Basic Tamale Dough
4 1/2 cups corn flour
4 to 5 cups warm veggie broth, plus more as needed
1 pound shortening
2 1/2 tablespoons salt
Place corn flour in a large bowl and add 4 cups of warm broth.
Beat with a wooden spoon or mix with your hands until dough is
smooth. Use a little more broth of necessary, but the mixture
should not be loose.
Beat shortening in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium
speed about 3 minutes, until fluffy.
Begin adding corn flour mixture a handful at a time. Scrape
down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula as necessary.
Alternatively, beat in tamale mixture using your bare hand as a
whipping and folding tool. If the mixture becomes too stiff to
beat, add up to 1 cup tepid chicken or pork broth a little at a
time. When done, the mixture should be light and delicate, the
texture of butter cream frosting. Beat in salt.