RichPB (richlife)
TVWBB Wizard
Really, that's a question. Since I'll have the smoker going for the 4th and also have some great leftover "taco sauce" (super tomatoey, amazing ranchero-type sauce), I was thinking about trying to smoke these wonderful pre-made pork tamales I found at Costco. (Padrino Foods, fully cooked wrapped in the corn husk. Cooking instructions call for boiling in the plastic bag, but I have always baked them in an enchilada sauce.) Obviously, I'll leave them in the corn husk and smoke carefully. Most will be for leftovers as I'm also doing a Mexican Chorizo Meatloaf (more leftovers) and extras.
But my question here is about smoking tamales. What little a search found suggested that the masa may get dried out in the smoker, but this is pre-cooked and wrapped -- already moist. Unless I can get some other ideas, I guess I'll just have to try it and keep a good watch on it. -- possibly consider wrapping in butcher paper at some point with a little liquid.
I know there are several folks here to make their own masa, tortillas, etc. and also some who have tried tamales with their own pulled/diced smoked pork. I'm not likely to get into trying my own masa or tortillas, so this is an alternative to try smoking tamales. Using my own pork butt with tienda bought masa may be a consideration, but I'll start with this and see how it goes. These tamales are really very good, so there is hope.
But my question here is about smoking tamales. What little a search found suggested that the masa may get dried out in the smoker, but this is pre-cooked and wrapped -- already moist. Unless I can get some other ideas, I guess I'll just have to try it and keep a good watch on it. -- possibly consider wrapping in butcher paper at some point with a little liquid.
I know there are several folks here to make their own masa, tortillas, etc. and also some who have tried tamales with their own pulled/diced smoked pork. I'm not likely to get into trying my own masa or tortillas, so this is an alternative to try smoking tamales. Using my own pork butt with tienda bought masa may be a consideration, but I'll start with this and see how it goes. These tamales are really very good, so there is hope.