How to Make Cabbage Tamales - A Step-by-Step Guide

When you think of tamales, you probably think of the classic corn husk-wrapped parcels filled with delicious meats or cheeses. But have you ever tried making tamales with cabbage instead of corn husks? Cabbage tamales are a unique and flavorful twist on the traditional Mexican dish, offering a lighter and slightly sweeter flavor profile. This recipe is a great way to use up leftover cabbage and create a mouthwatering vegetarian or vegan dish that is sure to satisfy even the most discerning pa...

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Ingredients

  • 8 cabbage leaves
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 ½ cups uncooked white rice
  • 2 (6.5 ounce) cans tomato sauce
  • 3 teaspoons New Mexico red chile powder
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • ½ cup chopped onions
  • salt and ground black pepper to taste
  • 2 (10 ounce) cans diced tomatoes with green chile peppers

Information

  • Prep Time: 35 mins
  • Cook Time: 1 hr
  • Total Time: 1 hr 35 mins
  • Servings: 8
  • Yield: 8 tamales

  • Freeze the cabbage leaves or blanch them for about 3 minutes in a large pot of boiling water to soften.
  • Place the ground beef, rice, tomato sauce, chile powder, garlic, onion, salt, and black pepper in a bowl. Mix with your hands until combined. Divide the meat mixture into 8 portions and place the meat on the softened cabbage leaves. Roll the leaves up to form logs and tuck the edges under the logs.
  • Place the tamales into a pressure cooker or slow cooker. Pour diced tomatoes with green chiles over tamales.
  • To cook tamales in a pressure cooker: seal the lid of the pressure cooker and bring it up to full pressure. Reduce the heat to low, maintaining full pressure, and cook for 1 hour. Use the quick-release function or allow the pressure to reduce naturally.
  • To cook tamales in a slow cooker: place the lid on the slow cooker and set it on High. Cook the tamales for 4 hours.
  • Nutrition

    341 cal.

    • Total Fat: 16g
    • Saturated Fat: 6g
    • Cholesterol: 48mg
    • Sodium: 579mg
    • Total Carbohydrate: 36g
    • Dietary Fiber: 3g
    • Total Sugars: 3g
    • Protein: 14g
    • Vitamin C: 21mg
    • Calcium: 54mg
    • Iron: 4mg
    • Potassium: 490mg