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Colombian Tamales (Tolimense Style)

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 3.8 from 109 reviews
  • Prep Time: 0 hours
  • Cook Time: 0 hours
  • Total Time: 0 hours
  • Yield: 14 1x
  • Category: Breakfast, Chicken, Christmas, Main Dish, Pork, Tamales
  • Cuisine: Colombian

Ingredients

Scale

Marinade

  • ½ white onion
  • 4 green onions, stalks only
  • 5 garlic cloves
  • 4 tbsp food coloring/all-purpose seasoning (Triguisar, Sazón Goya or homemade)
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 cups (480 ml) water

Guiso (Seasoned Sauce)

  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • ¼ cup green onion (3 medium stalks) or 3 shallots, finely chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
  • ½ red bell pepper, finely chopped
  • 4 tomatoes without seeds, finely chopped
  • 1 chicken bouillon
  • 1 tsp food coloring/all-purpose seasoning (Triguisar, Sazón Goya or homemade)
  • 1 tsp ground cumin or to taste
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Filling

  • 1 lb county style pork ribs, cut into 14 pieces
  • 1 lb pork belly, cut into 14 pieces
  • 14 chicken pieces (Drumsticks and/or thighs)
  • 4 medium red potatoes
  • 3 medium carrots
  • 7 eggs, boiled
  • Water, salt and color/all-purpose seasoning (Triguisar, Sazón Goya or homemade) to taste

Masa (Dough)

  • 10 cups (.63 gallon) water
  • 1 chicken bouillon
  • 1 tbsp color/all-purpose seasoning (Triguisar, Sazón Goya or homemade)
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • Salt to taste
  • 1 lb pre-cooked white corn meal
  • 1 cup (150 g) frozen or canned sweet peas
  • 3 cups (750 g) white rice, cooked
  • ¼ cup (56 g), pork lard (Optional)

Wrapping

  • 4 16 oz bags frozen banana leaves
  • Butcher/kitchen string

Instructions

  1. Day 1. Blend all the ingredients of the marinade in a blender or food processor.
  2. Put the pork meat in two resealable bags or in glass/plastic bowls and add the marinade. Close the bags, massage them well to make sure the meat is well covered with it and refrigerate overnight.
  3. If you’re using frozen banana leaves, you can thaw them out by leaving them in the fridge overnight.
  4. Day 2. Carefully take the leaves out of each bag and cut them into rectangles, approx. 20 inches long (50 cm) each.
  5. Clean both sides of each leaf with a damp cloth or paper towel. If the leaves are stiff, you can pass them through a stove burner set to medium low for a few seconds to soften them. This also helps to avoid cracks.
  6. Peel and cut the potatoes into thick slices and place them in water in a medium bowl. Season the water with salt and the food coloring/all-purpose seasoning to taste if you want.
  7. Peel and cut the carrots into slices and place them in water in a small container. Season the water with salt to taste if you want.
  8. To make the guiso or seasoned sauce: In a large pan, heat the olive oil on medium heat and add the green onion and garlic, cook for 2 minutes. Add the red bell pepper and tomatoes and cook for 5 minutes or until they’re softened. Add the chicken bouillon, food coloring/all-purpose seasoning, cumin, salt and pepper and stir well. Add a bit of water if the sauce is too thick.
  9. To make the masa (dough): Place the water for the masa in a large pot over medium low heat, add the chicken bouillon, food coloring/all-purpose seasoning, onion powder, garlic powder, cumin and salt. Heat the water on the stove without bringing it to a boil. Then, slowly add the pre-cooked corn meal and stir with a spatula or wooden spoon until it looks like thick oatmeal. If the masa is too thick, you can add more water. Add the sweet peas, the rice and pork lard, stir well and remove from the stove.
  10. To assemble the tamales: Place 3-4 pieces of banana leaves one on top of the other on a flat surface.
  11. Spread about about ¼-½ cup of masa in the center of the leaves.
  12. Place 2 carrot slices, 2 potato slices and ½ an egg in the masa.
  13. Place 1 piece of pork rib, 1 piece of pork belly and 1 piece of chicken over the masa.
  14. Add 1 tbsp of guiso over the meat.
  15. Add a bit more masa over the guiso.
  16. Close the tamal by grabbing all sides of the leaves towards the center forming a ball at the bottom and then tie it with the butcher string going around 3-4 times. Cut off the excess leaves if you want. Repeat this process with every single tamal.
  17. To cooke the tamales: Fill ¼ of a large pot (Tamalera) with water and season with salt. Place a steam rack inside the pot to avoid letting the tamales touch the bottom or the water. Bring water to a boil. **Note: If you don’t have a steam rack you can place sticks or left over banana leaves in the bottom of the pot instead.
  18. Place the tamales on the steam rack one on top of the other and steam them on low heat for about 2½ hours. Check the water level every 30 minutes to prevent it from evaporating completely.
  19. Once the tamales are ready, take them out and let them rest for a few minutes before serving.

Notes

You can also add 1 lb pork sirloin, cut into 14 pieces

Find it online: https://sweetysalado.com/en/colombian-tamales-tolimenses/