Tamales en Hojas Ready to Serve.

 

Cuban Tamales in Corn Husks: A Treasure of Traditional Cuisine

A true Creole delicacy that brings together the best of the Cuban countryside: fresh corn, juicy pork, and a flavorful sofrito. Corn husk tamales are a classic must-have for celebrations and family gatherings.

🥘 Ingredients:

  • 5 pounds of fresh grated or ground corn
  • 28 clean corn husks
  • 2 ½ pounds of pork (preferably belly)
  • 1 cup of lard or vegetable oil
  • 1 large onion
  • 12 Cuban peppers (ajíes cachucha) or 1 large green bell pepper
  • 1 small can of tomato sauce
  • 9 cloves of garlic
  • 1 teaspoon of ground cumin
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Enough water to boil

 

 

👨‍🍳 Step-by-Step Preparation

1. Prepare the meat

Cut the pork into small cubes, season with salt and pepper. In a large pot, heat the lard and brown the pieces thoroughly until fully cooked. Set aside.

2. Make the sofrito

Chop the onion, peppers, and garlic into very fine pieces. Sauté everything in the same fat from the meat. Add salt, cumin, and tomato sauce, stirring well. Incorporate the browned pork and cook for a few minutes to absorb the flavors.

3. Mix with the corn

Take the corn from the fridge and carefully combine with the sofrito and meat. Stir well to achieve a homogeneous, flavorful dough.

4. Assemble the tamales

Take a corn husk and form a small cone. Fill with two or three tablespoons of the mixture. Cover with another husk in the opposite direction and tie firmly with cotton string. Repeat until all the mixture is used.

5. Cook the tamales

Boil plenty of salted water in a large pot. Place the tamales carefully, making sure they are fully covered by the water. Cook for 45 minutes to 1 hour, maintaining a constant boil.

6. Serve and enjoy

When ready, remove them, drain, and let rest for 10 minutes before tasting. Ready to savor a piece of Cuban tradition!

ℹ️ Recipe Details

  • Servings: 14 tamales
  • Total Time: 2 hours and 10 minutes
  • Category: Root Vegetables & Cooked Veggies
  • Cuisine: Cuban

✅ Tips for Best Results

  • Use freshly grated corn for the perfect texture.
  • Tie the tamales well to prevent them from opening during cooking.
  • Serve with a Creole mojo to intensify the flavor.
  • You can accompany this fabulous dish with fried pork dough balls.

📌 Suggested Tags

Cuban tamales, corn husk tamales, typical Cuban recipes, Creole cuisine, Cuban culinary tradition

📣 We Want to Hear from You

Did you try making these tamales? Leave your comment, share your experience, and don’t forget to come back to discover more recipes from our land. Enjoy!

For the Spanish recipe, visit: Tamales Cubanos en Hoja: Sabor Auténtico Criollo.