Tamale spices

Question

I was given a bag of spices to make "authentic" tamales. It contains achiote, sesame, cumin and coriander seeds, pepitas, chiles, bay leaves and a few other things. Do I toast and grind them to season the meat, or use them to make a "broth" which I then add to the masa/shredded pork? Help!

Roger R. · Answer

I would use 4 whole  fresh tomatoes. the recipe doesn't specify measurements I have to apologize for that .

CookingMomTR · Answer

Thanks so much for your advice. How many tomatoes would you suggest for one pork shoulder? Fresh or canned?

Roger R. · Answer

slowly simmer pork shoulder in water with onion garlic salt pepper and bay leaf. toast seeds and spices. boil chiles and tomatoes chile guajillo and chile de arbol . in a blender mix chilies tomatoes  and seeds with spices . pour sauce through strainer . mix sauce into cooked meat and heat through . this only makes the filling for the tamales . jerez Zacatecas style .

Tamale spices

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