Pineapple, Pecan And Coconut-Rum Tamales

Serves: 5

Imelda VonRueden

1 January 1970

Based on User reviews:

51

Spice

51

Sweetness

52

Sourness

41

mins

Prep time (avg)

5.7

Difficulty

Ingredients:

2 tsps

Honey

Directions:

1

Soak the corn husks in a bowl of hot water, using a plate to keep them submerged, until pliable, 1 hour

2

Meanwhile, make the dough: Mix the masa harina and 1 teaspoon salt in the bowl of a stand mixer

3

Add 10 tablespoons butter and 3/4 cup warm water and mix with the paddle attachment until combined

4

Add the granulated sugar, 1/4 cup brown sugar, the almond and vanilla extracts and ground cinnamon; mix until combined, about 1 more minute

5

Cover and refrigerate

6

Make the filling: Simmer 1/2 cup water and the cinnamon stick in a saucepan until slightly reduced, about 10 minutes

7

Melt the remaining 4 tablespoons butter in a skillet over medium-high heat

8

Add the remaining 2 tablespoons brown sugar and cook, stirring to dissolve, about 1 minute

9

Add the pineapple, honey and cinnamon water, including the cinnamon stick; cook, stirring, until the mixture is almost dry, about 5 minutes

10

Remove the pan from the heat

11

Add the rum, then return to medium heat

12

Tilt the pan so the rum ignites (or hold a lit match near the sauce to ignite it)

13

Cook until the pineapple is slightly caramelized, about 3 minutes

14

Stir in the pecans; set aside to cool

15

Drain the husks and pat dry

16

Tear each husk lengthwise into a 3 1/2-inch-wide piece

17

Tear some of the excess husks into 18 thin strips for ties; reserve the husk scraps

18

Lay the 3 1/2-inch-wide husks on a clean surface

19

Starting 1/2 inch from the wide end, spread 1 tablespoon of the dough down a husk, leaving a 1/2-inch border on the sides

20

Spoon 1 tablespoon of the pineapple filling down the center of the dough

21

Roll lengthwise into a tight cylinder

22

Fold up the narrow end; tie with a strip of corn husk to secure

23

Repeat with the remaining husks, dough and filling

24

Set a steamer basket in a large pot filled with 1 to 2 inches of water

25

Set a small bowl upside down in the basket, then arrange the tamales standing up in the steamer, folded-side down, leaning against the bowl

26

Cover with husk scraps, then lay a damp kitchen towel on top

27

Bring the water to a boil over medium-high heat, cover and steam until the tamales pull away from the husks, about 40 minutes

28

Remove from the steamer and let cool slightly before unwrapping

29

Photograph by Kat Teutsch