How to Make Delicious Chicken Tamales at Home

If you love Mexican food, then you must have tried tamales at least once. These savory treats are made of masa dough wrapped around a filling, steamed, and served with flavorful sauces. Chicken tamales are no different. They are delicious, filling, and perfect for a weekend lunch or dinner. But if you have never made tamales before, the process can seem overwhelming. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to make chicken tamales that are sure to impress your family and friends.

To make chicken tamales, you will need a few ingredients, such as corn husks, masa harina, chicken, spices, and seasonings. The process starts with soaking the corn husks until they are pliable. Then, you prepare the filling by cooking the chicken and adding your preferred spices. Next, you make the masa dough, which is the most crucial part of the process. You will need to mix masa harina with water or chicken stock, lard or vegetable shortening, and other seasonings until you have a smooth, pliable dough. From there, assembly is relatively simple; you spread a portion of masa dough on the corn husks, add the chicken filling, and wrap up the tamale. Once all your tamales are wrapped, they go in a steamer for about an hour, and voila, your chicken tamales are ready to serve.

Introduction:
If you’re a fan of Mexican cuisine, you must have tried tamales at least once in your life. Tamales are wrapped corn husks filled with savory or sweet fillings and steamed until cooked. One particular type of tamale that stands out is chicken tamales – juicy chicken wrapped in masa and steamed until soft and tender. If you’ve always loved chicken tamales, here’s a guide on how to make them at home.

1. Gather your ingredients
To make chicken tamales, you’ll need several ingredients, including chicken breast, dried corn husks, masa, chicken broth, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, salt, and pepper. Ensure that all ingredients are fresh and of high quality.

2. Prepare the chicken
Start by cooking the chicken. You can roast, grill or boil the chicken breasts until they’re cooked through. Cut the chicken into small pieces and set aside for later use.

3. Prepare the masa
In a large bowl, combine masa with chicken broth and stir until well combined. Add chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, salt, and pepper, and continue stirring until you have a smooth, moist dough.

4. Soak the corn husks
Place the dried corn husks in a large bowl of hot water and let them soak for at least 30 minutes until they’re pliable.

5. Assemble the tamales
Take a corn husk and dry it with a towel. Place a spoonful of masa on the husk and spread it evenly. Add a spoonful of chicken filling on top of the masa, then roll the husk over the filling until it forms a cylinder shape. Fold the bottom end of the husk and tie it with a strip of corn husk to secure the filling inside.

6. Steam the tamales
Fill a large pot with water and place a steamer basket inside, then add the tamales on top of the basket. Cover the tamales with corn husks and steam them for 1-2 hours until they’re cooked through.

7. Test for doneness
To check if your tamales are done, take one out and open it. The masa should be firm, not mushy, and the filling should be hot and cooked through.

8. Serve hot
Once your tamales are cooked, remove the husks and serve them hot with your choice of toppings, such as salsa, avocado, or sour cream.

9. Store leftovers
If you have leftover tamales, let them cool down to room temperature, then wrap them in plastic wrap and store them in the fridge or freezer. Tamales can be reheated in the microwave or oven.

10. Enjoy your homemade chicken tamales!
Congratulations, you’ve successfully made your own chicken tamales! Enjoy them as a delicious and filling snack or meal, and impress your friends and family with your newfound cooking skills.

Ingredients Needed for Chicken Tamales

Making tamales is a fun and unique way to spice up your dinner. But before you start cooking, you need to have all the necessary ingredients. Here are the key ingredients you’ll need to make chicken tamales from scratch:

1. Masa Harina – This is a special type of corn flour that is used to make the dough for tamales.

2. Chicken – Any type of chicken will do, whether you prefer dark or white meat.

3. Chicken Stock – You’ll need a good amount of chicken stock to cook the chicken and make the masa dough.

4. Dried Corn Husks – These are the traditional wrappers for tamales. You can usually find them in the Latin American section of your grocery store.

5. Chili Powder and Spices – Keep your pantry stocked with chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, and salt, to add bold flavor to your tamales.

6. Vegetable Shortening – This ingredient is used to make the masa dough more pliable.

7. Baking Powder – This is an essential ingredient for making light and fluffy tamales.

8. Diced Tomatoes – This ingredient gives a bit of acidity that will help balance the flavors and add moisture to your filling.

9. Onion – You will need at least one medium onion for the filling.

10. Garlic – A touch of garlic will add an extra spark to your chicken filling, make sure you have a couple of cloves minced and ready to go.

Having these ingredients ready before you start cooking will make the process much easier and smoother.

Ingredients:

Making chicken tamales requires some basic ingredients that can be easily found at your local grocery store. Here are the ingredients you will need to make chicken tamales:

Preparing the Chicken:

The first step to making chicken tamales is to prep the chicken. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Boil the chicken: Place the chicken in a large pot and add enough water to cover it. Boil it for about 20-25 minutes or until it’s fully cooked.

2. Shred the chicken: Once the chicken is cooked, remove it from the pot and let it cool. Once it has cooled down, use a fork or your hands to shred the chicken.

3. Season the chicken: In a pan, heat some oil and sauté onions, tomatoes, garlic, and jalapeno pepper. Once they are soft and tender, add the shredded chicken and season it with oregano, cumin, salt, and pepper. Cook the chicken for another 5-10 minutes.

Preparing the Corn Husks:

Next, you need to prepare the dried corn husks. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Soak the corn husks: Place the dried corn husks in a large bowl and cover them with hot water. Let them soak for about an hour or until they become soft and pliable.

2. Sort the corn husks: Once the corn husks are soft, sort them by size and thickness. It’s important to use similarly sized and thick husks for each tamale.

3. Dry the corn husks: Pat dry the soaked husks with a clean towel and set them aside until you need them.

Preparing the Masa:

Now that you have prepared the chicken and corn husks, it’s time to prepare the masa. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Mix the masa: In a large bowl, mix together masa, chicken stock, and some salt until you get a smooth and even consistency.

2. Prepare the dough: Take a small amount of dough and roll it into a ball. If it sticks to your hands, you can add more chicken stock until it becomes soft and pliable.

Assembling the Chicken Tamales:

Finally, it’s time to assemble the chicken tamales. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Take a corn husk: Holding it flat in your hand, spread a thin layer of prepared masa about two-thirds of the way up, leaving room at the top and bottom.

2. Add the chicken: Add a spoonful of the chicken mixture to the center of the masa.

3. Roll the tamale: Fold the sides of the corn husk towards the center and then fold the bottom flap over the filling. Tie the tamale with a thin strip of corn husk to keep it in place.

4. Steam the tamales: Place the tamales in a pot and add enough water to steam them. Bring the water to a boil and then reduce the heat to low. Cover the pot with a lid and let the tamales steam for about 1.5-2 hours.

5. Enjoy the tamales: Once the tamales are cooked, remove them from the pot and let them cool for a few minutes before serving them. You can garnish them with salsa, guacamole, and sour cream if you like. Enjoy!

That’s All for Now Folks!

I hope you enjoyed reading this article and feel motivated to try making chicken tamales at home. Remember, tamale-making is all about being creative and having fun! Don’t be afraid to add your own twist to the recipe. Thanks for cooking with me today, and don’t forget to visit again later for more tasty recipes. Happy cooking!