spicy tamale balls

Name: Spicy Tamale Balls
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 2 h
Yield: 48
Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients: 1 pound(s) ground chuck or round; 1 pound(s) jimmy dean sage pork sausage; 1 1/2 cup(s) yellow cornmeal; 3/4 cup(s) v-8 juice, spicy; 1/2 cup(s) all purpose flour; 2 tablespoon(s) garlic, minced; 1 tablespoon(s) chili powder, mexene; 1 tablespoon(s) cumin; 1 teaspoon(s) oregano (mexican is preferred); 2 teaspoon(s) salt; 1 teaspoon(s) cayenne; 1 1/2 teaspoon(s) crushed chili flakes; ## SAUCE INGREDIENTS; 5 cup(s) v8 juice; 1 tablespoon(s) chili powder (mexene); 1 tablespoon(s) cumin; 2 teaspoon(s) salt; 1 teaspoon(s) sugar

108 Pinches 6 Photos

Donna Graffagnino

Bayou Country, LA

Updated on Oct 15, 2014

These are favorites with kids and make great party appetizers. They are gone in minutes! The sage pork sausage really makes a difference in the taste but you can use regular or spicy plain pork sausage if desired.

Rate

prep time 20 Min

cook time 2 Hr

method Bake

yield 48 Balls

Ingredients

1 pound ground chuck or round
1 pound jimmy dean sage pork sausage
1 1/2 cups yellow cornmeal
3/4 cup v-8 juice, spicy
1/2 cup all purpose flour
2 tablespoons garlic, minced
1 tablespoon chili powder, mexene
1 tablespoon cumin
1 teaspoon oregano (mexican is preferred)
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon cayenne
1 1/2 teaspoons crushed chili flakes
SAUCE INGREDIENTS
5 cups v8 juice
1 tablespoon chili powder (mexene)
1 tablespoon cumin
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon sugar

How To Make spicy tamale balls

Step 1

Mix all ingredients together (don't cook meat), and roll into small 1" balls. Put balls into a large baking pan or dutch oven.

Step 2

Preheat oven to 300 F. Mix all ingredients for the sauce and pour over the tamale balls. Cover and bake for 2 hours. DO NOT STIR.
Step 3

Tamale balls will expand and absorb the juice. After 2 hours check for doneness and if needed bake another 15-20 minutes until done. Enjoy!
Step 4

Tip: These can be made mild by using regular V-8, omitting the crushed chili flakes, and cutting back just a little on the chili powder. Don't omit the cayenne in the balls as it's not enough to make them hot but gives them a nice flavor. Alternate cook method: Put into slow cooker and cook on high for 5-6 hours. Tamales can be made by rolling the above mixture into softened corn husks. Don't put mixture all the way to the top to allow for expansion. Put tamales in the sauce and cook on stovetop for two hours on low heat.
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