Tamales 101: Easy Homemade Recipe

masa harina

🥗Healthier: whole grain masa harina

💰Cheaper: cornmeal

Whole grain masa harina offers more fiber and nutrients, while cornmeal is often less expensive.

filling (meat, cheese, or vegetables)

🥗Healthier: lean turkey or beans

💰Cheaper: pork

Lean turkey is lower in fat, while pork can be a more budget-friendly option.

Put pork, onion, bay leaves, garlic, oregano, cumin, chili powder, salt, and pepper into a crockpot and cook on low for 8 hours.

Pull pork from juice and place in a bowl, reserving the juice for later use.

Boil California chili pods in pork broth for 20 minutes to soften, then blend with remaining ingredients to create the filling.

For sweet corn tamale, blend corn and melted butter until mashed, then mix in remaining ingredients and steam for 90 minutes.

For masa dough, mix lard and a splash of broth until fluffy, then add remaining ingredients and spread on soaked corn husks with desired filling.

Roll the husks and steam for 45 minutes or use an Instant Pot with water and steam for 25 minutes.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary

Allergens