DifficultyAdvanced

Tamales, oh how we love you. A labour of love but oh so worth it. Try your hand at these delicious Beef Tamales. You can give it a go the traditional "by hand" way or speed things up with a stand mixer.

https://www.muydelish.com/how-to-make-beef-tamales/#recipe

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Yields24 Servings
Prep Time2 hrsCook Time1 hrTotal Time3 hrs
To Make the Beef
To Make the Masa
Optional Fillings
Make the Shredded Meat
1

In a large pot add the beef, onion, garlic, oregano, salt & pepper. Cover with enough water to cook the ingredients (about 2 liters).

2

Cook until the meat is fork tender and comes apart with no resistance, about 2 hours. When done, remove the roast to a platter to cool, reserve the beef broth.

3

Hand shred the meat
Add the 2 cups of red chile sauce and mix thoroughly. Refrigerate until ready to use.

Soak the Husks
4

Place the corn husks in a large container or bowl and cover with warm water. Place something heavy on top of the husks in order to keep them submerged. Soak for at least 20 minutes to soften them up.

Make the Masa
5

In a mixing cup, add the broth and red sauce and combine.

6

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, add the shortening, salt, and baking powder.

7

Mix on medium/low power until it's light and fluffy. About 8 to 10 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula to mix the ingredients on the sides.

8

Alternate wet and dry ingredients: With the mixer still running, add some of the masa (the size of a tennis ball) and mix. Then add some of the sauce and mix.

9

Repeat until all the masa and sauce are fully incorporated and have a smooth & silky batter.

10

To test when the masa is ready, add a dollop of it in a glass with cold water: if it floats, then it's ready.

11

What if the masa doesn't float? Just continue kneading the masa for a few more minutes. This will make it more fluffy and eventually will float.

To Assemble the Tamales
12

Get all of your ingredients lined up and ready for assembly.

13

Scoop about a ¼ cup masa into one large or two overlapping smaller husks and smear it with a small spatula or back of a spoon.

14

Add about 2 to 3 tablespoons of shredded meat, 1 potato slice & olives (optional).

15

Fold one side of the husk to enclose then the other side on top of it.

16

Tie the tamales: Fold up the bottom to the top (the narrow end), leaving the top open. Then tie with a string made from the husk.

Steaming Tamales
17

Using a large steamer or a tamalera pot, add water to the bottom of the steamer making sure it will not overflow into the steaming tray. The tamales should not touch the water.

18

Place the tamales standing up and do not over pack the pot since it may affect how they cook.

19

Cover and steam on medium heat for one hour.

20

To test whether tamales are done, remove one from the pot and gently unfold one of the sides. The dough should pull away from the husk easily not leaving any wet masa on the husk, and the tamale should hold together.

21

The texture of a fully cooked tamale is bread like but very fine-grained and moist.

22

Serve hot with beans or your favorite side dish and your favorite salsa.

Optional: Potatoes
23

Slice them thinly then place in small to medium pot.
Cover with water and cook for about 4 minutes or until they’re cooked half way only. They will finish cooking when you steam the tamales.

Category

Ingredients

To Make the Beef
To Make the Masa
Optional Fillings

Directions

Make the Shredded Meat
1

In a large pot add the beef, onion, garlic, oregano, salt & pepper. Cover with enough water to cook the ingredients (about 2 liters).

2

Cook until the meat is fork tender and comes apart with no resistance, about 2 hours. When done, remove the roast to a platter to cool, reserve the beef broth.

3

Hand shred the meat
Add the 2 cups of red chile sauce and mix thoroughly. Refrigerate until ready to use.

Soak the Husks
4

Place the corn husks in a large container or bowl and cover with warm water. Place something heavy on top of the husks in order to keep them submerged. Soak for at least 20 minutes to soften them up.

Make the Masa
5

In a mixing cup, add the broth and red sauce and combine.

6

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, add the shortening, salt, and baking powder.

7

Mix on medium/low power until it's light and fluffy. About 8 to 10 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula to mix the ingredients on the sides.

8

Alternate wet and dry ingredients: With the mixer still running, add some of the masa (the size of a tennis ball) and mix. Then add some of the sauce and mix.

9

Repeat until all the masa and sauce are fully incorporated and have a smooth & silky batter.

10

To test when the masa is ready, add a dollop of it in a glass with cold water: if it floats, then it's ready.

11

What if the masa doesn't float? Just continue kneading the masa for a few more minutes. This will make it more fluffy and eventually will float.

To Assemble the Tamales
12

Get all of your ingredients lined up and ready for assembly.

13

Scoop about a ¼ cup masa into one large or two overlapping smaller husks and smear it with a small spatula or back of a spoon.

14

Add about 2 to 3 tablespoons of shredded meat, 1 potato slice & olives (optional).

15

Fold one side of the husk to enclose then the other side on top of it.

16

Tie the tamales: Fold up the bottom to the top (the narrow end), leaving the top open. Then tie with a string made from the husk.

Steaming Tamales
17

Using a large steamer or a tamalera pot, add water to the bottom of the steamer making sure it will not overflow into the steaming tray. The tamales should not touch the water.

18

Place the tamales standing up and do not over pack the pot since it may affect how they cook.

19

Cover and steam on medium heat for one hour.

20

To test whether tamales are done, remove one from the pot and gently unfold one of the sides. The dough should pull away from the husk easily not leaving any wet masa on the husk, and the tamale should hold together.

21

The texture of a fully cooked tamale is bread like but very fine-grained and moist.

22

Serve hot with beans or your favorite side dish and your favorite salsa.

Optional: Potatoes
23

Slice them thinly then place in small to medium pot.
Cover with water and cook for about 4 minutes or until they’re cooked half way only. They will finish cooking when you steam the tamales.

Authentic Red/Beef Tamales