Recipe - Vegan Tamales

Loving Mexican food such as we do means we have, just have to try to make some of it veggie/vegan style.  Tonight we opted to try our hand at tamales.  Both my wife and I adore tamales so what better task for a Sunday afternoon then to whip some up!

What we need:
12-16 corn husks - (ethnic isle of your favorite grocery)
4 cups instant corn masa flour
3 cups vegetable broth
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
1 package Lightlife Smart Ground Mexican style protein crumbles
Tomato sauce
a few black olives

You must have some sort of steamer to make these beauties.  We used a metal colander, a large pot and a lid.  First soak your corn husks according to package directions.  Mix flour and broth by hand - use COOL broth so you don't burn yourself!  You want the flour mixture a consistency where you can make balls out of it.  Dice onion and mix with Smart Ground Mexican style protein crumbles right from the package.  When corn husks are ready pull out one husk at a time and lay flat.  Take a small ball of the masa mixture and flatten it in to the husk.  You only want the masa mixture about 1/8" - 1/4" thick and covering about two thirds of the husk.  Drop in a little of the crumble mixture on top of the masa patty in the husk.  Carefully fold the husk longways so the crumble mixture is covered with masa on both sides.  I let the husk fall back down at this point.  Fold the sides of the corn husk in and then one long side at a time making a neat little package out of it.  Once you get several of these to this point stand them upright in your colander or steamer for better cooking.  Once all of your husks are filled and in the steamer you want to steam these for an hour to an hour and a half.  When done unwrap and plate the tamales, add a little warm tomato sauce (flavored to your liking with whatever spices you choose) and top with a couple of sliced black olives.

I gotta tell you these were a real treat!  We were both a little worried how the tamales would come out and they were delicious!  Rumor has it the tamales freeze well so if you make to many freeze some up for a quick meal or treat!
Enjoy!
Thanks for visiting the blog!  Until next time,
Kel