How To Make Vegan Tamales

This homemade vegan tamales recipe is a step by step tutorial on how to make tamales. Choose your favorite fillings, stove top and pressure cooker instructions. Also: How to make masa.

recipe originally published December 23, 2010

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. 1. Vegan Tamales
   2. Tamale Tips - Please Read
   3. How To Make Tamales
   4. Basic Masa Dough Instructions
   5. Ingredient Variations
   6. Pressure Cooker Tamales
   7. Tamale Storage Suggestions
   8. What do you serve with tamales?
   9. Vegan Tamale Recipe

Vegan Tamales

Invite a few people over and plan an all day (or two day) project with friends. Homemade tamales are so fun to make, and well worth the effort - there is nothing like a homemade tamale.

...and tamales are easy to make!

Learn just how easy homemade vegan tamales are to make with this how to guide that gives you step by step instructions and all the tips we've learned over the years.

Gather the essentials, make a list of your favorite fillings, and plan a fun day of tamale making!

Tamale Tips - Please Read

You can - and we have - made tamales all in one day. Generally though, we make the fillings one day, then make the masa and tamales the next day.

IMPORTANT: if using corn husks for wrapping tamales, these corn husks need to soak for several hours! I fill lidded containers with corn husks and water the day before making tamales, and leave them to soak overnight.

How To Make Tamales

Tamales are very easy to make.

There are several steps to tamale making, and a lot of time. When you are enjoying your homemade tamale, you will realize the process is absolutely worth it.

None of the steps to homemade tamales are difficult:

• Soak the corn husks! the important first step. package instructions vary on soaking times, we soak overnight.
• Prepare the fillings. we often do this step the day before tamale making. having all ingredients prepped and ready to go makes an easy tamale making day!
• Make tamale making "stations": have all ingredients set out, have steam pots (or pressure cookers!) ready to fill as you go, set up areas for each person making tamales.
• Make the masa. the last step before actual tamale making. fresh masa is SO GOOD, and very easy to make just before you begin.

How to make masa

A basic masa dough for tamales could not be easier to make. While I have in the past made an oil free tamale dough, over the years I have learned my lessons:

Vegetable shortening really is the way to go.

For a vegetarian / vegan tamale that most closely resembles the traditional lard based tamale dough, an all vegetable shortening is your friend here. Light and fluffy, it really does add that much needed texture.

Perfect.

You can use coconut oil – I suggest refined unless you want the flavor of coconut. A vegan butter could be used also – I would add about another ¼ cup due to the water content of the butter. You are looking for the fat component of this ingredient.

Tamale Ingredient Variations

The possible vegan tamale filling options are endless! Over the years, we have made so many flavor combinations, and each year we return to our favorites and create new ones.

• chile relleno tamale
• jackfruit (in many flavors!)
• vegan beef and cheese
• green chile and pinto bean
• green chile, cheese and corn
• black bean, chile arbol and roasted sweet potato
• dark chocolate and sweet cashew cream
• fig and cashew cream

Pressure Cooker Tamales

Homemade vegan tamales can be steamed on the stove top, or quickly steamed in the pressure cooker! 

We have cooked tamales using both methods. While the pressure cooker takes about one third of the cook time, our pressure cooker is smaller than the large pot we use to steam tamales on the stove top.

For pressure cooker tamales, we cook in batches – which is fine because we usually have our separate work stations with the ingredients and bowl of masa between us. We set up the pressure cooker and cook them in batches as we are continuing to make tamales.

Pressure cooker tamales are great when you are steaming smaller batches later, or from the freezer.

When steaming on the stovetop, we are able to set up the pot and add tamales as we go – one or two large pots depending on the volume of tamales. Fill up the pot, and all of the tamales get steamed at once.

Storage Suggestions - How long do homemade vegan tamales last?

Steam tamales right before serving.

If making tamales ahead of time, a fresh (uncooked) tamale can be refrigerated for 2 days.

Fresh, uncooked tamales can be carefully wrapped and sealed in freezer safe containers for 3 months. Thaw and steam according to directions before serving.

Vegan recipes to serve with tamales

• Simple Spanish Rice: a flavorful dish that is a perfect compliment to your vegan tamales. five ingredients gets you this classic recipe with traditional flavor.
• Mango Habanero Guacamole: another must have side to your homemade vegan tamales! a perfect blend of spicy and sweet, everyone loves this one. hint: make a double batch.
• Cheesy Hatch Chile Enchiladas: the ultimate comfort food and and easy meal planning dish, among our most popular potluck and food train recipes! often requested.
• Fire Roasted Poblano Chilaquiles: a delicious skillet breakfast or dinner for holidays or any time of year. generously sauced chips are the star of this dish.
• Bean and Cauliflower Rice Enchiladas: a quick and easy weeknight dish we rely on for fast eats, the classic flavors here pair well with your homemade tamales!
• Easy Green Enchilada Sauce: have a dish of this sauce on the table for ALL of these recipes! drizzle over homemade tamales to add some tasty tangy flavor.
• Buffalo Jackfruit Enchiladas: veering from the traditional enchilada flavors but popular nonetheless! every time we serve these, they disappear quickly!
• Enchilada Dip: a super popular recipe, with good reason - everyone loves it! easy to make, this unique dip is a bowl of straight up comfort food! serve as a sauce with for vegan tamales.
• Jalapeño Margarita: everyone's favorite summertime cocktail gets a spicy kick! margaritas are essential to homemade tamales, yes? yes.

