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Beef Tamales served on a rustic plate with green and red salsa, avocado, and tomato.

Beef Tamales

Close-up of a smiling woman with curly dark hair sitting indoors at a cafe or restaurant.Amy Golden
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours 30 minutes
Total Time 5 hours
Course dinner
Cuisine Mexican
Servings 36 tamales
Calories 219 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 4 pounds beef chuck roast
  • 6 cloves garlic divided
  • 36 dried corn husks
  • 4 dried ancho chiles
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup beef stock
  • 2 teaspoons fresh oregano chopped
  • 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1 teaspoon white vinegar
  • Salt to taste
  • 3 cups lard
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • 9 cups masa harina

Instructions
 

  • Place beef chuck roast and 4 whole cloves of garlic in a large pot. Cover with water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for about 3.5 hours until beef is tender. Shred the beef and reserve 5 cups of the cooking liquid.
    Placing beef chuck roast and garlic cloves in a pot with water for Beef Tamales.
  • Soak corn husks in warm water for 3 hours to make them pliable.
    Soaking corn husks in warm water for beef tamales.
  • Toast ancho chiles, remove stems and seeds, and grind them.
    Toasting dried ancho chiles in a pan for Beef Tamales.
  • In a skillet, brown flour in oil, add beef stock and spices, and simmer the shredded beef in this sauce for 45 minutes.
    Simmering shredded beef for Beef Tamales in a skillet with sauce and fresh oregano.
  • Whip lard with salt, mix in masa harina, and gradually add reserved cooking liquid to achieve a soft dough consistency.
    Mixing masa dough for beef tamales in a large bowl.
  • Spread masa on corn husks, add beef filling, roll, and fold the husks.
    Spreading masa on a corn husk and adding beef filling for beef tamales.
  • Steam tamales for 1 hour until the masa is firm.
    Fresh Mexican tamales with salsa, lime, avocado, and red tomatoes on a terracotta plate.

Nutrition

Calories: 219kcalCarbohydrates: 25gProtein: 13gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 3gSodium: 255mgFiber: 3g
Keyword beef, beef tamales, mexican dinner
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