Is there anything else besides corn husks that I can use to make tamales?

Question

I have looked everywhere in this little town where I live and cannot find corn husks anywhere. The nearest place is Minneapolis which is like 3 hrs away. Does anyone know anything else besides corn husks that I can use to make tamales?

There is no such thing as ethnic food in this little town. The closest thing is frozen pizza. Otherwise they have Norweign food stores yuck.

I tried to get green husks from the store. There is no more actual ears of corn that I saw and the left over husks that they do have they won't give up for some reason.

Answer 1

If you're stuck without leaves, I would try parchment paper.
Wax paper on the roll may be too waxy, but the lightly waxed paper used by sandwich shops may work too.

I believe the canned tamales use some type of paper was a wrapper.

Other types of leaves used for wrapping foods... banana leaves, ti leaves, lotus leaves. All of which can be found at an oriental market.

I would skip cloth type material. I would think the masa would stick to the cloth.

Answer 2

Paper Tamale Wrappers

Answer 3

I sometimes use foil If I run out of corn husks...it works the same way. But I prefer the taste that the corn husk gives the tamale:o)

Answer 4

Some kind of cloth? I know I've seen it before, I just don't remember now.
Zip lock bag? Reynold's foil with the shinny side out?

My grandmother in Cuba used to make tamales from scratch and she used the real leaves from the corn head.

Answer 5

You could just ask someone (who lives in a place where they have them) to buy a bag or two of corn husks and mail them to you. What could be simpler? They're not expensive.

If you don't already know of someone who can and will do that for you, send me an e-mail and I'll "get 'er done!"

Answer 6

An area in the USA with NO Mexicans????
NO Way..!
I believe as you finish the steam cooking most anything else will stick the masa into a mess.
several grape leaves might work,,.. Fat chance you have that..
There is NO reason why you can't use green husks..

Answer 7

banana leaves, you might be able to do it with cheese cloth, but I never tried, maybe wax paper is the only other thing I can think of, I am lucky I have a store that a Latin American owns, so making anything as Hispanic food is concerned , I just walk up the street.

Answer 8

No, you peel it off, I've tryed the corn husk before, it tastes like dry grass

Answer 9

You can even make them with parchment or foil. Banana leaves would work, You could probably even make them with grape leaves (although you would need to use two or three pere tamale)

Answer 10

Yes, banana leaves are great as suggested by another answerer. But you can also find them at asian groceries if latin groceries aren't as abundant where you live. I wouldn't be surprised if you find them at other ethnic food markets. Good luck!