These sweet tamales with orange, almonds, and raisins are eaten as a dessert in Mexico. Try to find extra sweet ripe oranges for the best flavor. [Recipe originally submitted to Allrecipes.com.mx]
Ingredients
- corn husks:
- oranges, peeled and segmented: 5 piece
- ½ cups white sugar: 2 piece (divided)
- lard: 2 cups
- ice cubes: 2 piece (or as needed)
- ¼ pounds fresh corn masa dough: 3 piece
- baking powder: 2 Tbsp
- milk: 1 cup
- orange juice: 1 cup (freshly squeezed)
- raisins: 0.66667 cup
- blanched almonds: 0.33333 cup (chopped)
Metric Conversion
Stages of cooking
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Place corn husks in a bowl, cover with boiling water, and soak for 30 to 60 minutes. Drain, place on a work surface, and cover with a clean, damp towel.
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Combine oranges and 1 1/4 cups sugar in a saucepan over low heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until mixture starts to turn into jam, about 30 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool completely.
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While jam is cooling, place lard in a large bowl, add 2 or 3 ice cubes, and beat with an electric mixer until soft and creamy. Beat in 1 1/4 cups sugar until well incorporated.
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Combine masa dough and baking powder in a separate bowl. Knead together for a few minutes. Add masa to lard mixture. Mix in milk alternately with orange juice, beating continuously with the electric mixer. Mix in cooled jam, raisins, and almonds.
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Select 1 wide corn husk or 2 small ones. Spread about 2 tablespoons masa mixture onto the corn husk, filling it up to 2 inches from the bottom and 1/4 inch from the top. Fold sides of husk together, one over the other. Fold the bottom of the husk over the seam of the 2 folded sides. Repeat with remaining husks.
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Place a steamer insert into a saucepan and fill with water to just below the bottom of the steamer. Bring water to a boil. Add tamales with the open side up and cook until filling is heated through and separates from the husk, about 1 hour. Let tamales stand for 15 minutes before serving.
