How to make tamales | Chicken Tamales Recipe

masa harina

🥗Healthier: whole wheat flour

💰Cheaper: all-purpose flour

Whole wheat flour adds fiber, while all-purpose flour is more accessible.

chicken

🥗Healthier: turkey

💰Cheaper: shredded rotisserie chicken

Turkey is leaner, and rotisserie chicken saves time.

red chili sauce

🥗Healthier: homemade salsa

💰Cheaper: canned tomato sauce with spices

Homemade salsa is fresher, while canned sauce is budget-friendly.

cheese

🥗Healthier: nutritional yeast

💰Cheaper: processed cheese

Nutritional yeast is dairy-free, while processed cheese is often cheaper.

Start by using 1 tbsp of chicken bouillon powder or salt to taste.

Add 2 tsp of garlic powder, 1/2 tsp of ground cumin, 1 tsp of black pepper, 1 bay leaf, and 2 tsp of onion powder to the chicken.

Chop and slice 1 medium onion and add it to the bottom of a 4.5 quart crock pot.

Add 3.5 to 4 lbs of boneless skinless chicken thighs on top of the onions.

Cover with a lid, set the slow cooker to high, and cook for 4 hours, stirring at the halfway point.

Prepare corn husks by rinsing them twice and boiling them in a pot until soft and pliable, about 1 hour or longer.

Soak 1.5 oz of guajillo chiles in boiling water for about 5 minutes, then let them soak for at least 20 minutes until soft.

Blend the soaked chiles with 1/3 cup of water to make a puree, then strain through a sieve to remove flakes.

Remove the cooked chicken thighs from the crock pot and shred them, saving the drippings.

Add around 12 oz of liquid drippings to the shredded chicken along with about 1/2 cup of the chili puree and mix well.

In a large bowl, combine 6 cups of Maseca with the liquid drippings and additional chicken broth until a dough forms, adding 1/2 cup of melted lard.

Mix the masa for about 15 minutes, adjusting with salt to taste and adding more chili puree if desired.

Prepare to assemble tamales by finding the smooth side of the corn husks and spreading a thin layer of masa on it.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens