Hi, y'all- hoping for some expert tamale making advice.I bought a whole sirloin that I'm cutting up for various uses. It of course comes with a cap of fat...what I don't grind in for flavor with the rest of the scraps I'll render in the oven. This always produces a nice, white, smooth product...would it be an appropriate substitute for the lard usually incorporated into the masa when making meat tamales? Thanks!

Try a making a small amount and see how you like the flavor.

Lard is from a pig, rendered beef fat is tallow as far as I know.

Only way to know is to give it a try.

woodgeezer wrote:Lard is from a pig, rendered beef fat is tallow as far as I know.Rendered beef fat is suet.Rendered deer, elk and moose fat is tallow and tastes terrible.When I grind venison, I use suet because I prefer the flavor to that of lard.

Substitute rendered beef fat for lard in tamales?

Wanderlost
Nomad II
Mar 13, 2014
Did you try it, Francesca? How did it taste?
JiminDenver
Explorer II
Feb 18, 2014
We have been making tamales lately and the fat used in the masa can vary from lard to cooking oils, etc. The flavor differs with each so try a batch.
edm3rd
Explorer
Feb 14, 2014
Francesca, it's a good day when we learn something we didn't know.

Also, I am over 60 years old, and travelled quite a bit, but I've NEVER seen a tri-tip, but I keep hearing a lot about them, especially from you left coasters.
Francesca_Knowl
Explorer
Feb 13, 2014
Is my face red...I didn't even know that lard is made strictly from pork- and I've been using it for years!

I think I'm going to try it in a small batch of tamales...if I don't like the taste I'll just feed them to my son-in-law, who always slathers everything with red hot salsa anyway. He'll never know the difference...;)
Ron3rd
Explorer III
Feb 13, 2014
I see no problem in using the beef fat though it might yield a slightly different flavor. Masa is usually flavored anyway.
SWMO
Explorer
Feb 13, 2014
I think it might impart a slightly different taste, but that doesn't mean bad.
camperpaul
Explorer
Feb 13, 2014
woodgeezer wrote:
Lard is from a pig, rendered beef fat is tallow as far as I know.

Rendered beef fat is suet.

Rendered deer, elk and moose fat is tallow and tastes terrible.

When I grind venison, I use suet because I prefer the flavor to that of lard.
Wanderlost
Nomad II
Feb 13, 2014
Only way to know is to give it a try.
woodgeezer
Explorer
Feb 13, 2014
Lard is from a pig, rendered beef fat is tallow as far as I know.
camperpaul
Explorer
Feb 13, 2014
Try a making a small amount and see how you like the flavor.