Make Your Own Dough for Tamales With Masa Harina (2024)

Local Ingredients
Breads
Mexican Cooking Basics

Chelsie Kenyon

Chelsie Kenyon, author of "Knack Mexican Cooking," is a former freelance writer and recipe developer with more than 10 years' experience in Mexican cuisine.

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Updated on 02/21/24

Tested by

Renae Wilson

Tested byRenae Wilson

Renae has certifications in both Pastry Arts and Culinary Arts from the Institute of Culinary Education and works as a private chef and caterer, recipe tester and developer, and food writer.Renae has written and developed recipes for Rachael Ray In Season, the Kitchn, Food52, and more.

Learn about The Spruce Eats'Editorial Process

Prep: 30 mins

Cook: 0 mins

Total: 30 mins

Servings: 8to 12 servings

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In some areas of the United States, you can get ready-made dough for tamales, either fresh from a tortilla factory or in the refrigerated section of the supermarket. If you don’t live in such a place—or just want to make your tamales completely from scratch—use this basic recipe. It calls for masa harina, a commercial corn flour product that is used to make tortillas, tamales, and many other Mexican and Central American foods. Some brands include Maseca and Bob's Red Mill, which are easy to find in most supermarkets.

The number of tamales that you will be able to make with this recipe will depend upon the size of the tamales and the quantity of filling used in each one.

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Note: Masa harina (which translates as “dough flour”) is the dry product; masa is “dough” and is what you have after rehydrating the flour. Sometimes you may see masa harina labeled as "instant," which is to indicate that it comes together instantly when you add water. Making masa for tamales is as simple as that.

Make Your Own Dough for Tamales With Masa Harina (3)

What You'll Need to Make This Tamale Dough Recipe

A Nice Big Mixing Bowl

A Nifty Hand Mixer

A Handy Dandy Spatula

"Making tamale dough is something I’ve always wanted to try. Sourcing the ingredients requires a little work but it's definitely worth it. And seasoning the dough with the suggested spices is highly encouraged." —Renae Wilson

Make Your Own Dough for Tamales With Masa Harina (7)

A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

6 cups masa harina
5 cups warm water (or low-sodium chicken broth)
2 cups pork lard
2 teaspoons salt
3 tablespoons onion powder, optional
3 tablespoons chili powder, optional
2 tablespoons ground cumin, optional

Steps to Make It

Gather the ingredients.
In a large mixing bowl, mix the masa harina with the warm water or broth.Allow the mixture to sit for about 20 minutes to soften somewhat, then beat with an electric mixer on low speed until a dough forms (you now have masa).
Sprinkle the salt, onion powder, chili powder, and cumin over the dough, if using, and mix again until well combined.
In a separate bowl, whip the lard with an electric mixer for about three minutes or until fluffy.
Add the lard to the dough, beating in a little at a time, until well combined.
Your masa should be about the consistency of peanut butter. If it’s too dry, mix in a little more water or broth; if your dough is too loose, add more masa harina until you get the desired texture.
Use your masa immediately or cover and store it in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. Your tamale dough is ready when you're ready to make tamales.

Recipe Variations

Don’t be afraid to experiment with different herbs and spices in your dough, varying them according to your personal preferences or complimenting the flavors in the filling(s) that you intend to use.
Try, for example, a couple of tablespoons of dried epazote (either in place of or in addition to the spices mentioned in the recipe) for a rustic and very Mexican note. Or replace the spices mentioned with powdered cinnamon and cloves to complement a pork filling or for sweet (dessert) tamales.
Once you’ve become comfortable making the basic recipe, you will begin to think of your own favorite add-in seasonings.

How to Use

There's no limit to what you can put inside a tamale, but here are few ways you can use this recipe:

Homemade pork tamales are loaded with pork, seasonings such as cumin and chili powder, along with pepper, tomato, and onions.
Green chile and chicken tamales are packed with shredded chicken, green chiles, loads of seasonings, cheese, and sour cream.
Vegetarian tamales with corn, cheese, cilantro, tomato, and green onions are a garden-fresh experience.

Are Cornmeal and Masa Harina the Same?

Both cornmeal and masa harina are made from hominy (dried corn), but they are treated and ground differently and are used in different types of recipes. Cornmeal is coarsely ground hominy often used as a breading, in cornbread, and more. Masa harina is made from hominy that is treated with a lye solution and ground very fine, more like flour. It is used to make tortillas, tamale dough, and the soup dumplings chochoyotes.

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Nutrition Facts (per serving)
515	Calories
36g	Fat
44g	Carbs
5g	Protein

Show Full Nutrition Label

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8to 12
Amount per serving
Calories	515
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 36g	47%
Saturated Fat 14g	68%
Cholesterol 32mg	11%
Sodium 359mg	16%
Total Carbohydrate 44g	16%
Dietary Fiber 4g	13%
Total Sugars 1g
Protein 5g
Vitamin C 0mg	0%
Calcium 82mg	6%
Iron 5mg	27%
Potassium 149mg	3%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Recipe Tags:

dough
masa harina
homemade tamales
side dish

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