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Tamales

17/11/2023

Tamales are a traditional dish of Latin American cuisine, particularly Mexican. These corn dough rolls are filled in various ways and cooked inside corn husks. Here is the basic recipe with an Italian touch in the filling:

Ingredients

  • 250 g of corn flour for tamales (masa harina)
  • 500 ml of chicken or vegetable broth
  • 100 g of lard or butter
  • 1 teaspoon of salt
  • 1 teaspoon of baking powder for tortillas (or bicarbonate)
  • Dried corn husks to wrap the tamales
  • 200 g of fresh cheese (you could use mozzarella for an Italian touch)
  • 100 g of roasted peppers, cut into strips
  • 200 g of cooked and shredded chicken or other ingredient of your choice

Preparation

  1. Soak the corn husks in warm water for at least an hour so that they become soft and manageable.
  2. In the meantime, in a large bowl mix the corn flour with the broth until you get a smooth and soft dough.
  3. In another bowl, whip the lard or butter with the salt until it becomes frothy.
  4. Add the baking powder to the corn flour dough and mix well.
  5. Add the whipped lard to the corn dough and work everything until it reaches a consistency similar to that of a cake batter.
  6. Drain the corn husks and dry them. Spread a couple of crossed corn husks (to reinforce the base) and smear a generous spoonful of the prepared dough over them.
  7. Add some cheese, peppers, and chicken to the center of your dough.
  8. Fold the husks to wrap the dough so that the filling is completely covered.
  9. Repeat the procedure for each tamale, then tie the ends of the husks with strips of corn husk, if necessary, to keep them closed.
  10. Steam the tamales for about 1 hour and 30 minutes or until the dough easily detaches from the husk.
  11. Let the tamales rest for a few minutes before serving them.

This is a recipe that allows for a lot of variability in the filling; thus, theoretically, you can add typical Italian ingredients, such as mozzarella, sun-dried tomatoes, basil, or whatever you prefer. Tamales require time and patience, but the result is a dish full of flavor and tradition.

Trivia

Tamales are not just a dish, but a real cultural symbol in many Latin American countries. In Mexico, for example, they are prepared especially during festivals and special occasions, such as the Day of the Dead and Christmas.