FOOD NEWS
The Extra Step That Takes Your Tamales From Good To Great
By Patrick Bauman
Cooking tamales at home can be daunting, and the key to nailing the perfect homemade tamales is keeping them at a strict consistency where they are not too dry or wet.
You can solve this tricky consistency issue by allowing the tamales to sit once they're done steaming. This additional step will take them to the next level.
Steaming cooks both the masa dough and the filling, while the humidity keeps the dish moist. This can be done in a steamer pot on the stove or in a pressure cooker.
When the husks gently peel away from the masa without sticking, they've finished steaming, so remove the tamales from the heat but leave them in the steamer.
Let them sit in the steaming basket with the lid off for around 30 minutes. This additional time allows the interior to firm up a bit and the tamales to cool off.
Letting the tamales sit for a while also allows the flavors of the filling to soak deeper into the masa. It will result in unbelievably soft tamales that hold their shape.