Tamales Cubanos — Print Recipe

Corn masa tamales filled with seasoned ground beef and wrapped in corn husks, a traditional Cuban preparation distinct from Mexican tamales.

Ingredients

1 Grate fresh corn kernels or pulse in a food processor to form a thick masa. Season with salt.
2 Sauté onion, garlic, and bell pepper in oil. Add ground beef, cumin, oregano, and tomato paste. Cook until browned.
3 Soak dried corn husks in hot water until pliable, about 30 min.
4 Spread corn masa on a softened husk. Add a spoonful of beef filling.
5 Fold and tie the tamale securely with strips of corn husk.
6 Steam tamales upright for 1-1.5 hours until masa is firm and pulls away from the husk.

Did You Know?

Cuban tamales use fresh corn masa rather than dried masa harina, giving them a distinctly moist, corny flavor unlike any other Latin American tamale.