Tamales... In a Chinese bamboo steamer?

[michelleats]

Has anyone ever attempted to use a bamboo steamer (like this: http://www.instawares.com/products/1/...) to steam tamales?

The tamales would have to be laid out flat, not upright, and among other things, I'm wondering if this might negatively impact the final result.

[michelleats]

This worked out wonderfully! Thanks so much for the advice!

1 hour of steaming yielded perfect tamales. I covered the steamer with two overlapping dish towels to help keep the steam in. The corn husks weren't very flavorful, I think because they were a bit old, but the tamales actually picked up a bit of the scent from the bamboo wood, since I used a new steamer. Delicious.

I was shocked how easy it was to make tamales, by the way. I think we'll be making these a lot more frequently, before the weather gets too warm. It's a great way to use up leftover grilled chicken.

[DiningDiva]

Should work beautifully and your idea of putting a towel over the top is just fine. Most cooks would put additional corn husks or banana leaves on top of the tamales to keep the steam in. Some would even put a towel over everything as well.

[zfalcon]

I don't see why it wouldn't work. Those bamboo steamers are often used to steam sticky rice zhong (chinese equivalent of tamales).

[Jenni899]

thats the way I cook mine! they turn out wonderful. good eats :)

[michelleats]

Very cool. I think I'm going to wrap the steamer with a towel while it cooks to keep more of the steam in. Is that what you do? I'm guessing an hour should be sufficient?

[rabaja]

I've used many home-rigged steamer set ups for tamales with great success. That bamboo steamer would work perfectly.

[michelleats]

Alright, we'll give this the old college try. Thanks for the reassurance!