Did You Make These Homemade Vegan Tamales? 

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Yield: 30 tamales / 15 servings

Vegan Tamales

Print

A step by step tutorial on how to make tamales. Choose your favorite fillings, stove top and pressure cooker instructions. Also: How to make masa.

Prep Time 30 minutes

Cook Time 1 hour

Additional Time 8 hours

Total Time 9 hours 30 minutes

Ingredients

• Corn Husks for wrapping tamales*
• 1 cup Vegan Vegetable Shortening (or coconut oil)
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 2 teaspoons sea salt
• 1 teaspoon Aluminum Free Baking Powder
• 3 ½ cups Gluten Free Corn Masa Flour
• 2 ½ cups water + 1 teaspoon Vegan Boullion, or 2 ½ cups veggie broth
• 10 fresh Anaheim or Poblano chiles, or 12 ounces (1 ½ cups) canned chiles
• 1 ½ cups corn kernels
• 6-8 ounces Dairy Free Cheese

Instructions

1. *Soak corn husks overnight to 24 hours prior to making tamales. Some corn husk packages suggest three days.
2. In a large mixing bowl, beat the vegetable shortening by hand until fluffy and smooth. Add cumin, salt, and baking powder, combine completely.
3. Add the corn masa flour and 2 ½ cups broth to the vegetable shortening. Combine everything completely until a tamale dough is formed. (Add extra water / broth as needed.)
4. This tamale dough can be carefully wrapped and frozen for two months.
5. Prepare and arrange all tamale fillings. 
6. Remove corn husks from soaking, pat dry with a towel. Spread a thin layer of masa in the middle of a husk, leaving the pointed end and edges free for folding. 
7. Spoon fillings down middle of masa.
8. Fold sides of husk so masa meets and forms in the middle. Fold thinner pointed end over. Place in steamer, standing up on folded end.
9. Steam tamales on stove top: Using a large pot with a steamer insert, add water just under steam basket so water is not touching tamales. Bring water to boil, then reduce heat to medium. Check water level often, adding hot water as needed to keep from running dry. Steam for 60 minutes – check a tamale – masa should be firm. Continue to steam, checking every 10 minutes, if not firm, up to 90 minutes total.
10. Steam tamales in pressure cooker: Place inner pot / liner in pressure cooker. Place steamer rack inside. Add water up to rack (at least 2-3 cups). Place steamer basket on top of rack. Fill with tamales. Steam for 20 minutes at high pressure, with a 10 minute natural release.
11. Refrigerate leftovers in covered container for 3-5 days. Wrap carefully and freeze for two months.

Notes

dairy, egg, soy and gluten free, vegan

IMPORTANT:

if using corn husks for wrapping tamales, these corn husks need to soak for several hours! I fill lidded containers with corn husks and water the day before making tamales, and leave them to soak overnight.

How to make masa

A basic masa dough for tamales could not be easier to make. While I have in the past made an oil free tamale dough, over the years I have learned my lessons:

Vegetable shortening really is the way to go.

For a vegetarian / vegan tamale that most closely resembles the traditional lard based tamale dough, an all vegetable shortening is your friend here. Light and fluffy, it really does add that much needed texture.

You can use coconut oil – I suggest refined unless you want the flavor of coconut. A vegan butter could be used also – I would add about another ¼ cup due to the water content of the butter. You are looking for the fat component of this ingredient.

Tamale Ingredient Variations

The possible vegan tamale filling options are endless! Over the years, we have made so many flavor combinations, and each year we return to our favorites and create new ones.

• chile relleno tamale
• jackfruit (in many flavors!)
• vegan beef and cheese
• green chile and pinto bean
• green chile, cheese and corn
• black bean, chile arbol and roasted sweet potato
• dark chocolate and sweet cashew cream
• fig and cashew cream

Storage Suggestions - How long do tamales last?

Steam tamales right before serving.

If making tamales ahead of time, a fresh (uncooked) tamale can be refrigerated for 2 days.

Fresh, uncooked tamales can be carefully wrapped and sealed in freezer safe containers for 3 months. Thaw and steam according to directions before serving.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• 
  Corn Husks Tamal Wrapper 
• 
  Vegetable Shortening, 20 Ounce
• 
  White Masa Corn Flour Gluten Free 2 Kg 4.4 lb
• 
  Better Than Bouillon, No Chicken Base, Vegan Certified 8 oz.
• 
  6qt Steamer Basket for Instant Pot Stainless Steel Strainer and Insert 
• 
  Baking Powder

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

15

Serving Size:

2 tamales
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 227Total Fat: 9gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 305mgCarbohydrates: 13gNet Carbohydrates: 10gFiber: 3gSugar: 2gProtein: 3g

nutrition calculations results vary by calculator, are for informational purposes only, and are not intended to replace medical advice or treatment.

about Kristina:

Kristina is spabettie! She found cooking at an early age, and created spabettie in 2010 to share vegan recipes. Kristina turned her culinary training into sharing vibrant vegan food!  Read more...

spabettie / Kristina Sloggett is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.