Does anybody have a good recipie for Panamanian Tamales ?

Question

Can't I use fine corn meal ? That cracked corn is too much work.

Answer 1

ok im going to give a link where you can find several panamanian recepie and it includes tamales

http://www.geocities.com/NapaValley/4192...

Answer 2

* Ive made these before (Im a total foodie!), and have had no problem using ground corn (like fine corn meal).

Panamanian Tamales

3 pounds corn; cracked

3 Pound hen

2 pounds tender pork

1 cup onions; chopped

1 teaspoon achiote

1/2 cup peppers

1 can tomato paste

3 leaves culantro; - OR -

1/2 cup cilantro; chopped

1 teaspoon oregano

  salt; to taste

  Pepper; to taste

1/2 cup capers

3/4 cup stuffed olives

3 tomatoes

3 cloves garlic

  Banana leaves

  string

The leaves are washed, boil 20 minutes, let drain and dry. Boil the corn until soft and grind to make the masa. Boil the chicken or pork until tender, remove the bones and sauté‚ in butter or oil. When this starts to brown add the onion, pepper, tomato, culantro, oregano and tomato paste. Add 3 or 4 cups of water and cook to make the sauce. Strain and save both parts separately. Stir the liquid into the masa until it is a little softer than mashed potatoes. Take a piece of banana leaf, place a spoonful of masa in the center of the leaf, squash it down a little to make a pocket, add the meat sauce that was strained out, add another spoonful of masa and fold the leaf around it. Tie with string. Put a large pan of water to boil. Add the tamales. Boil for 30 to 40 minutes. Serve hot. They may be made ahead of time, frozen and re-heated. To re-heat, microwave or steam.