Tamale in the context of "Hispanic cuisine"

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⭐ Core Definition: Tamale

A tamale, in Spanish tamal, is a traditional Mesoamerican dish made of masa, a dough made from nixtamalized corn, which is steamed in a corn husk or banana leaves. The wrapping can either be discarded prior to eating or used as a plate. Tamales can be filled with meats, cheeses, fruits, vegetables, herbs, chilies, or any preparation according to taste, and both the filling and the cooking liquid may be seasoned.

Tamale is an anglicized version of the Spanish word tamal (plural: tamales). Tamal comes from the Nahuatl tamalli.

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👉 Tamale in the context of Hispanic cuisine

Latin American cuisine is the typical foods, beverages, and cooking styles common to many of the countries and cultures in Latin America. Latin America is a highly racially, ethnically, and geographically diverse with varying cuisines. Some items typical of Latin American cuisine include maize-based dishes arepas, empanadas, pupusas, tacos, tamales, tortillas and various salsas and other condiments (guacamole, pico de gallo, mole, chimichurri, chili, aji, pebre). Sofrito, a culinary term that originally referred to a specific combination of sautéed or braised aromatics, exists in Latin American cuisine. It refers to a sauce of tomatoes, roasted bell peppers, garlic, onions and herbs. Rice, corn, pasta, bread, plantain, potato, yucca, and beans are also staples in Latin American cuisine.

Latin American beverages are just as distinct as their foods. Some of the beverages predate colonization. Some popular beverages include coffee, mate, guayusa, hibiscus tea, horchata, chicha, atole, cacao and aguas frescas.

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Tamale in the context of Cornmeal

Cornmeal is a meal (coarse flour) ground from dried maize. It is a common staple food and is ground to coarse, medium, and fine consistencies, but it is not as fine as wheat flour can be. In Mexico and Louisiana, very finely ground cornmeal is referred to as corn flour. When fine cornmeal is made from maize that has been soaked in an alkaline solution, e.g., limewater (a process known as nixtamalization), it is called masa harina (or masa flour), which is used for making arepas, tamales, and tortillas. Boiled cornmeal is called polenta in Italy and is also a traditional dish and bread substitute in Romania.

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Tamale in the context of Masa

Masa or masa de maíz (English: /ˈmɑːsə/; Spanish pronunciation: [ˈmasa]) is a dough made from ground nixtamalized maize. It is used for making corn tortillas, gorditas, tamales, pupusas, and many other Latin American dishes.

It is dried and powdered into a flour form called harina de maíz or masa harina. Masa is reconstituted by mixing with water before using it in cooking. In Spanish, masa harina translates simply to 'dough flour', and can refer to many other types of dough.

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Tamale in the context of Maize flour

Maize flour or corn flour is a flour ground from dried maize (corn). It is a common staple food, and is ground to coarse, medium, and fine consistencies. Coarsely ground corn flour (meal) is known as cornmeal. When maize flour is made from maize that has been soaked in an alkaline solution, e.g., limewater (a process known as nixtamalization), it is called masa harina (or masa flour), which is used for making tamales and tortillas. Arepas are typically made from corn flour that has not been nixtamalized.

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Tamale in the context of Masa harina

Masa or masa de maíz (English: /ˈmɑːsə/; Spanish pronunciation: [ˈmasa]) is a dough made from ground nixtamalized corn. It is used for making corn tortillas, gorditas, tamales, pupusas, and many other Latin American dishes.

It is dried and powdered into a flour form called harina de maíz or masa harina. Masa is reconstituted by mixing with water before using it in cooking. In Spanish, masa harina translates simply to 'dough flour', and can refer to many other types of dough.

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LINKED FROM (PARENTS)
← Cornmeal ← Masa ← Hispanic cuisine ← Maize flour ← Masa harina ← Latin American cuisine
LINKS TO (CHILDREN)
Spanish language → Mesoamerica → Masa → Nixtamalization → Maize → Steaming → Banana leaf → Cheese → Chili pepper → Anglicisation → Nahuatl →