Here is a great basic tamale masa recipe made with dried masa harina flour found in most supermarkets. You can use the liquid and fat of your choice to make this recipe vegetarian, heart healthy, or traditional. Your choice.

LEARN ALL ABOUT TAMALES!
Be sure to see the related features links below to check out our huge Tamale Feature for Tamale making tutorials, tips, troubleshooting, recipes and more.

Makes About 15 Cups -- Enough for 2 Dozen Tamales

Heat the stock until it is warm.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix the flour with stock. Beat on medium speed for a minute or two until well combined. If your dough seems dry, don't be afraid to add additional stock. At this point your dough should resemble a thick pudding.

If you're using oil, drizzle in oil while mixing and Beat the masa for about 10 minutes or until light and fluffy.

If you are using butter, margarine, lard or shortening as your fat, remove the masa mixture from bowl and set aside. Beat the solid fats on high speed for 2-3 minutes or until light and fluffy. Add the masa mixture to the whipped fat a cup at a time until it is all incorporated. Continue to Beat for about 5-8 minutes or until the dough is a soft paste consistency.