Instant Pot Tamales: How to make them from start to finish. Frequent questions, tips and tricks. Our recipe use a delicious filling made with beef cooked in a flavorful chili sauce.
Making Instant Pot tamales is really a breeze, you can make the filling in no time and while is cooking you can make the dough and have it ready to assemble tamales as soon as the filling has cooled down slightly.
FAQ
How many tamales fit in an Instant Pot?
From one to two dozens, depending on the size of your Instant Pot and how small/big you make your tamales.
How Long To Cook Tamales In Instant Pot?
For this recipe, tamales needed 45 minutes to cook. It also depends on the texture of the dough as some recipes call for more liquids making the dough less firm, which results in needing more time for cooking.
Which Instant Pot You Used For This Recipe?
I am using a 6 Quart Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1.
Can you freeze tamales?
Yes! Wrap each tamal with cling film and freeze up to 4 months. You don’t need to remove husks before freezing.
How To Reheat Tamales In Instant Pot
Add 1 cup of water to your pot, place the steam rack and then add tamales in layers. Close the lid and set it to high pressure for 10 minutes. Natural release for 10 minutes.
So, enough with the talking, let me show you step by step how to make those delicious Instant Pot tamales with beef filling. Also, don’t forget to scroll down and check up on the video we’ve made for you.
Prepare the wraps
Place the corn husks in a large bowl and cover with hot water. Leave them to soak for at least 20 minutes.
Make The Sauce
- Remove the steam and seeds from guajillo chilies and place them on a bowl. Cover with hot water and soak for 10 minutes.
- Place chilies, tomato sauce, garlic, peppercorns, cumin seeds, and oregano into a blender. Add 1 cup of water and blend until smooth.
- Strain the sauce with a fine sieve into a bowl or cup and set aside.
Make The Tamales Filling
Add 2 tablespoons of oil to your Instant Pot. Press the Sauté button and sear the meat on all sides until slightly browned (about 10 minutes).
Pour in the chili sauce, salt, and 1/2 cup of water. Cook on high for 40 minutes then naturally release for 15 minutes.
Transfer only the meat to a bowl, then shred it well. The meat should be so tender that this step can be easily done using two forks. Place sauce on a bowl and set everything aside.
Make the masa dough
In a large bowl add masa harina, salt, and water. Using your hands, mix to combine until a soft dough forms.
Add oil to the dough and mix well to combine. You should end with a slightly sticky dough. Taste the dough and adjust with salt if needed.
How To Assemble Tamales
Drain the corn husks and pat them dry with kitchen paper towels.
Take a corn husk and add 2 spoonfuls of dough in the middle. Using the back of the spoon or a spatula, spread the dough in a thin layer as you see in the photo below.
Now, add a spoonful of beef filling in the center and distribute it a little bit. Then drizzle some sauce on top.
Now, fold the right side of the corn husk towards the center, trying to cover a little bit more than half the piece. Next, repeat with the left side, making some sort of burrito.
Last, secure the tamal by folding the pointy edge towards the middle.
Repeat all steps until you’re done with the masa dough and filling. Save the remaining sauce for serving later with Instant Pot Tamales.
How To Steam Tamales In Instant Pot
Pour 1 1/2 cups water in your Instant Pot and arrange the rack in the bottom of the pot (the rack that comes with your Instant Pot). Place some corn husks to cover the rack, so tamales can have a base where to stand. Arrange all tamales standing them upright.
Close the Instant Pot lid, seal the pressure valve, then pressure cook on high for 45 minutes. Allow to natural release for 15 minutes then move the valve to venting to finish releasing the steam.
How Do You Know When Tamales Are Done?
What to do with the chili sauce
You have two options for the remaining cooking sauce:
- Use it to make the tamales dough, add it before adding the water and salt, knead and add more water if needed. This adds more flavor to the dough!
- Or you can serve with your tamales and drizzle it over.
How To Serve Instant Pot Tamales
- Those Instant Pot tamales with beef can be served for lunch or dinner with some toppings, like cream, queso fresco, and salsa bandera (aka pico de gallo).
