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chicken tamales

The Best Chicken Tamales

5 from 1 vote
Authentic, tender Chicken Tamales filled with shredded poultry and a robust red chile sauce. Whipping the masa ensures a light, melt-in-your-mouth texture every single time.
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Prep Time 45 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 12 tamales
Course: Dinner Cuisines
Cuisine: Italian-Mexican Fusion
Calories: 310
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pack dried corn husks Soaked until fully pliable
  • 3 cups masa harina Coarse grind for tamales
  • 1 cup lard or vegetable shortening Whipped until fluffy
  • 2.5 cups warm chicken broth Plus extra as needed
  • 6 dried guajillo chiles Stemmed and seeded
  • 2 dried ancho chiles Stemmed and seeded
  • 3 cups cooked shredded chicken Thighs or breasts
  • 3 cloves garlic Peeled
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin For earthy flavor
  • 1 teaspoon dried Mexican oregano Crushed

Equipment

  • 1 large steamer pot For cooking the bundles
  • 1 stand mixer For whipping the masa
  • 1 Blender For the red sauce
  • 1 Fine mesh strainer For a smooth chile sauce

Method
 

  1. Submerge the dry corn husks in a large bowl of very hot water, weighing them down to soak for at least an hour.
    woman soaking dried corn husks in a large glass bowl
  2. Boil the dried chiles until soft, then transfer them to a blender once cooled.
  3. Blend the chiles with garlic, cumin, oregano, and broth until smooth, then strain the mixture.
    adding boiled red chiles to a blender pitcher
  4. Toss the shredded chicken with most of the red sauce to coat thoroughly.
  5. Beat the lard until airy, then alternate adding masa harina and warm broth until it passes the float test.
  6. Spread the masa onto a soaked husk, add the filling, and fold the sides and bottom inward.
    spreading masa on corn husk and adding chicken filling
  7. Steam the bundles upright in a covered pot for ninety minutes until the dough pulls away cleanly.

Nutrition

Serving: 180gCalories: 310kcalCarbohydrates: 28gProtein: 14gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 45mgSodium: 420mgPotassium: 210mgFiber: 4gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 400IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 60mgIron: 2mg

Notes

Keep extra chicken broth nearby to adjust the masa consistency if it feels too dry. The dough should float in cold water before assembling.

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