What does Tamale Season Mean to You?

What does Tamale Season Mean to You?

Tamale Season

Tamale Season is upon us. What is a Tamale? A Mexican dish of seasoned meat wrapped in cornmeal dough and steamed or baked in corn husks. Tamale season usually begins in December and close to holidays.

If you are from San Antonio, Texas like I am, we find any excuse to make and enjoy tamales year round. I was invited to a Tamalada hosted by author and friend Vianney Rodriguez. (In collaboration with La Michoacana Meat Market.)

Tamaladas and tamales are part of my Hispanic culture. I spent the evening with other bloggers, influencers, and friends as we watched Vianney, the tamale pro, show us her tricks and tips on how to make the best tamales.

Childhood Memories

We learned how to make, assemble, steam, and store them. I grew up with the traditional pork kind and I had no idea you could experiment and add in your own custom fillings. People even make dessert tamales! I’d like to try a chocolate tamale.

The tamalada brought back so many memories. As a kid, we all use to get together at my great-grandmother’s ranch. My dad, great-grandfather, and uncles would kill a pig, cut it up, and prepare it for chicharrones and tamales.

While the men would be outside getting the meat of the pig ready, the women would be inside setting up for the tamalada. All my aunts, great-grandmother, and mom would sit around the table, talk, and would make tamales.

The Process

When Vianney was going through the tamale making process, I could picture all my family in my mind doing the same. She went step by step from soaking the corn husks in warm water to spreading the masa evenly over the husks.

We also learned how to fold the sides of the corn husks, set them in the pot correctly so they make cook (steam) evenly, and how easily the tamales separate from the husks when done. She shared how different spices can be added to the masa and the filling to customize it to your liking.

After our tamale lesson, we sat around and drank Ponche Navideno, Topo Chico, and enjoyed delicious homemade tamales and beans. Do you and your family have any special tamalada rituals? 

Tamale Links

How to Make Homemade Pork Tamales

How to Host a Tamalada 

Ponche Navideno (cocktail)