Leftover Turkey Tamales
Leftover Turkey Tamales turn post-holiday turkey into tender, aromatic bundles of masa steamed in cornhusks. Spiced with chili powder, cumin, paprika, and a hint of cayenne, they’re savory and gently smoky, perfect with a squeeze of lime. Serve these for a cozy weekend meal or as a festive way to share leftovers with family and friends.
- Prep45 mins
- Cook1 hr 5 mins
- Serves10
- DifficultyMedium
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Leftover Turkey Tamales, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 58 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 6 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityFair
- 55 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Unprocessed or minimally processed
- 1 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 30
- Heart Health
- 70
- Metabolic
- 29
- Digestive
- 22
- Inflammatory
- 39
- Performance
- 36
- General Wellness
- 1
Soak corn husks in a bowl of warm water until softened, about 1 hour; then drain.
- 2
Whisk masa, 1 tablespoon paprika, 1 tablespoon chili powder, garlic powder, 1 teaspoon cumin, and 1 teaspoon salt together in a bowl; stir in corn oil. Stir in 3 1/2 cups broth, adding 1 cup at a time, until the dough is smooth and as thick as peanut butter. Set aside the remaining 1/2 cup turkey broth for the filling.
- 3
Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and minced garlic; cook until softened and translucent, 5 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat, then add the turkey, 1 teaspoon paprika, oregano, 1 teaspoon cumin, 1 teaspoon chili powder, 1 teaspoon salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper. Stir in the reserved 1/2 cup turkey broth until moistened.
- 4
Spoon 1 heaping tablespoon of dough into the center of each corn husk; top with 1 heaping tablespoon of the turkey filling. Roll the husk around the dough and filling, tuck the bottom of the husk into the tamale, and tie a corn husk strip or string around each tamale to secure.
- 5
Place a steamer insert into a saucepan; add water to just below the bottom of the steamer. Bring the water to a boil. Stand the tamales upright in the steamer, cover, and steam until cooked through, about 1 hour. Add more water as needed.
- Calories 477.69 kcal High 24%
- Protein 26.46 g Good Source 53%
- Carbohydrate 36.11 g 13%
- Total Fat 27.12 g High 35%
- Saturated Fat 5.12 g High 26%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 70.93 mg High 24%
- Sodium 339.74 mg Moderate 15%
- Dietary Fiber 3.66 g Moderate 13%
- Total Sugars 1.38 g --
- Added Sugars 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Calcium 72.2 mg Low Source 6%
- Iron 4.03 mg Good Source 22%
- Potassium 172.11 mg Low Source 4%
- Vitamin A 1.38 mcg Low Source 0%
- Vitamin C 0.37 mg Low Source 0%
- Vitamin D 0.0 mcg Low Source 0%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Wheat 🌾
- Gluten
- Corn 🌽
- Garlic 🧄
- Onions 🧅
About This Recipe
Leftover Turkey Tamales is made with 16 ingredients and serves 10. It takes about 1 hr 50 mins and is rated medium. Key ingredients include Black Pepper, Cayenne Pepper, Chili Powder, and Cooked Turkey. Each serving provides about 477.69 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Leftover Turkey Tamales made of?
- The main ingredients are Black Pepper, Cayenne Pepper, Chili Powder, Cooked Turkey, Corn Husk. The full list of 16 is above.
- How long does it take to make Leftover Turkey Tamales?
- About 1 hr 50 mins in total: 45 mins to prepare and 1 hr 5 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 477.69 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Leftover Turkey Tamales easy to make?
- This recipe is rated medium, with 16 ingredients and 5 steps.
- Is Leftover Turkey Tamales healthy?
- Leftover Turkey Tamales has an easyChef Pro health score of 42/100. Per serving, it provides 477.69 calories and 26.46 g of protein, or 53% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of iron. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 339.74 mg (15% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 5.12 g (26% of the Daily Value). It contains Wheat, Gluten, Corn, Garlic and Onions, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
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