OP
the ringo kid
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Canned Tamales.NOT making that mistake again!!!!!
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cmort666
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I had canned tamales 3-4 years ago. Yeah, thy were pretty bad, albeit not as bad as Hormel chili.
Somewhere (Kentucky?) I used to be able to get cornmeal tamales shrink wrapped on foam, like hamburger. They were a lot like the ones I used to get from a little stand on the far south side of Chicago. They tasted entirely different from the nasty canned ones. Haven't seen them in years...
Somewhere (Kentucky?) I used to be able to get cornmeal tamales shrink wrapped on foam, like hamburger. They were a lot like the ones I used to get from a little stand on the far south side of Chicago. They tasted entirely different from the nasty canned ones. Haven't seen them in years...
OP
the ringo kid
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Canned biscuits are a specialty of mine. I like all the Grands types as well as a few other brands. I use the croissant type to make sausage in a roll--which comes out perfectly every time.
DWalt
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While I prefer REAL tamales (here in San Antonio there is no shortage of those), I don't dislike the canned variety, especially with some canned chili and melted cheese on them. However I had an early start on canned tamales when I was growing up in Southern Ohio. There, it was either canned tamales or no tamales. For a long time, I thought canned tamales were the only tamales.
chaparrito
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I would bet that there are good, homemade authentic tamales made by actual Mexican women available for 12-20 bucks a dozen in just about anyplace with a significant immigrant presence, which these days is almost everywhere. You just gotta know who to ask. My niece lives in upstate NY, took a job many years ago working at a small college. Immediately bemoaned the fact that she couldn't fine pantry essentials - chiles, salsa, tortillas etc. in the local stores and boy was she hungry for tamales. I told her to befriend one of the custodians or groundskeepers at her college and I bet she'll have all the tamales she can eat.
Sure enough.
Sure enough.
chaparrito
Member
Meant to add: Canned tamales are the ethnic equivalent of spray-can "cheese", Miracle(gag)Whip and "non-dairy spread".
shouldazagged
Absent Comrade
I live just a few miles from Churchill Downs, where many if not most of the grooms, stable hands, etc., are Latinos. This is just one area of the city where you can find Mexican tiendas that stock a lot of the necessities for cooking the good stuff. Now I need to look for some authentic tamales from a food truck. I prefer the ones stuffed with shredded roast pork; and while it's probably heresy, I like them with salsa verde, preferably my own.
Wyatt p. Tato
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I have had a cheesesteak with cheese wizz in philly, I think I prefer canned tamales.
italiansport
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I am blessed for many reasons to live in Arizona. One of these is really good Mexican food is available virtually everywhere night and day. In fact IMO it would be hard to get bad Mexican food here.
Jim
Jim
nicky4968
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We have every kind of Mexican and Central American/South American food here. But I like canned tamales.
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I have not read all the posts here, but good tamales-from-scratch are not difficult to prepare and they are very cheap. The process does involve a good bit of labor, but can easily be done by one person. Tamales freeze well and can be heated in a few minutes by steaming (never microwaving).
There is ONE good thing about those canned tamales that's being over looked. If eaten out in the woods, if you hang onto the wrappers they are rolled in... you'll have some toilet paper squares for the morning after. 
cmort666
Member
I've seen the "Good Eats" show on similar things.
Not happening.
The only thing I can imagine worse than canned tamales or Hormel chili is from scratch tamales made by me.
A man's got to know his limitations, and that's as far past mine as ballerina is for Rosie O'Donnell's
I've watched my wife and her friend make them. It isn't what I'd call easy. Obtaining the proper ingredients is difficult in this part of the country. Venison/ pork makes the best IMO.
Mickey D
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Speaking of awful canned food, has anyone else tried canned asparagus? ~shutter - shake~ BAD!
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I've been tempted to buy the canned tamales but never have. After reading this I won't make that mistake!
While I love Mexican food, the only tamales I've ever had were mixed together with a bunch of other Mexican specialties on a combination plate.
Why don't one of you tamale gourmets post your recipe so those of us without access to fresh tamales can try them?
While I love Mexican food, the only tamales I've ever had were mixed together with a bunch of other Mexican specialties on a combination plate.
Why don't one of you tamale gourmets post your recipe so those of us without access to fresh tamales can try them?
cmort666
Member
I think I've actually seen them in glass jars as well, although who knows how many decades ago that was. Don't think I had them. Recollection indicates that they might have been as sketchy looking as the canned ones, literally immersed in sauce.
If I had to eat tamales not in a restaurant, I'd have to go with the dry ones under shrinkwrap. Those were actually edible.
If I had to eat tamales not in a restaurant, I'd have to go with the dry ones under shrinkwrap. Those were actually edible.
THE PILGRIM
Member
Frozen- just buy a real SW made tamal. Some of them are pretty good.
I already recommended a local Albuquerque brand, Bueno.
There are a number of other good ones.
I don't know if you want to try & make tamales at home, as they are labor intensive. I wish someone would post a recipe, though. i might give it a try once.
chaparrito
Member
Making tamales the correct way can't be explained by a recipe. You kinda have to do it or watch it done. There are lots of demos online. This one is very close to the way the women in my family makes them and gives a real sense of the time and prep involved. She includes prepping the cornhusks and making the masa and sauce from scratch, which to me is essential. It's possible to buy prepared masa, but it's always too dry, not enough lard. This one is for pork in chile colorado, the traditional Christmas tamal.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSyW6JwwDYw
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