, tear a strip from the side).
- Place about 1 tablespoon meat and sauce mixture in the middle of the masa.
- Fold in sides of husk and fold up the bottom.
- Place a mound of extra husks or a foil ball in the center of a steamer basket placed in a Dutch oven.
- Lean the tamales in the basket, open side up.
- Add water to Dutch oven just below the basket.
- Bring water to boil and reduce heat.
- Cover and steam 40 minutes, adding water when necessary.
- To freeze these for future meals, leave them in the husks and place them in freezer bags. To reheat, thaw and wrap in a wet paper towel and reheat in the microwave for 2 minutes for one or two or re-steam them just until hot.
PORK TAMALES
A little variation here from the traditional, in that this is 100% my own personal recipe for the pork mixture. I also prefer beef broth in the masa as compared to chicken broth. But I think you'll agree these are some darn good tamales.
Provided by Brian Genest
Categories Tamales
Time P1DT5h55m
Yield 15
Number Of Ingredients 20
Steps:
- Soak corn husks in water for 24 hours prior to cooking, using something heavy to keep them submerged.
- Prepare pork filling: Place guajillo chile peppers in a dry skillet over medium heat; dry roast until fragrant, 20 to 30 seconds per side. Pour some water over top and simmer until tender, about 2 minutes. Remove chiles from the skillet and transfer to a blender.
- Add beef broth, tomato sauce, onion, garlic, chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, vinegar, cloves, salt, cumin, allspice, and pepper to the blender and process until smooth.
- Place pork butt in a slow cooker and pour marinade over top. Cook on Low until pork is tender and can be easily pulled apart with a fork, 4 to 5 hours. Shred pork and return to the slow cooker. Mix with the sauce until combined.
- Combine masa, baking powder, garlic powder, and salt for dough in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment; whisk to combine. Add beef broth and lard and whisk well; the resulting mixture should have an almost fluffy consistency and be relatively tacky.
- Roll out a corn husk and pat it dry. Spread the dough evenly in the center of the corn husk, leaving room around the edges. Dollop a line of pork filling down the center. Fold the bottom of the husk up, then fold one edge over the filling. Tuck that edge under the filling and dough, and roll toward the other edge to seal around the filling. Fold the top down and tie with kitchen string, wrapping twice to secure. Repeat to make remaining tamales.
- Place a steamer insert into a large saucepan and fill with water to just below the bottom of the steamer. Bring water to a boil.
- Place tamales vertically into the steamer basket, with the sealed edges down. Cover the pan and steam for 1 hour. Serve hot.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 411.1 calories, Carbohydrate 15.3 g, Cholesterol 77.9 mg, Fat 31.3 g, Fiber 2.7 g, Protein 18.1 g, SaturatedFat 11.2 g, Sodium 2474.4 mg, Sugar 1.3 g
TíA CHITA'S TRADITIONAL MEXICAN PORK TAMALES
We felt tamales were appropriate for Día de los Muertos because of how labor intensive they are. The "tamalada," a family gathering to make tamales, allows us an opportunity to gather as a family to celebrate and honor our ancestors' memory, and at the end of the day, everyone takes home at least a dozen. What makes Tía Chita's recipe different is the amount of manteca (lard) we use to make it easier for the tamales to slide off the leaf.
Provided by Food Network
Categories main-dish
Time 5h
Yield 30 to 32 tamales
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- There are a few steps to making tamales and it is usually an all-day affair.
- Cooking the meat: Chop the pork butt into 3-inch cubes; reserve the bone.
- Add the oil to a large pot or Dutch oven and place over medium-high heat (we use a Dutch oven because it seems to cook faster). Add the pork butt to the pot. Sear the sides slightly until just golden, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Add the peppercorns, bay leaves, onion, 3 cloves of the garlic and 1 tablespoon salt. Add 2 to 4 cups of water, or enough to cover the pork butt, then add the reserved bone. Cover the pot with a tight-fitting lid and bring it to a boil. Cook on medium heat until very tender, about 2 hours.
- Preparing the corn husks: Separate the corn husks and take off all the little hairs and dust from them. Allow them to soak in hot water while the pork is cooking (or soak overnight).
- Carefully remove the pork from the broth with tongs to a plate or cutting board. Pour the leftover broth through a colander into a large bowl so that all the onion and other ingredients stay behind. Set the strained broth aside for later (about 4 cups).
- Shred the meat with 2 forks into small bite-size pieces. (You want it small enough that you aren't getting large pieces or chunks into the tamal.) Transfer to a medium saucepan.
- Preparing the chile: Cut the stems from the ancho chiles, open them and remove all the seeds and veins. Put them in a 3-quart saucepan, cover with water and add 1 teaspoon salt. Place over medium-high heat and bring to a boil. Once the water is boiling, remove from the heat, set aside, cover and let steam for 5 minutes.
