How to Use a Tamale Steamer
Tamales are a delicious staple of Latino cuisine, revered along Route 66 and all around the South. While many tamales are fried, baked or grilled, authentic tamales are steamed, and you really haven't tasted a tamale until you tried one that has been cooked this way. You can steam them yourself if you have the right equipment. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Decide what kind of tamale steamer you want to use. The authentic Mexican tamale steamers are often galvanized "buckets" that have lids with steaming inserts in the bottom. More common are the bamboo steamers that are readily available at kitchen or houseware stores.
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Make your tamales and prep your steamer, making sure it is clean and in good working order. Traditionally, when using a bamboo steamer, banana leaves are placed in the trays before the tamales. For stacking steamers this is not necessary.
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Heat water. If using a bamboo steamer, this is done with a separate pot of water. Place the steamer over the pot and start boiling your water. If using a stacking steamer, put the water in the bottom of the steamer and the tamales in the other racks.
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Allow the tamales to steam for 90 minutes. Then take them out and serve them plain for the traditional way. If you like the American tamales better, they are served with a variety of different sauces, including a green chile sauce for chicken or pork and a red chile sauce for beef.
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