11/28/2025
Thanksgiving tamales
The turkey:
While a smoked turkey would be best, roasted or deep fried would also work. I personally dont include the skin as it doesn't work well. Anyway ya do it. Pick the meat from its bones and shred it. Make the marinade.
1 can of jellied cranberry sauce
2 large cans of adobo peppers( do not drain)
Enough chicken broth to make smooth in a blender
You can add any peppers ya want to add to the heat of this, but this is the basic blend. Place meat in a bowl, add the marinade and mix thoroughly. Place in large zip lock and let sit in the fridge for 24 hours.
The masa
4 cups masa flour
3 cups warm chicken broth
2 cups melted lard( I've done this with shortening and they come out greasy. Use lard, your not making these for vegans)
2 tbs baking powder
Now the spices!
2tbs thyme
2 tbs sage
2 tbs garlic powder( I prefer granulated garlic over powdered)
2 tbs onion powder
2 tbs black pepper( if you grind your own I recommend Vietnamese black pepper as it adds a different spice layer)
1 tbs savory
1 tbs herbs de Provence
1 tbs marjoram
1 tbs cumin
Add all the dry together, mix with a whisk. Make sure that you have the broth and the lard warm to the point of hot. Pour in and mix with a large spoon throughly. Let sit for at least thirty minutes. This let's the flavors marry. Taste the masa add salt as needed. The masa should taste like a stuffing. Then just make the tamales. If you need instruction on that then there are many videos on the internet to show you..... Until I get a camera and start doing my own channel.
