Yes, the tamales I’m used to are usually made of pork (or at least that’s what I thought, lol) but you’ll also find beef tamales in many TexMex restaurants. I’ve heard of barbacoa but never had it. Isn’t it a steer head buried in a cooking pit?
LOL - find Chris! My eyes!
McLynnan, why’d you leave TX? Yes, usually it is cooked in a pit, like a luau...
If you try barbacoa, ask for ‘all meat’ or you could get an eyeball...[this free advice for steve-b, too] ;o)
Barbacoa de cabeza is a specialty of slow cooked cow head
I have eaten barbacoa made from cabrito (goat), but don't know if I could go that far...ugh...the thought alone would turn my stomach.
Tamales can be pork, beef or chicken.