Instant Pot Pork Tamales Recipes

INSTANT POT® TAMALES

Steps:

• Place 20 dried husks in a large Dutch oven and cover with water. Place a plate or bowl filled with water on top of husks to keep submerged. Let soak for at least 3 hours (or up to 24 hours), flipping occasionally until husks are softened.
• Meanwhile, prepare the filling: Combine 2 cups water, onion, garlic, chili powder, salt, chipotle powder, and cumin in a multi-functional pressure cooker (such as Instant Pot®). Cut pork shoulder into 4 equal pieces and add to the pot. Close and lock the lid. Select high pressure according to manufacturer's instructions; set timer for 60 minutes. Allow 10 to 15 minutes for pressure to build.
• While the filling is cooking, prepare the sauce: Split chile peppers and remove seeds and membranes. Cut into 1- to 2-inch pieces (there is no need to cut the de arbol chiles.) Place chiles, 2 cups chicken stock, tomatoes, and garlic cloves in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until tomatoes are fully softened, about 30 minutes.
• Carefully pour the sauce mixture into a blender. Secure the lid and remove the center piece to allow steam to escape. Place a clean towel over the opening and process on high speed until completely smooth, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Carefully transfer blended hot mixture back to the saucepan. Stir in remaining 1 cup chicken stock, cumin, salt, and onion powder. Return mixture to a simmer over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until sauce has thickened and color is a deeper red, about 30 minutes.
• When the filling has finished cooking, release pressure using the natural-release method according to manufacturer's instructions for 10 minutes, then use the quick-release method to release remaining pressure, 1 to 2 minutes. Unlock and remove the lid.
• Remove pork to a shallow baking dish. Discard any fat and shred meat using 2 forks. Place shredded meat in a bowl.
• Strain cooking liquid through a fine mesh strainer and discard solids. Skim as much grease as possible from the liquid. Reserve 1 cup strained cooking liquid for cooking the masa and discard any remaining.
• Combine masa, 2 teaspoons salt, and baking powder for masa mixture in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment; mix on low speed until completely combined, 1 to 2 minutes. Increase speed to medium and gradually add melted, warm lard alternately with 1 cup reserved, warm cooking liquid and 2 cups warm water; beat until dough is completely combined. Increase speed to medium-high and beat until dough is light and fluffy, 4 to 5 minutes. The dough should resemble a loose cookie dough; adjust by adding 1 tablespoon warm water at a time, if needed.
• Stir 1 cup sauce and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt into the shredded meat; set filling aside. Set remaining sauce aside for serving.
• Drain husks and cover with a damp paper towel. As you prepare the tamales, make sure they are not longer than 4 to 5 inches in order to fit in the pressure cooker with the lid closed.
• Place one damp husk on a work surface with the pointed end facing you (it will make a capital "V" shape.) Spoon 1/4 cup masa mixture onto the husk. Using damp fingers and starting near the top of the husk, press mixture into a 4-inch square; leave 1 inch clear at the top of the husk, and 3 to 4 inches clear at the bottom. Place 1 heaping tablespoon of filling in a vertical line down the center of the masa. Grab both sides of the husk and bring them together until they meet and are touching. Pull the left side of the husk away, and wrap the right side over the masa mixture. Take the left side and wrap it tightly over the right side, completely enclosing the filling. Fold the bottom of the husk over the seam and tie with a strip of corn husk, if desired. Repeat to make remaining tamales.
• Stand tamales up vertically with the open side up in the steamer basket of the Instant Pot®. Place the trivet in the cooker and add 2 cups tap water. Place steamer basket on the trivet, and close and lock the lid. Select high pressure and set timer for 20 minutes. Allow 10 to 15 minutes for pressure to build.
• Release pressure using the natural-release method according to manufacturer's instructions for 10 minutes, then use the quick-release method to release remaining pressure, 1 to 2 minutes. Unlock and remove the lid.
• Let tamales rest in the cooker for 10 minutes before serving.
• Meanwhile, warm the remaining sauce to serve with tamales.

INSTANT POT PORK TAMALES

Steps:

• Place the dried corn husks in a large pot (not the pressure cooking pot) and cover with water. Place a heavy plate or a smaller pot full of water on top of husks to keep them submerged. Let soak for 3 hours or up to 1 day, flipping occasionally until husks are softened.
• Add the water, onion, garlic, both chili powders, salt, pepper and cumin to the pressure cooking pot and stir to combine. Add pork and lock the lid in place.
• Select High Pressure and 75 minutes cook time. When the cook time ends, allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes, then finish with a quick pressure release. When the valve drops, carefully remove the lid. Transfer the meat from the pressure cooker to a bowl and shred with two forks. Discard any excess fat as you shred.
• Strain the cooking liquid and reserve to make the masa. At this point, you can chill the cooking liquid in the fridge for several hours or overnight to easily skim the fat off the top.
• Taste and season the shredded pork with additional chili powder, salt and cumin. As you season the meat, add a small amount of cooking liquid to moisten. Take care not to add too much-you don't want it to be runny.
• In a stand mixer, mix masa, shortening, oil, salt, and baking powder. Add the reserved cooking liquid with more hot water as needed and beat at medium speed or higher until fluffy. The dough should resemble a loose cookie dough.
• Place a steamer basket in the pressure cooking pot and add 2 cups water.
• Unfold 2 corn husks onto a work surface. Take ¼ cup of masa and, starting near the top of the husk and using damp fingers, press the masa into a 4-inch square, leaving a 2-3 inch border on the bottom of the husk. Place a heaping tablespoon of the pork filling in a line down the center of the masa.
• Fold in the sides until they just overlap, and wrap the husk tightly around the dough. Fold up the bottom part of the husk to seal.
• Stand the tamales up in the steamer inside the pressure cooking pot.
• Seal the lid and select High Pressure and 20 minutes cook time. When the cook time ends, turn off the pressure cooker and allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes, then finish with a quick pressure release. When the valve drops, carefully remove the lid and remove the tamales from the pressure cooker.