Don’t have a steamer and thinking about the best ways to steam tamales? This article contains the process of steaming tamales without a streamer. In addition, we will be sharing a mouth-watering recipe to prepare tamales at home. So, stay tuned.

Tamales are a great dish from the MesoAmerican Cuisine. They are wrapped in corn husks and maize flour dough and consists of seasoned meat, (slow-cooked meat preferably chicken or pork). In addition, you may add any vegetables and ingredients of your choice such as potatoes, corn, peas, dry fruits, and more to make it more delightful and customized for you.

Fun Fact: Tamales are reserved for special occasions and holidays only. They require a lot of preparation and work, so mostly it is just made over holidays to enjoy all the family.

Recipe: How to Make Tamale?

Let’s go through a step-to-step guide of how Tamale is made.

  1. Wash the corn husks and make sure there is no debris.
  2. Soak the corn husks, place them in a large bowl and soak in cold water. Let them soak for at least 2 hours.
  3. Now prepare your filling. It can be any type of meat like beef, pork, or even chicken.
  4. Prepare it with your favorite seasonings. Usually, salt, pepper, turmeric, smoked paprika, and onion are added.
  5. Prepare a broth of the meat. Let the meat simmer for at least one hour so that you get the well-cooked broth.
  6. Separate the chicken, keep it cool and then cut it. Strain the broth in a bowl.
  7. Prepare the maize dough
  8. Prepare the filling using some flour. Add chicken and vegetables to it. Add broth to it and let it simmer for another 45 minutes.
  9. Assemble the Tamales
  10. Steam the tamales
  11. Praise your hard work and gobble it up!

How to Steam Tamales Without a Steamer?

If you don’t have a steamer, can you not make Tamales? Well, no. You can still make tamales, but the steaming process will be different. Here they are;

Method 1: Using Instant Pot

If you have an instant pot, keep as many Tamales as easily fit in the pot. Then set the heat to 200 and steam it for about 12 minutes to get the perfect Tamale. Repeat with the remaining Tamales.

Method 2: Using Regular pot

Take a large pot and place it over your stove. On medium flame. You need something to give an elevation. You can place a plate or grill rack that is heatproof. Pour some water into the pot, let it boil, and then turn down the flame. On that spread a foil sheet with a few holes in it. Then keep tamales on it (as many as can easily fit). Cover with lid. Let it steam for about 20 minutes on each side. Then take them out and keep the new batch.

Method 3: Using Oven

Turn your oven in and set it to 425 Fahrenheit or 220 degrees Celsius in the Oven. Foil the Tamales tightly. Then place in the preheated oven. Let it steam for 20 minutes on each side. In the oven, the biggest advantage is putting a lot of tamales together.

Now your Tamales are ready. For eating them, you need to open the husk wrapping. You can enjoy the scrumptious goodness inside over a table full of laughter and your family!

Mouth-Watering Recipe Recommendation

There are many more intriguing recipes. We are recommending a few for you to try!

FAQs

Are Tamales Bad for You?

Tamales have a high content of sodium. It is advised not to eat them regularly.

How Many Tamales Should You Eat?

Stick to one Tamale per meal. This will keep your healthy eating on track.

Should You Eat Tamales Hot or Cold?

Preferably eat them hot and fresh out of the pot.