While lard is certainly traditional, you can make tamales with other fats: butter (traditional in some dessert tamales), chicken fat, vegetable shortening, and vegetable oil.
A little online searching will turn up many recipes.
Here's a recipe that uses shortening that you can use as a guide. There are also several recipes on the internet that use oil in the tamale dough - just search for vegetarian or vegan tamales.
Much appreciated for sending the good search string! For years my family had made the traditional Lard but changed a few years back. We actually found mexican market that would make to order the Crisco kind, but no longer can find pre-made made to order masa with Crisco. Thus my search ...It is an art to get them fluffy so I'm hoping to find some good tips. Thank you! & Merry Xmas
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A little online searching will turn up many recipes.
http://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipe/vegetarian-tamales/