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Basic Mexican Tamale Dough Recipe

Basic Mexican Tamale Dough Recipe
  • Category

    Snacks

  • Cusine

    Mexican

Ingredients

2 pounds fresh masa for tamales from a tortilleria or 3 cups of masa harina para tamales mixed with 2 cups water or chicken stock and left to rest, covered, for 15 minutes

8 ounces lard, preferably back lard

2 teaspoons baking powder

2 teaspoons kosher salt

1 cup homemade chicken stock or store-bought low-sodium broth, plus more as needed

Directions

Combine lard, salt, and baking powder and, using an electric mixer, beat at medium-high speed until well whipped, about 1 minute. Add one-fourth of the masa at a time to the lard, beating between additions until thoroughly incorporated. Add chicken stock and continue beating until dough is light and has a soft and spreadable hummus-like texture. Cover masa with plastic and refrigerate for 1 hour. Remove masa from refrigerator and re-whip, adding additional chicken stock 1 tablespoon at a time, if necessary, to return it to original hummus-like texture. Use tamale dough in any tamale recipe .