Seeing how the seasons are changing and it is getting colder I thought it time to make some tamales to be shared with friends over the holiday season. In Texas and other parts of the country, tamales go hand in hand with good chili and a cold beer and good friends.
One of my like minded friends harvested a black buck antelope in New Mexico a month or so ago and I did the processing and grinding the meat on a course grind once and then frozen.
DAY 1:
The night before was a lot of prep. Cooked 6 lbs of the antelope in a large skillet on low while I made the "chili sauce". I used Ancho, New Mexico, Chipotle, & California peppers.
I took the peppers and cut them open to scape the seeds out, then put them in the oven @ 350 degrees on a flat sheet for 15 mins.
They were then transferred to a pot of warm water to soak for 45 min. After that the chili pods were placed in a blender with 2 cups of the water they had been soaked in along with 2 tablespoons of minced garlic and 1 tsp of Kosher salt.
Next they were blended into a nice paste using the water they were soaked in that was simmered until it was fairly thick.
By the time the meat had been browned good (at least and hour) I added the sauce to the meat and let simmer until most of the water from the entire had steamed off, then it was placed in a container to cool overnight in the refrig.
Next the corn husks (use fresh husk if possible) are set to soak in water overnight.
Now comes making the masa paste for use on the corn shucks.
I just bought a masa flour mix and added melted lard and water as per the directions on the package. I made up the whole 5 pounds and mixed thoroughly then packe into a 2 gallon zip lock and put in the fridge.
DAY 2:
Got up at 4 am and took the masa out so it could get to room temp, went back to bed until 8am.
Laid out all the ingredients on some large flat pans to make for easier cleanup later.
...
I use a small scoop to distribute the meat filling to the masa coated corn husk, then add a couple black olives (southwest style) fold over and roll to make a nice seam, the bottom of th e shuck is tucked over the seam and tied with a strip of the corn husk.
Note the black olives...
Below is tied.
Now for a mess of them...tied and ready to steam.
...
I placed in a tamale steamer pot which is basically a tall pot with a rack covered with shucks (keeps the bottoms from getting soggy) a few inches above the water and got the water to boil then turned down to simmer, covered with a towel (keeps the steam condensation from dripping on the open end of the tamales) and loose fitting lid.
Steamed for 40 mins +- till the masa was cooked, removed from the heat and set aside to cool enough to remove from the pot (about and hour). Then removed and laid back onto flat pans to further cool before wrapping in foil and placing in the freezer. I like to wrap them 6 to a package instead of 12.....just my preference in the event I want a quick snack without having to defrost a whole dozen.
.
Don't be intimidated, you too can do this. It just takes a little time and effort, It is a great way to get family and friends together and talk about good times and pass along your skills.
I wonder how they would be smoked after being steamed??? i may have to try that myself.
Enjoy and Happy Tamale making Holidays to all.
HT
One of my like minded friends harvested a black buck antelope in New Mexico a month or so ago and I did the processing and grinding the meat on a course grind once and then frozen.
DAY 1:
The night before was a lot of prep. Cooked 6 lbs of the antelope in a large skillet on low while I made the "chili sauce". I used Ancho, New Mexico, Chipotle, & California peppers.
I took the peppers and cut them open to scape the seeds out, then put them in the oven @ 350 degrees on a flat sheet for 15 mins.

They were then transferred to a pot of warm water to soak for 45 min. After that the chili pods were placed in a blender with 2 cups of the water they had been soaked in along with 2 tablespoons of minced garlic and 1 tsp of Kosher salt.


Next they were blended into a nice paste using the water they were soaked in that was simmered until it was fairly thick.
By the time the meat had been browned good (at least and hour) I added the sauce to the meat and let simmer until most of the water from the entire had steamed off, then it was placed in a container to cool overnight in the refrig.
Next the corn husks (use fresh husk if possible) are set to soak in water overnight.
Now comes making the masa paste for use on the corn shucks.
I just bought a masa flour mix and added melted lard and water as per the directions on the package. I made up the whole 5 pounds and mixed thoroughly then packe into a 2 gallon zip lock and put in the fridge.
DAY 2:
Got up at 4 am and took the masa out so it could get to room temp, went back to bed until 8am.
Laid out all the ingredients on some large flat pans to make for easier cleanup later.
...
I use a small scoop to distribute the meat filling to the masa coated corn husk, then add a couple black olives (southwest style) fold over and roll to make a nice seam, the bottom of th e shuck is tucked over the seam and tied with a strip of the corn husk.
Note the black olives...
Below is tied.
Now for a mess of them...tied and ready to steam.
...
I placed in a tamale steamer pot which is basically a tall pot with a rack covered with shucks (keeps the bottoms from getting soggy) a few inches above the water and got the water to boil then turned down to simmer, covered with a towel (keeps the steam condensation from dripping on the open end of the tamales) and loose fitting lid.
Steamed for 40 mins +- till the masa was cooked, removed from the heat and set aside to cool enough to remove from the pot (about and hour). Then removed and laid back onto flat pans to further cool before wrapping in foil and placing in the freezer. I like to wrap them 6 to a package instead of 12.....just my preference in the event I want a quick snack without having to defrost a whole dozen.
.
Don't be intimidated, you too can do this. It just takes a little time and effort, It is a great way to get family and friends together and talk about good times and pass along your skills.
I wonder how they would be smoked after being steamed??? i may have to try that myself.
Enjoy and Happy Tamale making Holidays to all.
HT
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