Pork Tamales recipe

*IMPORTANT: MAKE SURE YOU USE TAMALE MASA FLOUR NOT TORTILLA MASA FLOUR. TAMALE MASA FLOUR IS MADE OUT OF CORN, TORTILLA MASA IS MADE OUT OF WHEAT. YOUR TAMALES WILL TASTE LIKE TURKEY DRESSING IF YOU DON'T USE THE RIGHT KIND OF MASA!

*NOTE: If you don't like pork, substitute beef, chicken, fish, or tofu.
Pork Tamales recipe

• 1 (5 pound) pork shoulder

• 1 clove garlic
• 1/4 to 1/2 cup ground red chile
• 1/2 teaspoon ground Mexican oregano
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 6 cups Masa Harina
• 1/2 cup lard
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 pound dried corn husks

Cover the pork with water in a large pot. Add garlic, and bring to a boil. Simmer gently, covered, until meat is tender. Cool slightly. Discard the garlic. Chop the meat and set aside.

Mix chile powder, Mexican oregano, and flour with 2 cups of the meat stock and add to the chopped meat. Bring to a boil and simmer gently until mixture is thick. Cool.

Beat lard until light and fluffy. Blend in Masa Harina. Add enough meat stock or water to make the mixture soft and pliable. The dough is ready when a small lump floats slowly to the bottom of a glass of water, so test it several times to ensure that it is at the exact point.

Soak the husks in hot water until they are soft. Drain. Spread a thin layer of masa on a husk. Put a heaping tablespoon of meat mixture down the center of the masa. Roll the husk carefully around the meat filling. Wrap another husk from the opposite side. Tie ends with string. Stand the tamales on end on a layer of corn husks in a steamer. Steam for about 1 hour. Drain and serve with more red chile sauce and beans.