Tamales

host event

Putty scraper spatula thing

Consider baking powder to substitute for no stand mixer

Consider blending fresh roasted peppers with/against dried seasoning for the masa Harina (dough)

Pro Tip: Place a penny at the bottom of the pot, when you hear the penny rattle that means the water level is low and it is time to add more water to the steamer. https://muybuenocookbook.com/tamal-dough-masa-para-tamales/

Cook times range from 30 minutes to 3 hours. I should experiment.

InstantPot Pork Shoulder with Chile fillings?

Ratios seem consistent, about 5 lbs masa harina. 6 cups masa flour plus 5 cups liquid and 2 cups fat.

• Corn Husk
• Filling (braised bulk meat + chili sauce)
• Masa (lard, juices, flour)

Consider variations where I use Chinese Zhongzi filling, or use Chinese sticky rice outside.

For Chile paste, I used:

• 5 ancho (chocolate raisin and soft).
• 2 negro aka Pasilla
• 2 New Mexico which is mild
• 5 California which is mild and sweet

Noticed that there was not a lot of liquid in the instapot.

Used dutch oven instead, instant pot burned. Dutch oven in oven at 250 for 3 hours (by accident).

• 780g Maseca (6 cups)
• 30g twice acting baking powder (6 tsp)
• 1 small jug 1 lbs 16 oz 454g lard melted (2 cups)
• 10g table salt (2 tsp)
• 1.25 cartons of low sodium chicken broth 2.5 lbs 1134g (5 cups)

Total sodium is 120 *5 + 560 * 8 = 5080mg
About 5 lbs or 2472g

Test the dough with tacos. Heat oil to 350F and press ball into skillet. 325 is sizzle. Stuck to spatula…

Taco was gritty so I'm going to need it by hand

I want to try less oil next time.

Produced about 50 tamales with 6 cups of Maseca.

Put sauce in middle instead of edge so it doesn’t leak when sealing.

Inspired by La Tapatia of El Paso. Consider a sweet one with raisins or coconut flakes or oatmeal. Consider a spicy chicken one with green sauce.