How to Steam Frozen Tamales
Cornmeal dough wrapped around a sweet or savory filling with a corn husk covering is known as a tamale. These are a holiday favorite in many Hispanic households. Today, the multicultural cook can find frozen tamales for sale at grocery stores, Hispanic markets and on the Internet. A tamale steamer suspends the tamales over boiling water to cook the dough. You can improvise a tamale steamer from a stockpot and steamer basket. Steaming your frozen tamales will make them taste just as good as fresh. Just do not eat the corn husk wrapper. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Deep stock pot or tamale steamer
- Coin
- Corn husks (optional)
- Steamer basket insert
- Tight fitting lid
Instructions
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1
Fill the bottom of the stock pot with water to just below the steamer insert.
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2
When you hear the coin rattling against the bottom of the pot, you must refill the steaming water. Drop a coin into the water. When you hear the coin rattling against the bottom of the pot, you must refill the steamer with more water.
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3
Bring the water to a boil over medium heat.
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4
Cover the steamer insert with a layer of corn husks if desired.
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5
Arrange the still frozen tamales upright with the open end pointed up. Do not pack the tamales too tightly as they expand during cooking.
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6
Place the steamer basket into the pot above the boiling water.
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7
Cover the pot with a tight fitting lid and begin timing.
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8
Steam pre-cooked frozen tamales for 25 minutes. Cook frozen raw tamales for 3 hours or until cooked through. Remove the corn husk before eating the cornmeal dough and filling inside.
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References
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- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Comstock/Getty Images silver coin image by Pali A from Fotolia.com