- For drinking, you can either choose from our selection of Mexican soft drinks known as Aguas frescas.
- Or, if you prefer, serve as breakfast with no toppings and pairing with some hot drink such as corn atole, champurrado, or mazapan atole.
Notes
- Make ahead: You can make the filling up to 3 days ahead and keep it in the fridge until needed.
- Soak “hojas” overnight: Place corn husks to soak the night before, then drain and dry before assembling your Instant Pot tamales.
More Tamales Recipes
- Pork Tamales (with red chili sauce).
- Sweet corn tamales.
- Tamales de rajas (with cheese and roasted pepper).
- Pineapple tamales.
- Sweet pumpkin tamales.
Watch How To Make It
Not sure what pot to buy to make those Instant Pot Tamales? Epicurious have a nice guide that can help you decide which Instant Pot to buy.
Instant Pot Tamales
Equipment
- Instant Pot
Ingredients
- 12 corn husks
For the filling
- 1 ¼ lb chuck roast (cut into chunks)
- 4 guajillo peppers (stems and seeds removed)
- ½ cup tomato sauce
- 1 garlic clove (peeled)
- ½ tsp black peppercorns
- ½ Tbsp oregano
- ½ tsp cumin seeds
- 3 Tbsp oil
- salt
For tamales masa
- 2 ½ cups masa harina
- â…” cup olive oil
- 2 cups water or beef stock
- 1 tsp salt
Instructions
- Place the corn husks in a large bowl and cover with hot water. Leave them to soak for at least 20 minutes.
Make the sauce
- Remove the steam and seeds from guajillo chilies and place them on a bowl. Cover with hot water and soak for 10 minutes.
- Place chilies, tomato sauce, garlic, peppercorns, cumin seeds, and oregano into a blender. Add 1 cup of water and blend until smooth.
- Strain the sauce with a fine sieve into a bowl or cup and set aside.
Make the filling
- Add oil to your Instant Pot. Press the Sauté button and sear the meat on all sides until slightly browned (about 10 minutes).
- Pour in the chili sauce, salt, and 1/2 cup of water. Cook on high for 40 minutes then naturally release for 15 minutes.
- Transfer only the meat to a bowl, then shred it well. Place sauce on a bowl and set everything aside.
Make the masa dough
- Place masa harina in a large bowl, add salt, and water. Using your hands, mix to combine until a soft dough forms.
- Add oil to the dough and mix well to combine. Taste the dough and adjust salt to taste.
Assemble tamales
- Drain the corn husks and pat them dry with paper towels.
- Spread 2 spoonfuls of dough in the middle of a corn husk.
- Using the back of the spoon or a spatula, spread the dough in a thin layer.
- Add a spoonful of beef filling in the middle then drizzle some sauce on top.
- Fold the right side of the corn husk towards the center, trying to cover a little bit more than half the piece. Repeat with the left side, making some sort of burrito.
- Last, secure the tamal by folding the pointy edge towards the middle.
- Repeat until used all masa dough and filling (read notes).
Steam
- Pour 1 1/2 cups water in your Instant Pot and arrange the rack in the bottom of the pot.
- Place some corn husks to cover the rack, so tamales can have a base where to stand.
- Arrange all tamales standing them upright.
- Close the Instant Pot lid, seal the pressure valve, then pressure cook on high for 45 minutes.
- Allow to natural release for 15 minutes then move the valve to venting to finish releasing the steam.
- Serve tamales as suggested on the notes below.
Notes
- Use it to make the tamales dough, add it before adding the water and salt, knead and add more water if needed. This adds more flavor to the dough!
- Or you can serve with your tamales and drizzle it over.
Nutrition Information
If you loved those Tamales made in the Instant Pot, please don’t forget to leave a comment and rate the recipe below. Also, remember that you can follow this blog on PINTEREST, INSTAGRAM, FACEBOOK and YOUTUBE!
I always wondered if it was possible to make tamales in the instant pot and I am glad I found your recipe, the instructions are very detailed and easy to follow. Bookmarked and shared. Thank you!
VERY easy recipe, loved the step by step instructions!