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Tamales

Bill Clay

By Bill Clay
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PantsTent

PantsTent 2,003

Posted
Posted
On 12/22/2021 at 1:40 PM, Wally Pryor said:

Anyone tried the Delicious Tamales on Oltorf?

Seems they make a ton in the SA factory for school fundraisers and stuff.  Ate the ones I bought from my nephew last night and were solid enough for this gringo.  There was one other mention early on in this thread.

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billfromlaketravis

billfromlaketravis 11,784

Posted
Posted

Slacked off again this year and didn’t order in advance. I fully expect to buy Christmas tamales in a Westheimer parking lot this year. 
 

Please don’t order tamales from Pappasitos. They used some sweet pork bullshit that is truly awful. I had to drown it in chili con carne and Tacodeli green sauce to make it edible last year. 

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DoobieWah

DoobieWah 1,528

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7 hours ago, billfromlaketravis said:

Slacked off again this year and didn’t order in advance. I fully expect to buy Christmas tamales in a Westheimer parking lot this year. 

Alamo Tamales - you can order online, but I never have. I wouldn't miss the opportunity to wave at the tortilla-making ladies through the window.

Make sure to get the handmade and not the machine made ones which are smaller, cheaper and "less handmade".  They're the best I've found locally and you don't have to worry about how they've been made or kept.

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billfromlaketravis

billfromlaketravis 11,784

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Posted
On 12/21/2022 at 4:17 AM, DoobieWah said:

Alamo Tamales - you can order online, but I never have. I wouldn't miss the opportunity to wave at the tortilla-making ladies through the window.

Make sure to get the handmade and not the machine made ones which are smaller, cheaper and "less handmade".  They're the best I've found locally and you don't have to worry about how they've been made or kept.

My tamale guy at Southland Hardware was absent today. I guess he didn’t have water either. So I trekked over to Alamo. You Better be right. 
 

I picked up 12 hand made pork, and 12 spicy pork that are machine made. They said “no spicy” on the hand made. 
 

No chile con carne. Boo, but I picked some up at Pappasitos on the way homes. Have some Trader Joe’s Jalapeño Sauce ready to go as well. 

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Dbeasy

Dbeasy 15,526

Posted
Posted

It's that time of year again. What do people do for chili sauce for their tamales.  In year's past, we've always been lazy for those that wanted it and would just lay out some Wolf brand chili, which is pretty lame.  Any better options?

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dcbc

dcbc 14,641

Posted
Posted
13 minutes ago, Dbeasy said:

It's that time of year again. What do people do for chili sauce for their tamales.  In year's past, we've always been lazy for those that wanted it and would just lay out some Wolf brand chili, which is pretty lame.  Any better options?

I've topped with a Tex-Mex gravy with beef like I use for enchilada gravy.  It's pretty solid.  I probably posted the recipe in the enchilada thread, but plenty of good ones online.

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Dbeasy

Dbeasy 15,526

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1 minute ago, dcbc said:

I've topped with a Tex-Mex gravy with beef like I use for enchilada gravy.  It's pretty solid.  I probably posted the recipe in the enchilada thread, but plenty of good ones online.

That's what I was thinking of doing. I need to find a better enchilady gravy recipe.  The one in the Tex Mex cookbook doesn't have meat, and the chili con carne recipe is beef chunks.

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dcbc

dcbc 14,641

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2 minutes ago, Dbeasy said:

That's what I was thinking of doing. I need to find a better enchilady gravy recipe.  The one in the Tex Mex cookbook doesn't have meat, and the chili con carne recipe is beef chunks.

I'm pretty sure they one I used didn't have meat either.  But I modified it.  The last step says "add cooked ground beef."  I've tried it with leftover pulled pork as well. 

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dcbc

dcbc 14,641

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Posted (edited)

This is the gravy recipe I use. 

