Tamales originate from between 8000 and 5000 B.C. and consist of corn-based masa dough filled with meats, vegetables, cheese, beans, fruit, or traditional pork, rice, and beans. The filled masa is wrapped in a corn husk or banana leaf and steamed until light and fluffy, revealing a moist interior when unwrapped. Store-bought tamales appear in frozen sections and unexpected places like canned food aisles. A comparative tasting gathered multiple store-bought varieties and judged them for overall flavor, texture, and similarity to restaurant versions, with clear preference for identifiable, high-quality fillings. Canned tamales, such as Hormel’s chili-sauce varieties, were criticized for producing overly wet results when heated in their sauce.
Tamales are a Mexican staple that, at one point, was only available at street vendors, restaurants, and from the kitchens of Mexican cooks. Now, they're widely available in grocery stores and big box stores nationwide. Tamales are a traditional and important part of Mexican cuisinedating back to between 8000 and 5000 B.C. A tamale features corn-based dough ( called masa) and a variety of fillings, including meats, vegetables, cheese, beans, and even fruit.
The traditional filling is pork, rice, and beans, but there are countless variations. Once filled, the dough is wrapped in a corn husk or banana leaf and steamed until the filling is light, fluffy, and cooked through. Once you remove the husk, a moist pocket of deliciousness awaits. Or that's the hope - and what I sought to find in my ranking of store-bought tamales.
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