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I'm a vegetarian, so naturally I don't use lard when making the masa for tamales. I've experimented with butter, non-hydrogenated vegetable shortening, and solid coconut oil. I've tried beating the dough for a long time in my stand mixer, as I've read some suggestions that that is the key to make a fluffy dough. I've also tried both fresh masa and MaSeCa.

My tamales are ok, but I inadvertently had a bite of a lard-based tamale last year, and it was drastically fluffier and lighter than anything I've achieved. I don't know if the difference is the choice of fat, or if the restaurant that made them employs a better mixing technique. Help?

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  • Have you asked the restaurant what their technique is? :)
    – Tobias Op Den Brouw
    Sep 1, 2010 at 7:22
  • I don't have enough Spanish to ask :)
    – Michael Natkin
    Sep 1, 2010 at 14:12
  • Michael can you describe your current method?
    – Didgeridrew
    Aug 22, 2012 at 22:59
  • Basically beat the shortening and masa for about 10 minutes on medium speed with the paddle attachment on a stand mixer, trying to work in as much air as possible.
    – Michael Natkin
    Aug 25, 2012 at 4:19

5 Answers 5

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You can use Crisco All-Vegetable Shortening: its is on PETA's (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) shopping list of baking goods, but can work just as well for frying as lard.

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  • I was just looking at an all-tamales cookbook at a store, and they said the best choice was a mix of crisco-type shortening for texture and butter for flavor.
    – Michael Natkin
    Sep 5, 2010 at 2:33
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I have made tamales for over 50 years and I learned how to make them from my grandmother. I have changed the recipe and now use Crisco. Whether I make them with lard or Crisco, I ALWAYS add baking powder and salt to help make them fluffy (and so did my grandmother).

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I've never made tamales, so take this with a full shaker of salt, but you could try adding a bit of chemical leavening (baking powder) to the dough. It makes everything else fluffy; it just might help your tamales!

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  • thank you for your suggestions. How much Baking power and Salt? I used 2 table spoons of baking power for 5 lb of masa. I forgot to add the salt. Also how long do I mix the masa?
    – user22087
    Dec 23, 2013 at 4:38
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I have made tamales for about 30 years and I too learned from my grandmother and my mother. But the secret to fluffier tamale dough is baking powder and salt.

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  • 2
    Hey Rosa, welcome to the site. It seems there is a previous answer that says the same thing as yours. Please upvote that answer, unless you have any new information to add...
    – talon8
    Aug 23, 2012 at 14:15
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Add baking powder and mix a few minutes longer to make it fluffier.

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