 

INGREDIENTS

3 tablespoons olive oil

3 tablespoons flour (whole wheat flour, all-purpose flour and gluten-free flour blends all work)

1 tablespoon ground chili powder

1 teaspoon ground cumin

½ teaspoon garlic powder

¼ teaspoon dried oregano

¼ teaspoon salt, to taste

Pinch of cinnamon

2 tablespoons tomato paste

2 cups vegetable broth or chicken stock

1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar or distilled white vinegar

Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

(add cooked ground beef or other delicious animal)

INSTRUCTIONS

This sauce comes together quickly once you get started, so measure the dry ingredients (the flour, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, oregano, salt and optional cinnamon) into a small bowl and place it near the stove. Place the tomato paste and broth near the stove as well.

In a medium-sized pot over medium heat, warm the oil until it’s hot enough that a light sprinkle of the flour/spice mixture sizzles on contact. This might take a couple of minutes, so be patient and don’t step away from the stove!

 

Once it’s ready, pour in the flour and spice mixture. While whisking constantly, cook until fragrant and slightly deepened in color, about 1 minute. Whisk the tomato paste into the mixture, then slowly pour in the broth while whisking constantly to remove any lumps.

Raise heat to medium-high and bring the mixture to a simmer, then reduce heat as necessary to maintain a gentle simmer. Cook, whisking often, for about 5 to 7 minutes, until the sauce has thickened a bit and a spoon encounters some resistance as you stir it. (The sauce will thicken some more as it cools.)

 

Remove from heat, then whisk in the vinegar and season to taste with a generous amount of freshly ground black pepper. Add more salt, if necessary (I usually add another pinch or two). Go forth and make enchiladas!

Edited by dcbc
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elfenix

elfenix 34,658

Posted
Posted
56 minutes ago, Dbeasy said:

That's what I was thinking of doing. I need to find a better enchilady gravy recipe.  The one in the Tex Mex cookbook doesn't have meat, and the chili con carne recipe is beef chunks.

I'd probably start with Northeast ISD's enchilada chili from the video on the first page of the cheese enchilada thread. Maybe combine the measures with the enchilada gravy which is also in that video.

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HouTex

HouTex 1,912

Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, Dbeasy said:

It's that time of year again. What do people do for chili sauce for their tamales.  In year's past, we've always been lazy for those that wanted it and would just lay out some Wolf brand chili, which is pretty lame.  Any better options?

I actually prefer Wolf Brand chili over my homemade tamales.  I top with cheese and onions.  But a good Tex-Mex gravy would work as well.  And I’ve done a classic New Mexican red chile sauce and it works too.  Hell, any sauce works with good tamales, or even no sauce at all. 

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Brisketexan

Brisketexan 106,618

Posted
Posted
I actually prefer Wolf Brand chili over my homemade tamales.  I top with cheese and onions.  But a good Tex-Mex gravy would work as well.  And I’ve done a classic New Mexican red chile sauce and it works too.  Hell, any sauce works with good tamales, or even no sauce at all. 

Grew up in a Mexican purist family. Tamales were eaten plain, or maybe with some good salsa.
Wife’s family (gringo) ate tamales too, because Texas, but topped with canned chili. And I love em that way too.
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dcbc

dcbc 14,641

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38 minutes ago, HouTex said:

I actually prefer Wolf Brand chili over my homemade tamales.  I top with cheese and onions.  But a good Tex-Mex gravy would work as well.  And I’ve done a classic New Mexican red chile sauce and it works too.  Hell, any sauce works with good tamales, or even no sauce at all. 

Wolf Brand Chili over ____ has strong, positive, childhood memories associated with it.  I will not turn my nose up at it if it is on a plate in front of me.  But I'm not going out of my way to create that combo either.

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dcbc

dcbc 14,641

Posted
Posted (edited)
4 minutes ago, Brisketexan said:


Grew up in a Mexican purist family. Tamales were eaten plain, or maybe with some good salsa.
Wife’s family (gringo) ate tamales too, because Texas, but topped with canned chili. And I love em that way too.

Herdes Guacamole Salsa (now with Crack) isn't a bad topper if I'm reaching into the refrigerator for something.  I wouldn't call it "good salsa" from a something-homemade-would-be-better point of view, but it's pretty tasty.  And I fall into the gringo category.  So we don't let the grass grow under that stuff in our fridge.

