Home for the holidays, I took advantage of the Christmas Eve dinner we were making and decided to knock out one of the more difficult things we make for the holidays. Tamales.
Ask any hispanic person, go ahead, the one closest to you, say "What's the best holiday food you have?" Without hesitation, I can only imagine that they'll respond with tamales. What is a tamale you ask? Well, it's the single most incredible thing you will eat in your entire life.
Period.
Tamales happen to be my favorite food. The first time I went home, my grandmother sent me back to the bubble with 3 dozen in my suitcase.
It's something about the masa that just makes me feel like I'm a child again waiting for my grandma to take out the non-chile filled tamales, because baby-Leea couldn't handle spicy foods.
She knew exactly how my sister and I likes them.
I'd imagine it would be something equivalent to macaroni and cheese for American children: the ultimate comfort food.
Now that I'm older, I enjoy them just as much, but can finally learn to make there.
Ask any hispanic person, go ahead, the one closest to you, say "What's the best holiday food you have?" Without hesitation, I can only imagine that they'll respond with tamales. What is a tamale you ask? Well, it's the single most incredible thing you will eat in your entire life.
Period.
Tamales happen to be my favorite food. The first time I went home, my grandmother sent me back to the bubble with 3 dozen in my suitcase.
It's something about the masa that just makes me feel like I'm a child again waiting for my grandma to take out the non-chile filled tamales, because baby-Leea couldn't handle spicy foods.
She knew exactly how my sister and I likes them.
I'd imagine it would be something equivalent to macaroni and cheese for American children: the ultimate comfort food.
Now that I'm older, I enjoy them just as much, but can finally learn to make there.
Enough about me, here's the recipe my grandmother gave me. Bringing me back to the greatest things I've ever had.
Here's your gear:
Tamale Steamer
(A very large pot with a steamer section in the bottom will work also)
(A very large pot with a steamer section in the bottom will work also)
Measuring spoons
Measuring cups
Tongs
Recipe:
Masa:
Not even going to lie, I just buy this from the store.
It's too complicated to make.
For an actual recipe, see blogs to
come!
I'll give it a go soon.
Meat:
pork roast(~7lbs)-Boiled and
shredded
chicken(5lbs) -Boil and
shred the chicken meat
1/2 c corn oil
6 Tbsp chili powder
3 Tbsp garlic
powder
3 Tbsp ground cumin
Steps:
- Mix the oil and seasonings in a small pan and gently warm on the stove.
- Then pour over the meat and mix with your hands until it is completely distributed through the meat.
- It takes a good 10 minutes to get the mixture completely uniform.
- Fill the pot with about 2 1/2- 3 pints of water!
- Now start assembling
- You take a corn shuck and slather on enough masa to cover the middle half of it.
- Then, spoon in roughly 1 tablespoon of meat!
- Wrap the tamale!
- Place the steamer section in the pot so the tamales don't touch the water
- Then, start to pile in the tamales laying down in a circle at the bottom of the pot.
- Then when the pot is full and you're super hungry, cover the pot and place it to boil for atleast 2 hours (Adding water as needed)
Ta Da!
All of their steamy wonder is right there before your eyes.
Enjoy!
-Leea Marie
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