Best Shredded Pork Tamales Recipes

TAMALES DE PUERCO (SHREDDED PORK TAMALES)

Steps:

• DIRECTIONS:.
• A day in advance, trim fat from meat. If not already cut into 4 strips, cut meat into 4 strips and place into a large pot.
• Add broth or water, onion, garlic, bay leaves, 1 tablespoon salt, peppercorns, 1/2 teaspoon oregano and 1/2 teaspoon cumin. Bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat, cover and simmer 1 hour. Drain meat, reserving about 5 cups of the broth for the tamale dough.
• With 2 forks, shred the meat and mix in 4 tablespoons flour, 1 tablespoon salt,.
• 1 tablespoon ground black pepper, 1 tablespoon dried oregano and 3 tablespoons ground cumin. If too dry, add a little broth to make it like a paste.
• Refrigerate the meat mixture and the reserved broth overnight. If you like it on the tangy side, add some chopped chilis to the meat mixture.
• You will only use about half of the meat filling mixture. The other half you can freeze for the next time you make tamales. So, the next time, you will only have to make the dough.
• The next day, soak the corn husks in hot water 1 hour to soften. Also soak a few additional husks to cover tamales. Rinse and pat dry with paper towels.
• Prepare the dough by mixing all the dough ingredients, except the corn husks, with warm pork broth. You will need to make 2 batches of the dough. Hold each corn husk with point towards you. Place a rounded tablespoonful of dough at large end of husk. Spread with fingers. Place 2 or 3 tablespoons of pork filling on dough. Top with another tablespoon of dough and spread to cover filling.
• Fold sides of husk over the tamale. Fold pointed end of corn husk under the seam on outside. Stand tamales on folded ends on a steaming rack over water in a large pot.
• Cover with additional layers of husks. Bring water to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and steam 1 hour, or until dough pulls away easily from husk. Makes about 32 tamales.

SHREDDED PORK TAMALES

Steps:

• Prepare Shredded Savory Pork and Chile Colorado as directed. Soak the corn husks in hot water about 30 minutes to soften.
• Meanwhile, for dough, in a large bowl, stir together masa harina and the water. Cover and let stand for 20 minutes (mixture will appear dry). In a mixing bowl, beat shortening and 1/2 teaspoon salt with an electric mixer on medium speed for 1 minute. Gradually beat in flour mixture until combined (mixture should resemble a thick, creamy paste).
• For filling, in a medium saucepan, combine Shredded Savory Pork and Chile Colorado; heat through.
• Drain corn husks well; pat dry with paper towels. For each tamale, spread about 2 tablespoons of the dough into a 5 x 4-inch rectangle on each corn husk so one of the long sides of the dough is at the long edge of the husk. (If husks are small, overlap two small husks.) Spoon about 1 tablespoon of the filing lengthwise down the center of the dough. Fold the long edge of husk over the filling so dough edges meet. Roll husk around outside of filled masa mixture. Tie ends securely with strips of cornhusk or 100-percent-cotton kitchen string.
• To prepare steamer, if desired, place a cone-shape ball of foil in the center of a steamer basket. Stand tamales upright in basket (don't pack tamales too tightly, but fill the space). Place about 1-1/2 inches of water in bottom of steamer or Dutch oven. Place baskets over water. Bring water to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and steam for 40 to 45 minutes or until tamales pull away from corn husks, adding water to pan as necessary. Makes 16 tamales.
• Make-Ahead Directions: Wrap and freeze the cooked tamales in the corn husks. To serve, thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Place the tamales in a steamer basket over gently boiling water for 15 to 20 minutes or until heated through.

CARNITAS TAMALES (SHREDDED PORK STUFFED CORN HUSKS)

Steps:

• Soak corn husks in warm water to cover for at least 2 hours or until pliable. Heat oil in a large saucepan and sauté onion until tender. Stir in red sauce, shredded pork, and remaining ingredients except tamale dough and olives. Bring to a boil reduce heat. Simmer for 15 minutes. Add a little pork liquid if mixture becomes too dry. Prepare Tamale Dough.Drain corn husks and pat dry with paper towels. Spread 1/4 cup dough across the center of each husk, from one edge to within 1/2 inch of other edge. Spoon 2 tablespoons of the pork mixture into the center of the dough top with an olive. Roll husks around the filling, starting with the dough edge. Then, fold each end up toward the center to make a packet. Secure with strips of corn husk or string, as needed.Set tamales on a rack in a large stockpot, Dutch oven, or steamer. Pour boiling water into the pot to just under the rack level. Place a coin in the pot to rattle when water boils too low. Cover the pot and keep water simmering over low heat for 1 hour. Tamales freeze well.

CARNITAS TAMALES (SHREDDED PORK)

Steps:

• Put all ingredient in a pot and simmer until pork is tender. Remove bay leaf. Reserve 2 cups of broth for Carnitas Tamales (tamale dough).

SHREDDED PORK TAMALES WITH ONIONS

Steps:

• Beat first 4 ingredients in large bowl with mixer on low speed until blended. Gradually add broth, beating well after each addition until light and fluffy. Stir in cheese.
• Blend juice, barbecue sauce and annatto paste in blender until smooth. Add to meat; mix lightly.
• Spoon about 1/3 cup dough onto center of each of 14 banana leaves; spread into 5x3-inch rectangle. Top each with 1/4 cup meat mixture. Fold in sides of leaves to completely enclose filling. Tie closed with strips of additional leaves.
• Pour 3 cups water into tamalera pot or 8-qt. stockpot fitted with steamer basket. Line bottom of basket with leaves; add tamales, overlapping as necessary to fit. Cover tamales with remaining leaves or damp kitchen towel. Cover with tight-fitting lid. Bring to boil on medium-high heat. Cook on medium-low heat 1 hour or until tamales pull away from leaves, adding more boiling water to pot as necessary.
• Bring remaining 2 cups water to boil in medium saucepan. Add onions; cook 5 min. Drain. Transfer onions to bowl; toss with dressing. Serve over tamales.