The Tamales They are one of the greatest delicacies of Mexican gastronomy. Of pre-Hispanic origin, they are one of the most traditional dishes in the country and, to the delight of diners, they are presented through an enormous number of varieties. Below, we tell you how many there are in total and share the differences between the main options.
Tamales: everything you need to know about this classic of Mexican food
At a general level, it must be said that the Tamales they are prepared on a base of corn dough, which are usually filled with sauce and/or meat (whether beef, chicken, pork, etc.) and wrapped in corn or banana leaves to finally steam .
Of course, this is a highly generic description since, as expected, each of the varieties of the Tamales it requires its own ingredients and its steps to follow at the time of preparation.
It is said that in total there are more than 500 varieties of Tamales In this sense, it should be clarified that many of the differences are presented taking into account the place where they are made.
In other words, each region or locality has its own way of doing it. Below, we list some of the most well-known varieties of all and share the details of each one.
Tamales: 10 options to consider to enjoy this Mexican delicacy
1. Green sauce tamales. Tomato sauce is added to the pork or chicken meat filling with a little green chili.
2. Oaxacan tamales. One of the main characteristics of this option is that they are wrapped with banana leaves.
3. Zacahuil. It is one of the most traditional among the Huasteca indigenous population. Their main difference lies in their size: just one of these tamales can serve up to 50 servings.
4. Chuchitos. Zacapa hard cheese is the secret ingredient in this variety.
5. Corundas. When it comes to shape and size, this tamale with a triangular design is one of the most renowned in Mexico and, especially, in the state of Michoacán.
6. Pink tamales. When it comes to tamales, not all of these are salty. On the contrary, they are also presented in sweet versions, which are ideal to enjoy as desserts.
7. Ball tamales. The spherical shape of these and their wrapper make them look like giant treats.
8. Tamales from Veracruz. In the case of these tamales, the main difference lies in the assembly of the dough. For it, corn kernels ground with milk and melted lard are used.
9. Tamales from Chiapas. Another version that stands out for its shape: they are rectangular and wrapped with a banana leaf.
10. Purple leaf tamales. As the name implies, these tamales are wrapped in purple corn husks. In addition, they do not have meat as a filling.
After reading all this, do you already know which of these tamales you would like to try first?
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