Bean Tamales
PREP TIME: 15 MINS
COOK TIME: 12 MINS
TOTAL TIME: 30 MINS
YIELDS: 20-24 SERVINGS
NUTRITIONAL INFO PER TAMALE
CALORIES: 110
FAT: 1 GRAMS
PROTEIN: 5 GRAMS
CARBS: 22 GRAMS
INGREDIENTS
4 cups corn masa
1 ½ -1 ¾ oil free red enchilada sauce
20-24 corn husks
Oil free refried beans (canned or homemade)
Toppings:
Pickled onions
Hot sauce
Avocado
Pico de gallo
INSTRUCTIONS
1). In a bowl place 4 cups corn masa. Slowly mix in the enchilada sauce until you have a moist paste that will hold its shape.
2). With a spoon gently smear the masa paste onto the entire corn husk, about a ¼ inch thick. If you like thicker tamales then add more.
3). Then add your refried beans on one side and fold the corn husk over and seal all the sides. You can then fold the tails of the corn husk up. If you have large corn husks then spoon filling down the middle and fold one side to the middle, then the other side over.
4). Seal the ends, and fold the bottom of the corn husk upwards.
5). Place them inside a steaming basket, inside a large pot with a lid. Steam for 20 minutes. You can also place them in your instant pot (my preferred method) on a steaming basket, with 2 cups of water.
6). Hit the steam setting for 12 minutes then release the pressure manually and remove the tamales. Top and enjoy!!
*These freeze great!
Ugh! The link to enchilada sauce won’t work ?
Might be this: https://www.amazon.com/365-Everyday-Value-Organic-Enchilada/dp/B074H5LWPX/ref=sr_1_1?almBrandId=VUZHIFdob2xlIEZvb2Rz&dchild=1&fpw=alm&keywords=oil+free+red+enchilada+sauce&qid=1616761777&s=wholefoods&sr=1-1
Just to let you know, the link for the sauce doesn’t work. It doesn’t take you to the individual product, just to the landing page of Amazon. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
Thank you Kiki!
Sounds yummy! I’ve never had (or even seen) a tamale…. How do you eat them? Do you eat the husk or just scrape out the filling?
Thanks!
remove the husk after you steam them, the masa has cooked and will stay intact, and will look like the picture, especially if you use the instant pot directions,
Just open the corn husk and the cooked tamale will fall out. Throw away the husk. Enjoy the tamale.
I don’t know if anyone answered this but no. You do not eat the husk. After steaming it you will un rap the husk and eat the tamale inside
Hi just wondering what corn masa is?
It’s a type of flour made out of corn. It’s bot cornmeal or polenta. It’s especially made for tamales and other dishes.
Hi Kiki,
These sound and look amazing. How would I steam them? Sorry I don’t own a steamer.
Thank you
BTW. I love your youtube videos. I bought both of your cookbooks YUM!
I’ve been wanting to make these so thanks. Where do I find corn husks?
Do you have a replacement for masa? I can’t have corn.
Tamales are made from corn and there’s no way around it (at least that I’ve ever seen). Now, there’s another similar dish, from Puerto Rico, that is made with green plantains. It would not be as easy as the corn tamales, but there’s no corn in those. They’re called pasteles and you can find and adapt recipes that are available online.
Do you freeze before steaming or after?
Thank you so much. I love tamales and have missed them. Do you think they would freeze okay. Blessing to you and your family.
I made similar tamales. I’ve been making tamales since before I could read, so I had to try to make them close to how I normally make them. I added sliced potatoes, carrots, green olives, artichokes, and salsa with my black beans.. beans tend to dry up so more veggies and salsa help keep it most.
Aloha Lizette,
Do you used cooked potatoes and carrots? I like the idea of adding other ingredients. Since Kiki’s recipe has such a short cook time, do raw vegetables become soft?
How much enchilada sauce?
Do you soak your cornhusks before filling?
Thanks so much for sharing this! I can’t wait to try this!!
Funny thought. When I first saw this on Instagram, I thought it was salmon fillets. I was about to lose my faith in humanity. :-) Thanks for sharing. I never thought of making tamales without all the lard. Can’t wait to try it!
Denise, I thought the same thing!! ??
Just made these! My first time making tamales. So yummy thank you!!
Thank you for this a tamale recipe without oil, I didn’t think it could be done! I have regretted not being able to buy tamales here in Mexico where I live…now this! My next problem will be finding oil free red enchilada sauce. I will probably have to ad lib on that.
siempre gracias para todo KikI!
Do you soak the corn husks, and how long
I’m so glad I remembered seeing this on Instagram! I was just about to make a much more complicated vegan tamales recipe and this was a great reminder to keep it simple! Thank you.
Brilliant! I’m making these.
Yes. The range is for preference.
These just won’t cook in an instant pot! I’ve tried for over an hour steaming the tamales in there and the masa part is still uncooked.
The recipe is off! I tried using just 1 1/2 cups of enchilada sauce and it needed so much more than that with those 4 cups of corn masa.
Not sure why these won’t cook to look like actual tamales.
The ingredients and cooking times are way off. I’ve spent over an hour trying to steam these in my instant pot. The corn masa just won’t cook to look like actual tamales. The corn masa to enchilada sauce ratio is way off also. There was no way 1 1/2 cups of sauce was enough for those 4 cups of corn masa. I ended up having to go back to the store in the rain to purchase more sauce.
Not sure why these won’t cook, but they won’t.