Tamales 101 and Beyond

The history of the tamale dates back to the Aztecs, and has become one of the most popular and widely known Mexican foods today.  A tamale is basically a long pillow of masa harina (dried corn soaked in a lime water solution, then finely ground ) dough with a filling inside.  In the United States and the border regions of Mexico, tamales are commonly made with red or green chile and are filled with shredded beef, chicken or pork.  Tamales can be filled with just about anything, just make sure you don't overfill them and keep your filling liquid to a minimum.  They are also made with sweet a sweet masa dough and filling - our favorite is chocolate and banana!

To make a tamale,  the masa dough is smeared on to the smooth side of a piece of corn husk or banana leaf, placing the filling on top of the dough, then wrapping it like a package. The tamales can be tied or left loose at one end, and they are then steamed in a large pot (open ends up) for 1-2 hours.  After steaming, tamales can be placed in a plastic bag, tossed in the fridge or freezer and reheated quickly.  Tamales store very well in the freezer, and since they do take some time to make, don't hesitate to make a few dozen or more at one time.

Making tamales during the Christmas season has become a tradition in the Southwest and parts of Mexico, but you don't have to wait for the holidays to make them.  Making tamales can seem intimidating at first, but we can assure you that they are easy to make, and it will most likely be more difficult for you to find the 3-4 hours needed to make them! 

Mesa Mexican Food carries all the main ingredients like chiles, masa and corn husks that you will need to make authentic tamales in your own kitchen.  We also have tamale making kits which you can find right here on our website.