- To a blender, add the softened chiles, ground cumin and 1/4 teaspoon salt and blend. Press in the remaining clove of garlic and slowly add 2/3 cup of the reserved pork broth. Continue to blend until smooth. Pour through a fine-mesh strainer into a medium bowl. Reserve 1/4 cup of the chile mixture for the masa, then pour the remaining red chile sauce over the shredded pork and mix together to combine. Keep warm over low heat.
- Preparing the masa: Melt the lard in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Pour the melted lard into a large bowl. Add the masa harina to the bowl of lard, then add the baking powder, 3/4 teaspoon salt, reserved 1/4 cup of the red chile sauce and 1/2 cup of the reserved pork broth. Knead well. Add more pork broth as needed until the dough is moistened and fluffy.
- Assembling the tamales: Drain the husks and pat them dry with a clean towel. Spread the kneaded masa onto the smooth side of the corn husks with a spoon in the center of the husks (2 to 3 tablespoons of masa per husk). Add the meat to the center of the masa, 1 to 2 tablespoons per husk. Fold over the husks in half vertically so that the masa wraps around the filling completely. Fold the pointy side up at the end to hold the tamale in place.
- Cooking the tamales: Arrange the tamales open-side up around the inside of a steamer basket that fits into a large (10-quart) pot, packing the tamales together. If there's extra space in the steamer basket, place a mason jar or small heatproof ceramic bowl upside down in the center, arranging the tamales around it. Arrange a layer of husks around the sides of the steamer basket and up over the top of the tamales and cover with a damp kitchen towel. Fill the large pot with 1 to 2 inches of water. (Note: You can put a penny at the bottom of the pot so you can hear it rolling when you need more water.) Bring the water to a rolling simmer over medium-high heat, then reduce to medium low, set the steamer basket inside of the pot and cover with a tight-fitting lid. Allow the tamales to steam for 1 to 2 hours or until the masa pulls away from the husks. Let sit to cool down for 5 to 10 minutes. Use tongs to remove the tamales afterwards and set on a jelly roll pan to cool down.
MEXICAN RED PORK TAMALES AS MADE BY EDNA PEREDIA RECIPE BY TASTY
Here's what you need: dry corn husk, hot water, roma tomatoes, small white onion, dried guajillo chiles, dried pasilla chiles, garlic, water, salt, pepper, ground cumin, canola oil, pork shoulder, baking soda, baking powder, lard, fresh corn masa, salsa verde
Provided by Matthew Johnson
Categories Dinner
Yield 16 servings
Number Of Ingredients 18
Steps:
- Place the dry corn husks in a baking dish. Pour hot water over the husks to cover. Weigh the husks down so they are completely submerged and let soak for 2 hours, or until pliable.
- Add the tomatoes, onion, guajillos, pasillas, garlic, and 4 cups (960 ml) of water to a small pot. Cover, bring to a boil, and cook for 10 minutes, or until the vegetables have softened.
- Transfer the vegetables to a blender, Add salt and pepper to taste, the cumin, and about ½ cup (60 ml) of the cooking liquid. Blend until smooth. Set aside.
- Heat the canola oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the pork and season with salt and pepper. Fry the pork until well-browned and most of the fat has evaporated. Drain any excess fat, if necessary.
- Add the sauce to the pan with the pork, bring to a boil, cover, and let simmer until tender, about 1 hour. Remove from the heat and let cool.
- In a small bowl, combine the baking soda, baking powder, and 1 tablespoon water. Stir to dissolve, then set aside.
- Add the lard to a large bowl. With an electric hand mixer, whip the lard until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes.
- Add the masa and baking soda mixture and mix with your hands until smooth, about 5 minutes. It should be spreadable but still hold its shape.
- Drain the soaked corn husks.
- Place 1 husk on a clean surface and add 1-2 tablespoons of masa to the center of the husk. Spread with the back of the spoon to about ¼ inch (¾ cm) from the edges.
- Place 1 tablespoon of meat in the center. Roll the corn husk over the filling from left to right and fold the top down to create a little pocket. Set aside. Repeat with the remaining ingredients.
- Place the tamales, open ends up, in a steamer basket set over a large pot of boiling water. Cover with a clean kitchen towel and the lid. Let steam for 1 hour, then turn off the heat and let the tamales rest for 1 hour more.
- Unwrap the tamales and serve with salsa verde.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts : Calories 487 calories, Carbohydrate 46 grams, Fat 24 grams, Fiber 5 grams, Protein 21 grams, Sugar 1 gram
MEXICAN PORK TAMALES
Tasty Street food from Mexico and Central America, spicy filling covered in corn dough and wrapped in a corn husk and steamed.
Provided by tamaleman52
Time 2h
Yield Makes Pieces
Number Of Ingredients 27
Steps:
- Cook the Pork.
- Remove the skin from the shoulder and chop into big chunks, pop in large saucepan and cover with at least 20 cups of water add seasoning's and bring to the boil, simmer for around 2 hours till meat can be shredded. When pork is ready remove from broth and leave to cool, DO NOT DISCARD THE BROTH.
- Prepare the MASA.
