Before driving back to Phoenix for our flight back to New York, we grabbed an early dinner at another small, affordable casita right off of Sedona Main Street. Tamaliza in Sedona serves authentic Mexican food. They are known for their tamales, and gosh, was this the place to have that first tamal experience. I am embarrassed to admit that I had never had a tamal (plural tamales) before this day, but hear me out. I grew up in Asia and am Italian. Yes, I’ve been in the US since I was 11, but the areas I lived in did not have a heavy Hispanic and Mexican culture. It wasn’t until I moved to the city in my early to mid-20s that I became acquainted with the Hispanic and Mexican culture in America and began to dive into more of those experiences and visit the countries more. So it isn’t that weird that it took me 28 years of my life to have a tamal.
What is a tamal?
Today, there are over 500 different types of tamales available around the world! At it’s core, tamal is masa harina or dried corn dough steamed for 30-45 minutes in a corn husk and then topped with either sweet or savory fillings.
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The savory tamales are the most popular. The tamal filling options are endless – beef, pork, chicken, vegetarian, vegan etc. You can eat your tamal plain, but the nice part about tamales are the fillings. My first time I was conservative with the fillings, but I would go in with more a second time. There’s nothing wrong with being conservative the first time around. Just add some chicken, salsa, and maybe some guacamole.
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The sweet tamales on the other hand are usually topped with raisins, dried fruit, sweetened with cinnamon and sugar, vanilla ice cream or Mexican hot chocolate and coffee.
Tamales are very healthy. Their starch helps regulate blood sugar and cholesterol levels and improve gut health and promote weight loss.
What does a tamal taste like?
Tamales are actually quite bland, which is why the fillings are so essential. It’s the fillings and the seasonings used in it that give it it’s flavor. The meats are usually cooked in a sauce or stew that when placed on top of the tamale, give it it’s flavor.
How to eat a tamal?
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When you’re presented with a tamale, it is intimidating. Do you eat the wrapper? Do you eat it with your hands like a burrito? Does anything go on top? The questions are never ending. First off, whatever you do, do not eat the banana leaf or corn wrapper. Luckily, I had Pat guiding me through this experience. Usually the banana leaf wrap or corn wrapper is tied together with a bow and inside is your delicious tamale. Secondly, this may sound surprising, but do not eat it with your hands. The tamale is steaming. It’s been steamed for 30-45 minutes afterall. You eat tamales with a fork, not your hands.
What’s the history behind tamales?
The Aztecs and Mayans in Latin America consumed them thousands of years ago. They made tamales to honor the god Huitzilopochtli, the Aztec god of sun and war. Consuming tamales today is a way of preserving the rich Latino identity.
Honestly, tamales are some of the best Mexican food I’ve had to date and I find myself craving them very often. This was the way to end a trip in Sedona, on a good and tasty note. But now, I am very reluctant to try a tamale anywhere else. I have a fear it will never taste as good as the one I had in Sedona…but maybe one day, I’ll find a place that does it as well as they do. If you know any, drop me a comment below!
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