About Tamales

The traditional Latin American dish called the tamale consists of a packet of cornmeal dough (called masa) stuffed with a savory or sweet filling and wrapped in plantains or corn husks. Tamales date back to pre-Columbian Mexico but remain popular today. Preparations of the tamale vary widely between regions and cultures; tamale fillings, wrappings, methods and traditions are as diverse as sandwich preparations. There are said to be thousands of varieties of tamales in Mexico alone.

History

Tamales owe their existence to nixtamalization, a process developed around 1200 BC, in which field corn is treated with wood ashes. Nixtamalization makes the corn softer, more digestible, and its nutrients more easily absorbed. Tamales in their current form, however, began to appear around 5000 BC, when they became convenient, portable rations for South American warrior armies. When the Spaniards first visited Mexico in the 1550s, the Aztecs served them tamales cooked over an open fire.

Preparation

Field corn, once dried and nixtamalized, is washed and ground into a dough; salt and fats (milk or lard) are usually added to the dough. The masa dough is then spread onto the corn husk or plantain leaf (today, a tool called the masa spreader comes in handy during this step), and then the filling is added. The wrapper is rolled and tied, and the tamale is steamed.

Varieties

In some countries (including Guatemala and Honduras), tamales without filling serve as the starch portion of a family meal. Panamanian tamales are larger than average, and Peruvian tamales are spicier and always wrapped in banana leaves. Banana leaves are also used in the tropical, Gulf-bordering Mexican states, a substitution for the corn husks used in the rest of the country. In the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, tamales go by the name of "pastillitos." Tamale-like preparations are also found in areas as diverse as the Philippines and Louisiana.

Fillings

As with a sandwich, anything can be used to fill tamales, including alligator tail and iguana. Tamales are usually either sweet or savory. Common savory fillings are chicken or pork, dressed with salsa or mole sauce, and common sweet fillings include raisins, fruit and nuts. However, some countries like Trinidad mix sweet and savory, filling their tamales with meat, prunes, raisins, capers, and olives. Other fillings include hard-boiled eggs, chorizo, pumpkin seeds, tomato, coconut milk and even dove breast.

Consumption

Tamales are often special occasion dishes, served at birthdays or weddings, and commonly found as part of a Latin American Christmas dinner. In Mexico, tamale consumption numbers in the hundreds of millions per year, and vendors on the street serve them daily from large steamers called "tamaleras."