Strawberry Tamales (Tamales de Fresa)

This is a sponsored post in partnership with Mazola® Corn Oil.

Strawberry Tamales (or Tamales de Fresas) is a delightful twist on traditional tamales. If you’re a fan of sweet tamales like Pumpkin Tamales or Tamales Dulces, then these are an absolute must-try! 

Picture a warm, fluffy tamale filled with the sweetness of fresh strawberries – it’s a match made in heaven!

Ingredients

• Fresh strawberries
• Warm Milk 
• Masa Harina (do not substitute for regular corn flour)
• Sugar
• Baking Powder
• Salt
• Mazola® Corn Oil
• Strawberry Jam (or strawberry preserves)
• Dried Corn Husks

How much sugar you need to add depends on the sweetness of the strawberries. If they are in season, you might need less. Adjust as you see fit. 

To make this delicious recipe vegan, use almond milk instead of regular milk.

Other additions: 1 cup raisins or 1 cup coconut.

Instructions

• Chop up fresh strawberries. 
• Add half of them to a blender along with 2 cups of warm milk. 
• Blend until smooth. 

Look for ripe, red strawberries. If they are not very ripe, add a tablespoon of sugar to the blender. 

Set the strawberry milk aside until you’re ready to use. Warm milk will help infuse the strawberry flavor better. 

Swap out for store-bought strawberry milk.

How to Soak Corn Husks

• Separate the dry corn husks and remove any debris or hairs. 
• Place in a large bowl and cover with hot water.
• Use a heavy object to submerge the corn husks under the water. 

After about 20-25 minutes, they will be pliable. If not, leave them soaking longer.

I highly recommend doing this overnight. It’s one less step to think about the day of assembling tamales. 

Rinse and shake off any excess water before using. 

• In a large bowl, add the masa harina, baking powder, and ½ cup sugar.
• Using the paddle attachment, mix to combine on medium speed.
• Then add the strawberry milk, oil, remaining strawberries.
• This time, carefully mix on low speed to combine.

The batter will resemble a sandy mixture- thick but smooth. If the tamale dough is so thick that it’s hard to spread on the corn husk, add a splash or two of water. 

Here, we are using Mazola® Corn Oil instead of lard or shortening. It’s a heart-healthy* cooking oil that has multiple purposes – baking, grilling, even good for marinades. Plus, it’s neutral in flavor which is perfect for this dish.

Did you know Mazola® Corn Oil is also officially Heart-Check certified by the American Heart Association (@american_heart)?! The Heart-Check is designed to help consumers make informed choices about the foods they purchase, and by having an all-purpose cholesterol free** cooking oil on hand like Mazola® Corn Oil you’re always certain to prepare easy and delicious meals for you and the whole family!

How to Fold Tamales

• Spread the masa mixture all over the bottom half of a softened corn husk.
• Add a tablespoon of strawberry jam to the center of the masa. 
• Fold corn husk sides in. Fold the pointy top to the center of the husk.

Leave the pointy top of the husk alone. It will help us fold the tamales. 

There are people who use a corn husk strip to tie the tamal. That’s totally optional. 

In my personal opinion, homemade tamales are hard enough. Why add an extra step? 

Steaming Tamales

• Add the steamer insert.
• Place tamales inside the steamer pot with the open end up. 
• Steam on medium-low heat for 1 hour to 1 ½ hours. 

As you assemble, keep the tamales open side up. Be very careful that they do NOT tilt down, or the filling will spill out.

How to Keep Tamales Standing Upright

The easiest and best way to keep the tamales from falling over is to make a few balls of aluminum foil and add them to the pot.

… OR, place corn husks that were not used to keep them upright.

How to Tell if Tamales are Ready

The tamales are done when the corn husk pulls away from masa easily. The masa should not be sticky and should not stick to the corn husk. 

After an hour, if they are not ready, check the water level and add more water, if necessary. Steam tamales for an additional ½ hour. If after 1 ½ hours they are not ready, turn off the heat and let the tamales sit in the pot with the lid on for an additional ½ hour.

More Mexican Tamales

• Instant Pot Chicken Tamales 
• Red Pork Tamales
• Chicken Salsa Verde Tamales
• Jalapeno and Cheese Tamales

These sweet Strawberry Tamales (or Tamales de Fresa) are a unique twist on classic Mexican tamales.

Made with masa dough and fresh strawberries, these tamales are a delicious and playful treat that you won’t want to miss out on. 

Serve with more strawberry jam or dulce de leche, and you can’t forget a big cup of champurrado. Provecho! 

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Did you make this recipe? Please rate the recipe below!

*See www.mazola.com for information about the relationship between corn oil and heart disease. 

**Very limited and preliminary scientific evidence suggests that eating about 1 tablespoon (16g) of corn oil daily may reduce the risk of heart disease.