- In a large mixing bowl add 6 cups of Masa Flour, cumin, salt, pepper,garlic powder, paprika and baking powder. Add 6 cups of retained broth and beat in well, dissolve the lard in a bowl in a microwave, when liquid beat in to the dough for about 10 mins to get some air into the mix, makes for a fluffier masa. Leave covered to cool.
- Put your husks in a mixing bowl and cover with hot water to soften (about 30 mins).
- To make the Mole.
- fry onions till brown, add tomatoes, seasoning's and chillis add the remaining broth bring to the boil then turn down to simmer, add 1 cup of masa flour and stir until the mole thickens a bit. Leave to cool.
- Prepare the filling.
- Shred the pork with your fingers or 2 forks and put into a mixing bowl. Add mole until you have a nice moist mixture (not to runny)
- Make your Tamales.
- Take a husk place on a flat surface, take one tablespoon of masa dough and spread over husk to within 1 inch of the edges. Place one tablespoon of filling onto the centre of the masa, pick up husk and roll the masa over the filling roll into a tube flip up the pointed end to make a packet and tie with butchers string or a strip of husk. Place in your steamer and steam for 90 mins, till cooked.
- Once cooked you can eat them or store in the freezer for later. I vacuum seal mine in pairs they will keep for 6 months (if you can keep your hands off them). Best eaten hot with a good slosh of salsa and a nice crisp salad. To reheat steam for about 10 mins or re heat in microwave for about 2 mins well covered until piping hot.
SHREDDED PORK TAMALES
From msn website from BHG: http://lifestyle.msn.com/foodandentertaining/recipes/articlebhg.aspx?cp-documentid=7083060
Provided by mylittlestar
Categories Pork
Time 1h40m
Yield 16 Tamales, 16 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Prepare Shredded Savory Pork and Chile Colorado as directed. Soak the corn husks in hot water about 30 minutes to soften.
- Meanwhile, for dough, in a large bowl, stir together masa harina and the water. Cover and let stand for 20 minutes (mixture will appear dry). In a mixing bowl, beat shortening and 1/2 teaspoon salt with an electric mixer on medium speed for 1 minute. Gradually beat in flour mixture until combined (mixture should resemble a thick, creamy paste).
- For filling, in a medium saucepan, combine Shredded Savory Pork and Chile Colorado; heat through.
- Drain corn husks well; pat dry with paper towels. For each tamale, spread about 2 tablespoons of the dough into a 5 x 4-inch rectangle on each corn husk so one of the long sides of the dough is at the long edge of the husk. (If husks are small, overlap two small husks.) Spoon about 1 tablespoon of the filing lengthwise down the center of the dough. Fold the long edge of husk over the filling so dough edges meet. Roll husk around outside of filled masa mixture. Tie ends securely with strips of cornhusk or 100-percent-cotton kitchen string.
- To prepare steamer, if desired, place a cone-shape ball of foil in the center of a steamer basket. Stand tamales upright in basket (don't pack tamales too tightly, but fill the space). Place about 1-1/2 inches of water in bottom of steamer or Dutch oven. Place baskets over water. Bring water to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and steam for 40 to 45 minutes or until tamales pull away from corn husks, adding water to pan as necessary. Makes 16 tamales.
- Make-Ahead Directions: Wrap and freeze the cooked tamales in the corn husks. To serve, thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Place the tamales in a steamer basket over gently boiling water for 15 to 20 minutes or until heated through.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 129.9, Fat 9.1, SaturatedFat 2.2, Sodium 1.4, Carbohydrate 11.4, Fiber 0.1, Sugar 0.3, Protein 1.4
Tips:
- Select the right pork cut: Pork shoulder (also called pork butt) is the most commonly used cut for tamales, as it has a good amount of fat that helps keep the meat moist and flavorful. Other good options include pork loin or tenderloin, which are leaner cuts that will need to be cooked more carefully to prevent them from drying out.
- Season the pork well: Pork is a relatively bland meat, so it's important to season it well before cooking. A simple seasoning mix of salt, pepper, garlic powder, and cumin is a good starting point. You can also add other spices, such as chili powder, smoked paprika, or oregano, to taste.
- Cook the pork until it is fall-apart tender: The ideal texture for pork tamales is fall-apart tender, so it's important to cook the pork until it reaches this stage. This can be done in a slow cooker, a Dutch oven, or even in the oven. The cooking time will vary depending on the method you use, but it will typically take at least 2 hours.
- Shred the pork: Once the pork is cooked, it needs to be shredded. This can be done with two forks or with a meat shredder. Shred the pork into small, bite-sized pieces.
- Make the tamales: Once the pork is shredded, you can start making the tamales. There are many different recipes for tamales, but the basic steps are the same. You will need to make a masa dough, spread it out on a corn husk, add the pork filling, and then wrap the tamale up. The tamales can then be steamed or boiled until they are cooked through.
Conclusion:
Pork tamales are a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. They are also a great way to use up leftover pork. With a little planning and effort, you can easily make your own pork tamales at home. So next time you're looking for a tasty and satisfying meal, give pork tamales a try.
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