5.0 from 27 votes
Tamale Bites Recipe
Mini Tamales Recipe - An easy "cheater" tamales recipe making perfect little party size tamale appetizers.
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
50 mins
Servings: 44 bites
Calories: 82 kcal
Course:
Appetizer
Cuisine:
American , Mexican
Ingredients
For the Filling:
- 1 pound cooked, shredded beef or pork or chicken
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1/3 cup chopped onion
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 2 teaspoons masa (corn flour)
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves + extra for garnish
- 1-2 canned chipotle pepper chopped
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
- salt and pepper
For the Masa Shell:
- 2 cups masa (corn flour)
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 1/3 cups beef stock
- 2/3 cup vegetable shortening melted
- Crumbled queso fresco to garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Saute the onion and garlic with 1 tablespoon butter for 2-4 minutes. Add the shredded meat, masa, tomato paste, cumin, thyme, and chopped chipotle peppers. Stir well and add 1 cup of water. Bring to a boil and lower the heat to simmer. Simmer until all the liquid in rendered out--approximately 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, mix 2 cups of masa with the baking powder, salt, and cumin. Add the beef stock and mix to a crumbly consistency. Pour in the melted shortening and mix by hand until smooth.
- Spray mini muffin tins with nonstick cooking spray. Scoop the masa mixture into small 2 teaspoon balls using a small cookie scoop and place in the muffin tins. Use a round teaspoon (or pestel) to press a deep indention in the center of the masa balls. Once the beef mixture has rendered out the liquid, stir in the sour cream and lime juice. Salt and pepper to taste.
- Fill each masa shell with the meat mixture. Bake for 20 minutes. Allow the tamale bites to cool 5-10 minutes before extracting them from the muffin tins. Use a small sharp knife to loosen the tamale bites from the muffin tin. Then lift one side with the tip of the knife and gently lift each tamale bite out with your fingers. Garnish with crumbled queso fresco and thyme leaves. Serve warm.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- Tamale Bites can be served warm or at room temperature. They can also be rewarmed once they are out of the muffin pans.
Nutrition Information
Serving
1g
Calories
82kcal
(4%)
Carbohydrates
5g
(2%)
Protein
3g
(6%)
Fat
6g
(9%)
Saturated Fat
2g
(10%)
Cholesterol
9mg
(3%)
Sodium
59mg
(2%)
Potassium
78mg
(2%)
Fiber
1g
(4%)
Sugar
1g
(2%)
Vitamin A
70IU
(1%)
Vitamin C
0.8mg
(1%)
Calcium
19mg
(2%)
Iron
0.9mg
(5%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 44bites
Amount Per Serving
Calories 82
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1g | |
| Calories | 82kcal | 4% |
| Carbohydrates | 5g | 2% |
| Protein | 3g | 6% |
| Fat | 6g | 9% |
| Saturated Fat | 2g | 10% |
| Cholesterol | 9mg | 3% |
| Sodium | 59mg | 2% |
| Potassium | 78mg | 2% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 1g | 2% |
| Vitamin A | 70IU | 1% |
| Vitamin C | 0.8mg | 1% |
| Calcium | 19mg | 2% |
| Iron | 0.9mg | 5% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.