17 Authentic Mexican Sweet Tamale Recipe Savor The Mouthwatering Goodness!
Published on: Apr 3, 2024
Mexican cuisine is known for its bold flavors and vibrant colors, and one dish that embodies both of these qualities is the sweet tamale. This traditional Mexican dish is a labor of love, taking time and effort to prepare, but the end result is well worth it. With a fluffy corn dough filled with a sweet and fruity filling, sweet tamales are a delightful treat that can be enjoyed as a dessert or a snack. In this article, we will share with you an authentic Mexican sweet tamale recipe that will transport your taste buds to the streets of Mexico.
Main Ingredients: Canola Oil, Yellow Onions, Green Bell Peppers, Serrano
If you're a fan of spicy and flavorful dishes, then this tamale pie recipe is a must-try. A delicious combination of Mexican flavors and a hearty pie, this dish is perfect for family dinners or gatherings with friends. The best part? It's incredibly easy to make, and you can customize it to your liking.
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Easy Tamale Pie
Main Ingredients: Vegetable Oil, Medium Yellow Onion, Green Bell Pepper
This easy tamale pie recipe is perfect for busy weeknights when you want a delicious and satisfying meal without spending hours in the kitchen. Made with a store-bought cornbread mix as the base, this recipe is a quick and easy shortcut to traditional tamales. It's the perfect balance of sweet and savory, and it's sure to become a family favorite.
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Sopapillas - New Mexico Sopapillas
Main Ingredients: Baking Powder, Salt, Lard, Milk, Vegetable Oil, All
Sopapillas are a traditional Mexican dessert, but this New Mexico version takes it to a whole new level. These light and fluffy pastries are fried to perfection and served with honey or sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar. They are the perfect way to end a spicy meal and will have your taste buds singing.
This New Mexico red chile recipe is the perfect base for many traditional Mexican dishes. Made with dried chiles, this sauce is spicy and full of flavor. Use it in your tamale pie, as a marinade for meats, or as a dipping sauce for chips. Once you try this homemade version, you'll never go back to store-bought again.
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Corn Bread Tamale Pie
Main Ingredients: Chili, Olive Oil, White Onion, Garlic Cloves, Taco
This corn bread tamale pie is a twist on the classic tamale. Instead of using masa dough, this recipe uses a cornbread mix to create a delicious and slightly sweet crust. The filling is made with ground beef, corn, and black beans, making it a hearty and satisfying meal. Top it off with some shredded cheese and a dollop of sour cream, and you have a winner.
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Beef Tamale Casserole
Main Ingredients: Cornmeal, Sugar, Salt, Baking Powder, Egg, Unsalted
This beef tamale casserole is a crowd-pleasing dish that's easy to make and full of flavor. Layers of corn tortillas, beef, cheese, and enchilada sauce create a delicious and hearty casserole that's perfect for feeding a hungry crowd. Serve it with some Spanish rice and beans for a complete meal.
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Tamale Masa
Main Ingredients: Lard, Chicken Broth, Fresh Masa, Kosher Salt
Masa is the traditional dough used to make tamales, and it's a staple in Mexican cuisine. This tamale masa recipe is easy to make and can be used for both savory and sweet tamales. The key to a delicious masa is using high-quality ingredients and taking your time to mix it thoroughly. Once you have your masa, you can fill it with your favorite ingredients and steam it to perfection.
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New Mexico Carne Adovada
Main Ingredients: Pork Shoulder, Dried New Mexican Chiles, Chicken Stock
This New Mexico carne adovada is a flavorful and tender pork dish that's perfect for tacos, burritos, or as a filling for your tamale pie. The pork is marinated in a homemade adobo sauce and slow-cooked until it falls apart. The result is a melt-in-your-mouth meat that's bursting with flavor.
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Real Tamale Pie
Main Ingredients: Olive Oil, Ground Chicken, Diced Onion, Red Pepper
This real tamale pie recipe is the ultimate comfort food. Made with a rich and spicy beef chili and topped with a layer of cornbread, this dish will warm you up from the inside out. It's a complete meal in one pan, making it perfect for busy weeknights.
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Tamale Casserole
Main Ingredients: Tamales, Frozen Corn, Rice, Salsa, Jack Cheese, Sliced
If you love tamales but don't have the time to make them from scratch, this tamale casserole is the perfect solution. It has all the flavors of traditional tamales but is much easier to make. Layers of cornbread, meat, and cheese create a delicious and hearty casserole that's sure to become a family favorite.
Biscochitos are a traditional New Mexican cookie that's often served during the holidays. Made with anise and cinnamon, these cookies are buttery, flaky, and oh so delicious. They are the perfect accompaniment to a cup of hot chocolate or coffee.
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Chicken Tamale Pie
Main Ingredients: Shredded Cheddar Cheese, Milk, Eggs, Ground Cumin
This chicken tamale pie is a lighter and healthier alternative to traditional beef tamale pie. It's made with shredded chicken, black beans, and corn, making it a protein-packed and flavorful meal. The cornbread topping is made with Greek yogurt, making it lower in fat and calories without sacrificing taste.
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Mango Margaritas with Chili Lime Salt {Ensenada,...
Main Ingredients: Salt, Cubed Mango, White Tequila, Simple Syrup, Orange
No tamale pie dinner is complete without a refreshing and delicious drink. These mango margaritas with chili lime salt are the perfect accompaniment to any Mexican-inspired meal. Made with fresh mango and a hint of spice, these margaritas are a tropical twist on a classic cocktail.
