Steam the tamales for one hour, checking the water level every 15 minutes or so. Add more water as necessary so the pot doesn't boil dry. Remove the tamales from the pot with a pair of tongs. Cool them on a rack for 15 minutes or until they cool enough to handle and unwrap comfortably.
Food and cosmetic use. Arrowroot powder is a natural powdered root starch that is white in color and very lightweight. It is derived from the tropical South American plant Maranta arundinacea. The plant was given the name âArrowrootâ because it was once used to treat those injured with wounds from poisoned arrows.
Arrowroot, or arrowroot starch, is a powdery product made from the arrowroot plant, a starchy tropical root. The plant is dried and ground up to make the powder, which is primarily used as a thickener in the kitchen, much like cornstarch. Much like cornstarch, it is an excellent thickening agent. It has about twice the thickening power of regular flour. Unlike cornstarch, however, arrowroot is completely flavorless and will not impart a starchy taste into puddings or other dishes that it is used to thicken. Another reason that arrowroot is called for in recipes is that it is extremely digestible, moreso than regular wheat flour.