Tamales de Barbacoa de Res (Beef Barbacoa Tamales)
Soft masa wrapped around tender, chilli rich shredded beef barbacoa, finished with sharp pickled red onions.
Made with Pickled red onions (cebollas encurtidas) and Barbacoa beef and Tamale masa. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time2 hr 15
- LevelHard
- Costabout £3.52 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Soak the corn husks in a large bowl of hot water, weighed down, for 45 minutes until soft and pliable. Drain and pat dry.
45 min - 2
Heat the oil in a frying pan and cook the garlic for 30 seconds. Add your ready made barbacoa beef (see the base recipe) and 3 tbsp of its cooking juices and cook for 5 minutes until the beef is hot and the liquid has almost gone. Stir in the coriander and cool completely.
5 min - 3
Lay a husk with the wide end towards you. Spread about 3 tbsp (50 g) of your ready made tamale masa (see the base recipe) over the wider two thirds, leaving a border. Spoon a heaped tablespoon of beef down the middle.
- 4
Fold the sides in over the filling, then fold up the narrow end. Make 8 tamales.
- 5
Stand them folded end down in a steamer lined with spare husks. Steam over simmering water for 1 hour, topping up the water, until firm and pulling from the husk. Rest for 10 minutes before unwrapping.
60 min - 6
Serve hot, topped with your ready made pickled red onions (see the base recipe).
Tips
- Keep the beef filling quite dry. Too much juice leaks into the masa and makes it heavy.
- Reserve the barbacoa juices and warm them as a dipping broth at the table.
- The sharp pickled onions cut through the richness, so do not skip them.
Storing and freezing
Cool within 2 hours and keep in the fridge in their husks for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 3 months. Reheat by steaming for 15 to 20 minutes until steaming hot all the way through. Keep the pickled onions separate.
Questions
Can I use leftover pot roast?
Yes. Shred any slow cooked beef and mix it with a spoonful of red chilli sauce for flavour before filling.
Are these spicy?
They are medium. The heat comes from the dried chillies in the barbacoa.
Are they gluten free and dairy free?
Yes, they are gluten free, dairy free, egg free and nut free as long as the base recipes were made as written.
More made with pickled red onions (cebollas encurtidas)
Tostadas de Cochinita Pibil (Yucatan Pibil Pork Tostadas)
GFDFEFKorean Style Bulgogi Burgers
NFEnchiladas Verdes de Res (Green Beef Enchiladas)
EFNFArroz con Camarones al Guajillo (Guajillo Prawn Rice)
DFEFNFSee every dish made with pickled red onions (cebollas encurtidas)
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.