Edited by dcbc
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billfromlaketravis

billfromlaketravis 11,784

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The HLSR Go Tejano Committee is taking orders through tomorrow.

image.thumb.png.d6c64f0bf8221df14ae3f3aab6b85d83.png

 

I believe they hand roll them. Pretty good, but a little small. I’d add a dozen to whatever you would normally order. 
 

As far as toppers go, I like Tacodeli’s Dona sauce. Go to the restaurant. The shit they they sell at HEB is terrible. I think they have to make sweeter so it’s shelf stable. 
 

Chile con carne from any half ass Tex Mex restaurant is also good. 

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Deej

Deej 77,671

Posted
Posted
6 hours ago, tx 3 putt said:

costco sample station today. i grabbed a dozen for the freezer. they tasted very fresh. masa was spot on. 

how are the heb mi tienda tanales ? houston black heb had them for $10 a dozen in the rotisserie chicken display. 

 

 

IMG_2463.jpeg

IMG_2464.jpeg

HEB has a coupon for $3 off two dozen of the Mi Tienda tamales. They aren't bad at all.

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DoobieWah

DoobieWah 1,528

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Posted

Tamale Trio Sampler Plate

L-R : Spicy Puerco from Supermercado Telelopan in Houston

Delicious Brand Pork and Jalapeño from San Antonio 

Mi Tienda Spicy Pork from H‑E‑B when open. 
 

IMG_2613.thumb.jpeg.01dbcdff32bc8b18324e4e7dec3aa87b.jpegIMG_2617.thumb.jpeg.9e33e0ddce280abd60647928aba95893.jpeg


The orange salsa came from Telelopan. The frijoles were made with the T’giving ham bone. 

I’m so full. 

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thrillhammer

thrillhammer 686

Posted
Posted
18 hours ago, DoobieWah said:

Tamale Trio Sampler Plate

L-R : Spicy Puerco from Supermercado Telelopan in Houston

Delicious Brand Pork and Jalapeño from San Antonio 

Mi Tienda Spicy Pork from H‑E‑B when open. 
 

IMG_2613.thumb.jpeg.01dbcdff32bc8b18324e4e7dec3aa87b.jpegIMG_2617.thumb.jpeg.9e33e0ddce280abd60647928aba95893.jpeg


The orange salsa came from Telelopan. The frijoles were made with the T’giving ham bone. 

I’m so full. 

which tamale won the taste test?

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DoobieWah

DoobieWah 1,528

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Posted
48 minutes ago, thrillhammer said:

which tamale won the taste test?

Glad you asked. Honestly, I love the very greasy handmade spicy pork tamales from Alamo on Berry in Houston. We usually make a pilgrimage every holiday season for a few dozen. This year though, everyone has been throwing tamales at me so I may not get them this year. 

The Delicious brand from San Antonio were brought to me by my abuela neighbor when she came back from Thanksgiving with her family. They're the smallest, not the least bit greasy, but are still very moist and absolutely "Delicious".

The Telelopan ones are huuuuge but mostly masa. They're tasty but the ratio is off. 

The Mi Tenda ones are a staple if you can find HEB open, but not nearly as good as Alamo.

 

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thrillhammer

thrillhammer 686

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12 minutes ago, DoobieWah said:

Glad you asked. Honestly, I love the very greasy handmade spicy pork tamales from Alamo on Berry in Houston. We usually make a pilgrimage every holiday season for a few dozen. This year though, everyone has been throwing tamales at me so I may not get them this year. 

The Delicious brand from San Antonio were brought to me by my abuela neighbor when she came back from Thanksgiving with her family. They're the smallest, not the least bit greasy, but are still very moist and absolutely "Delicious".

The Telelopan ones are huuuuge but mostly masa. They're tasty but the ratio is off. 

The Mi Tenda ones are a staple if you can find HEB open, but not nearly as good as Alamo.

