Wild Game Tamales Recipe

Wild Game Tamales
By Gilbert Loredo
Posted at He Hunts She Cooks

Prep Time:  2 hr
Cook Time:  4 hr
Total Time:  6 hr
Yields 36

Because this recipe is fairly easy but time consuming, make it a party by inviting friends and relatives to all share in the fun and make a large batch. And remember to taste test quite often. This recipe can be easily modified for added flavors or different types of meat from domestic to wild game!

Ingredients

• 5 lbs. Prepared masa from local Mexican market
• 5 lbs of Wild Game Meat from leg or shoulder cut into 2 inch pieces
• 1 big pack of Corn Husks (16 ounces)
• 5 Garlic Cloves, minced
• 1 pack of California Chili Powder (1.5 ounces)
• 1 pack of New Mexico Chili Powder (1.5 ounces)
• 1 pack of Cumin (1 ounce)
• 1 pack Onion Powder (1-1/2 ounces)
• 1 pack Garlic Powder (1-1/2 ounces)
• 2 Bay Leaves
• 1 tbs. Salt
• 1 tbs. Pepper
• Canola Oil for browning meat
• 4-5 cups Beef Broth (approximate amounts, may need more or less)
• 1 small can of El Pato Tomato Sauce (7-3/4 ounce)

For the Corn Husks

• Soak your husks for a few hours in warm water.

​For the Masa

• Remove the prepared masa from the fridge to the counter a couple hours ahead to bring the masa to room temperature (it makes spreading easier if it's room temp).

For the Game Meat Filling

• Cut meat in to medium size cubes.
• With a large pot, add canola oil to coat the bottom and heat over medium-high heat.
• Season game meat with salt and pepper and add, a few at a time to the pot.
• Brown meat on all sides.
• Once the meat is browned, add the minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute.
• Pour beef broth over meat and add the bay leaves.
• Turn down the heat to low and simmer the meat for approximately 2+ hours or until the meat is tender (may need more time).
• Once the meat is tender, remove the meat and *reserve the broth.
• Shred the meat.
• To the shredded meat, add the packets of chili powder and 1/2 pack of cumin, 1/2 pack onion powder, 1/2 pack garlic powder and tomato sauce.
• Add just enough reserved beef broth to make a stew like thickness.

To Make The Tamales

• Remove meat from heat let it cool.
• Remove a few corn husks from the water and pat dry.
• Layer one or two corn husks together (depending on how thick they are).
• Wet a soup spoon and spread approximately 3 tbs. masa on "smooth" side of husks (this will make it easier to remove husk after they are steamed)
• Spread the masa through the center and out to about 1/2 inch from the edges of the corn husk.
• After you have spread masa on several husks add a couple tablespoons shredded meat on top of the masa (you don't want to overfill your husks (otherwise the filling will squeeze out when they are rolled).
• Roll it like a burrito and fold the pointy end on the bottom and leave the top open.
• *You can use any extra jucies from your pot and drizzle on top of tamales while they are upright in steamer before steaming.
• Once you have your tamales all rolled up use some string or make some ties by pulling apart excess husk and tie bundles of 6 tamales (this will make it easier to stand up in your steamer).

To Steam the Tamales

• Fill the bottom of the steamer pot with about 2 inches of water, and bring to boiling.
• Stand up the tamales in the steamer basket.
• Add the steamer basket filled with tamales into the steamer pot (it's very important to make sure the water level doesn't touch the tamales or they will be soggy).
• Cover the pot and turn down heat to a medium boil to create steam.
• Steam them for about an hour and a half (maybe less depending on amount you are steaming).
• Check the steamer pot from time to time and add water if needed to keep steaming.
• **If you have any extra meat and sauce left over serve it on top of tamales after they are done and unwrapped.

Notes

• For this recipe, you will need a large stainless steel steamer, approximately 8 inches high, to hold the tamales. Add about 2 inches of water to the bottom of the steamer (you don't want the tamales touching the water or they'll get soggy).
• Check the water level from time to time and add water as needed to keep steaming for the 1-1/2 hours.

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