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Tamale Pie with Cornmeal Crust
Main Ingredients: Olive Oil, Ground Beef, Large Yellow Onion, Large Green
This tamale pie with cornmeal crust is a delicious and slightly sweet twist on the traditional tamale. The cornmeal crust adds a unique texture and flavor to the dish, and the filling is made with ground beef, beans, and vegetables. It's a filling and satisfying meal that's perfect for a family dinner.
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Easy Tamale Taco Soup
Main Ingredients: Black Beans, Frozen Corn, Tomatoes, Tamales, Tomato
This easy tamale taco soup is a hearty and flavorful dish that's perfect for a chilly evening. It's made with ground beef, corn, beans, and all the traditional taco toppings, making it a complete meal in a bowl. Top it off with some crushed tortilla chips and shredded cheese for an extra crunch.
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Chicken Tamale Casserole
Main Ingredients: Self Rising Cornmeal, Milk, Sugar, Salt, Chili Powder
This chicken tamale casserole is a delicious and easy way to satisfy your tamale cravings. The creamy chicken filling is made with sour cream, cream cheese, and green chiles, giving it a rich and tangy flavor. Top it off with a layer of cornbread and bake it until golden brown for a comforting and satisfying meal.
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Crock-pot Red Pork Tamale Filling
Main Ingredients: Boneless Pork Shoulder, White Onion, Garlic, Bay
If you want to make traditional tamales but don't have the time to stand over a hot stove, this crock-pot red pork tamale filling is the perfect solution. The pork is slow-cooked until it's tender and falls apart, and the homemade red chile sauce adds a spicy and flavorful kick. Use this filling to make delicious and authentic tamales at home.
This cornbread tamale pie is a delicious and easy way to enjoy the flavors of tamales without all the work. The cornbread topping is made with creamed corn, giving it a moist and slightly sweet flavor that pairs perfectly with the savory beef and bean filling. Top it off with some shredded cheese and bake it until golden brown for a hearty and satisfying meal.
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Hot Tamale Pie
Main Ingredients: Ground Pork, Yellow Cornmeal, Cold Water, Salt, Ground
Hot tamale pie is a traditional Mexican dish that's full of spicy and bold flavors. This version combines all the traditional elements of a tamale, including masa dough, shredded beef, and a flavorful chile sauce, in one delicious and hearty casserole. This dish is sure to be a hit with anyone who loves a little heat.
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South of the Border Tamale Pie
Main Ingredients: Ham, Tomato Sauce, Chunky Salsa, Polenta, Monterey Jack
This south of the border tamale pie is a fusion of Mexican and Tex-Mex flavors that will satisfy any craving for a spicy and hearty meal. The crust is made with cornbread mix and topped with a layer of refried beans, ground beef, and cheese. Serve it with some fresh salsa, guacamole, and sour cream for a complete and delicious meal.
Ingredients for Sweet Tamales
Corn Husks
Corn husks are an essential part of making tamales as they act as the wrapper for the dough. You can find these in the international or Hispanic section of your local grocery store. Make sure to soak them in warm water for at least an hour before using to ensure they are pliable and easy to work with.
Masa Harina
Masa harina is a type of corn flour that is used to make the dough for tamales. It is made from dried corn kernels that have been soaked in lime water and then ground into a fine powder. This gives it a unique flavor and texture that is perfect for making tamales.
Piloncillo
Piloncillo is unrefined cane sugar that is commonly used in Mexican cooking. It has a rich, caramel-like flavor that adds a touch of sweetness to the tamales. If you can't find piloncillo, you can substitute it with brown sugar or dark brown sugar.
Cinnamon and Cloves
These warm and fragrant spices are a must in traditional Mexican sweet tamales. They add a depth of flavor and warmth to the filling, making it even more delicious.
Fresh or Frozen Fruit
For the filling, you can use any fruit you like, such as pineapple, strawberries, or peaches. You can use fresh or frozen fruit, depending on what is in season or readily available. Just make sure to dice the fruit into small pieces so it spreads evenly in the tamales.
Butter or Lard
Butter or lard is used to make the dough for the tamales. They add richness and flavor to the dough while also keeping it moist and tender.
Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the Corn Husks
Start by soaking the corn husks in warm water for at least an hour to soften them. Once they are pliable, drain them and pat them dry.
Step 2: Make the Dough
In a large mixing bowl, combine 2 cups of masa harina, 2 tablespoons of melted butter or lard, and 1 ½ cups of warm water. Mix until a soft dough forms, adding more water if needed. The dough should be the consistency of playdough.
Step 3: Make the Filling
In a saucepan, combine 1 cup of diced fruit, 1 cup of crumbled piloncillo, 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon, and ½ teaspoon of ground cloves. Cook over medium heat until the fruit is soft and the piloncillo has melted, about 10 minutes.
Step 4: Assemble the Tamales
Take a soaked corn husk and spread a thin layer of the dough in the center, leaving about 1 inch of space at the top and bottom of the husk. Add a tablespoon of the fruit filling in the center of the dough, then fold the sides of the husk towards the center, enclosing the filling. Fold the bottom of the husk up and tie it with a strip of corn husk or cooking string.
Step 5: Steam the Tamales
Place the tamales in a steamer basket and steam for 45 minutes to an hour. You can also use a large pot with a steamer insert. Just make sure the water doesn't touch the tamales while steaming.
Step 6: Serve and Enjoy
Once the tamales are cooked, let them cool for a few minutes before unwrapping and serving. You can top them with a sprinkle of cinnamon and a drizzle of honey for extra sweetness.
With this authentic Mexican sweet tamale recipe, you can now make these delicious treats in the comfort of your own home. Enjoy them as a dessert after a Mexican feast or as a snack any time of the day. Get creative and try different fruit combinations for the filling to make it your own. Happy cooking!