 

i loved delicious too.  they had a bandera location that was close to me when i lived there.  lived in austin, houston, and san antonio and san antonio had the best tamales of the three. rubens maybe? there was another one east side of town. abuelas is another name i vaguely recall, but i moved from there in 2011.    i hate places/people that slather on too much masa on the corn husk so theres not enough filling.  its all about the filling.  the corn taste from the masa should be an accent.

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DalTxHornFan

DalTxHornFan 3,130

Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, DoobieWah said:

Glad you asked. Honestly, I love the very greasy handmade spicy pork tamales from Alamo on Berry in Houston. We usually make a pilgrimage every holiday season for a few dozen. This year though, everyone has been throwing tamales at me so I may not get them this year. 

The Delicious brand from San Antonio were brought to me by my abuela neighbor when she came back from Thanksgiving with her family. They're the smallest, not the least bit greasy, but are still very moist and absolutely "Delicious".

The Telelopan ones are huuuuge but mostly masa. They're tasty but the ratio is off. 

The Mi Tenda ones are a staple if you can find HEB open, but not nearly as good as Alamo.

 

I've made tamales every holiday season for the last 25 years.  Not this year.  I think that the Spicy Pork Mi Tienda tamales are almost as good as what I can make, and I won't miss all of the prep time!  YMMV.

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Brisketexan

Brisketexan 106,618

Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, DoobieWah said:

Glad you asked. Honestly, I love the very greasy handmade spicy pork tamales from Alamo on Berry in Houston. We usually make a pilgrimage every holiday season for a few dozen. This year though, everyone has been throwing tamales at me so I may not get them this year. 

The Delicious brand from San Antonio were brought to me by my abuela neighbor when she came back from Thanksgiving with her family. They're the smallest, not the least bit greasy, but are still very moist and absolutely "Delicious".

The Telelopan ones are huuuuge but mostly masa. They're tasty but the ratio is off. 

The Mi Tenda ones are a staple if you can find HEB open, but not nearly as good as Alamo.

 

We were Alamo people for a LONG time.  Used to be able to get them in groceries, including here in Austin.  No more.  We go with the Mi Tienda now, they're good enough.

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HouTex

HouTex 1,912

Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, DalTxHornFan said:

I've made tamales every holiday season for the last 25 years.  Not this year.  I think that the Spicy Pork Mi Tienda tamales are almost as good as what I can make, and I won't miss all of the prep time!  YMMV.

I made my annual 18 dozen this past weekend and it might be my last year.  Pretty much takes up my whole weekend.  

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DoobieWah

DoobieWah 1,528

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1 hour ago, Brisketexan said:

We were Alamo people for a LONG time.  Used to be able to get them in groceries, including here in Austin.

The Alamo tamales at the groceries are machine made like the Mi Tienda.  The hand made at Alamo are a

Whole.

Nuther.

Level.

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After irth

After irth 1,245

Posted
Posted

For the Dallasites here, the Dallas Downtown Farmers Market is having their "Tamales Weekend" on the 15th-16th and then again 21st-22nd.  First year here, so...this South Texas boy is hoping to score something halfway passable for my New Year-ing.  

Unless another Dallasonian has a better recommendation...?

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Deej

Deej 77,671

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1 hour ago, After irth said:

For the Dallasites here, the Dallas Downtown Farmers Market is having their "Tamales Weekend" on the 15th-16th and then again 21st-22nd.  First year here, so...this South Texas boy is hoping to score something halfway passable for my New Year-ing.  

Unless another Dallasonian has a better recommendation...?

Find an abuela sitting in front of a grocery store with a cooler in a sketchier part of town. 

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Mo Horn

Mo Horn 8,933

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Posted

We don't have tamales for sale many places here. Several restaurants will sell them by the dozen bit they're around $30 and not that good. I have one connection that makes them and she said she's making them, but she's flaky and I've been left with none by relying on her in the past. Our local grocery store has frozen ones from Texas Tamale Company for around $10 a dozen so we picked up a couple just in case my girl doesn't come through. I've never had them, but I've heard they're decent. There are many things I don't miss, not living in Texas, but not being able to get good tamales is one I do miss. 

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