Pulled Pork Tamales
Slow cooked pulled pork is a delicious filling for Mexican pulled pork tamales. This recipe comes with an easy step by step tutorial so you can see how easy they are to make. Batch make them and freeze for a make ahead meal idea.
I made these tamales after having a lot of leftovers from Pulled Pork Sandwiches. Slow roasted pulled pork is shredded and mixed with spices and sauce.
Making tamales is not as difficult as you may think. It takes longer to steam them than to assemble them.
The masa dough starts with lard. There is no substitute for the flavor and authenticity it adds. The lard is whipped to incorporate air and make it light and fluffy which results in better dough.
How to make tamales – step-by-step
Use a hand mixer or whisk to whip the lard. Add the masa harina, baking powder, salt and mix. Add chicken stock and whisk until the dough is well mixed and moist.
First tip, moist masa works best
Make sure that your dough is adequately moist, if not, the tamales will turn out dry and sandy. To test the dough, you can drop a little ball into a little water. If it floats, it’s fine, if it sinks add more liquid.
Soak the corn husks in hot water for a few minutes to soften. Lay the corn husk with the smooth side facing up and the thin end facing you. Spread the masa dough in an even layer starting halfway up and spread to cover the entire top half of the husk, out to the sides. You can see this done in the video.
Add about 2 tablespoons of pulled pork and put into the center of the masa dough leaving a border of dough around the meat so when it is folded, the dough covers the meat.
Fold the sides over the meat so they husk slightly overlaps, then take the thin end and fold up to halfway to complete the package. Secure with a string of corn husk tied into a knot (optional).
How to steam the tamales
If you don’t have a proper steamer (which I don’t), you don’t need one. If you have a tall pan (8 quart is what I use) and a steaming basket, this is all you need. You will need to elevate the basket on something heat-proof, I use 3 ramekins.
Add enough water to it won’t evaporate during the steaming, but not too much that it touches the tamales. Cover and steam for 1 hour.
Serving Suggestion
My favorite side to serve with these tamales is my quick & easy corn salsa because it’s perfect corn season and green salsa too. What you get is a perfectly sweet complement to the tamales to offset the richness of the pulled pork.
If you’ve tried these Pulled Pork Tamales or any other recipe on the blog, then don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know it turned out in the comments below. I love to hear from my readers!
Pulled Pork Tamales
Pulled pork is wrapped in masa dough and wrapped in corn husks and steamed. Best served with homemade quick & easy corn salsa.
Ingredients
- 1 cup lard
- 1 ½ cups masa harina corn masa flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ cups chicken stock, hot
- 16 corn husks
- 2 cups leftover pulled pork (see notes for link to recipe)
Instructions
- Bring a large pan of water to a boil (large enough to fit the husks).
- While the water comes to a boil. Add the lard or shortening to a large bowl and whisk until light using an electric hand whisk or mixer. Add the masa, baking powder and salt. Mix. Add the chicken stock and whisk until the dough is moist. If it is too dry add more stock or water. Cover the bowl with a towel and allow to rest for 10 minutes.
- Add the corn husks to the hot water, for a few minutes until soft. Remove and dry.
- When the masa dough is ready, take a corn husk and flatten. Lay the corn husk with the smooth side facing up and the thin end facing you. Spread the masa dough in an even layer starting halfway up and spread to cover the entire top half of the husk, out to the sides. Add about 2 tablespoons of pulled pork and put into the center of the masa dough leaving a border of dough around the meat so when it is folded, the dough covers the meat. Fold the sides over the meat so they husk slightly overlaps, then take the thin end and fold up to halfway to complete the package. Secure with a string of corn husk tied into a knot (optional).Repeat until all the tamales are made.
- Put 3 ceramic ramekins into a large pan and set a steamer basket on the top. Fill the pan with water to it won't evaporate during the steaming, but not too much that it touches the tamales.
- Lay the tamales in the pan, seam-side down and steam with the lid on for 1 hour, keep an eye on the water level, do not allow the pan to boil dry. They are done when the husk does not stick to the masa.
- Serve with your favorite salsa and sides.
Notes
Nutrition Information
Yield
16Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 346Total Fat 17gSaturated Fat 6gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 10gCholesterol 24mgSodium 305mgCarbohydrates 43gNet Carbohydrates 0gFiber 4gSugar 10gSugar Alcohols 0gProtein 10g
This nutrition calculation is provided by Nutronix that is only a guideline and not intended for any particular diet.
6 Comments on “Pulled Pork Tamales”
First of all, Thank you so much for taking away the fear of making tamales! I have wanted to make them for so long but they were very intimidating with all the “stuff” needed for the vessel. I made some and took to work to share with my lunch buddy and she suggested using chicken broth instead of water in the Masa. Now I want to make more!
Thank you so much Beverly. I like your friends suggestion, I have to try that.
No olives inside? My husband will love these! Guess it is time to fish out the masa from the back of the pantry. 🙂
Janette, these tamales look positively fantastic!!
I’ve never tried making my own tamales. Maybe one day soon I will; your recipe is sure to help! My husband would absolutely love these. He really likes pulled pork. Pinning for later. Thanks for sharing your recipe and pretty photos.
I have never tried to make tamales. Maybe it was too intimidating? But you make it look easy….guess I’ll have to give it a try! Thank you for linking up to the Bloggers Brags Pinterest Party. I have pinned your post to the Bloggers Brags Pinterest board.