Jul 14 2026
Restaurants›Rubamba Restaurant›Single Tamale With Rajas & Cheese Recipe

Single Tamale With Rajas & Cheese Recipe

Inspired by Rubamba Restaurant
Time2h
Serves1

Traditional Mexican tamales, with roasted jalapenos, onions, tomatoes and cheese.

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Ingredients

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Tamale Dough

Filling

Assembly

Method

Preparing the Filling

  1. 1

    Roast the Jalapeños

    Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). Place the jalapeños on a baking sheet and roast them for about 15-20 minutes until the skins are blistered and charred. Once done, remove them from the oven, place them in a bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let them steam for 10 minutes. This will make peeling easier.

  2. 2

    Sauté the Vegetables

    In a skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and sauté until transparent, about 5 minutes. Then, add the diced tomato and cook for an additional 3-4 minutes. Once done, remove from heat.

  3. 3

    Prepare the Jalapeños

    After the jalapeños have steamed, peel off the charred skin, remove the seeds, and chop them into small pieces. Combine the jalapeños, sautéed onion, and tomato in a bowl with the cheese. Mix well and set aside.

Making the Tamale Dough

  1. 4

    Mix the Dry Ingredients

    In a large bowl, combine the masa harina, baking powder, and salt. Mix well to ensure the dry ingredients are evenly distributed.

  2. 5

    Cream the Shortening

    In another bowl, beat the vegetable shortening until fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the shortening while alternating with the broth. Mix until a soft dough forms.

Assembling the Tamale

  1. 6

    Prepare the Corn Husks

    Soak the corn husks in warm water for at least 30 minutes to soften them. Drain and pat them dry.

  2. 7

    Construct the Tamale

    Take a corn husk and spread about 1/4 cup of masa dough on the bottom half. Add a spoonful of the filling mixture on top. Fold the sides of the husk over the filling, then fold the bottom up to enclose the tamale. Repeat with the remaining husks and filling.

Cooking the Tamale

  1. 8

    Steam the Tamales

    Place the tamales upright in a steamer pot. Fill the bottom of the pot with water, ensuring it doesn’t touch the tamales. Cover with a lid and steam for about 1 to 1.5 hours until the masa pulls away from the husk easily.

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