Jul 29, 2024

Mexican Inspired Tamalada

Hey Foodie Friends!

Get ready for a Mexican-themed fiesta celebrating the color red with this week's tamale extravaganza!

🌽 Tamales, a beloved Mexican tradition, bring friends and family together in a festive Tamalada. These corn-based delights feature fillings like meat, beans, or cheese, wrapped in corn husks or banana leaves and steamed to perfection. Whether you're a seasoned cook or a kitchen novice, join us for a night of delicious Mexican cuisine!

Makena

A Fiesta Quiz Night

Photo by Filip Gielda

🎉 Kick off the evening with a fun and engaging Fiesta Quiz Night! Before diving into the delicious tamales and other Mexican delicacies, let's set the mood with a lively trivia session.

🌮 This quiz will get everyone excited and competitive and provide fascinating insights into Mexico's rich culinary history and traditions.

🥑 From Ancient Aztec and Mayan influences to modern-day favorites, you'll discover how much you know about Mexican cuisine.

So gather your friends and family, 🍹 grab a drink (see mangonada recipe below), and get ready to test your knowledge.

Trivia Questions

1.Traditionally, what are tamales wrapped in?
A: Corn husks or banana leaves

2. What is the spiciest pepper in the world?
A. Ghost Pepper

3. What plant does Tequila come from?
A: Agave Plant

4. Where did tomatoes originate?
A: The origin of tomatoes traces back to Mexico.

5. Which city in Mexico is often called the culinary capital?
A: Mexico City

6. What is the main flavor of a traditional Mexican Horchata drink?
A: Rice

7. What does Cinco De Mayo celebrate?
A: A Day to Celebrate Mexico's victory over France in the Battle of Puebla

Mexican Tamalada

Photo by Stephen Lehner

🎉 Join us for a Mexican-inspired fiesta centerpiece—the Tamalada! This traditional tamale-making party brings friends and family together for a shared culinary experience.

🍅 More than just cooking, a Tamalada celebrates community, history, and the vibrant flavors of Mexican cuisine. Gather around as we wrap dozens of tamales filled with savory or sweet ingredients, steamed to perfection in corn husks or banana leaves.

🌽 Let's dive into the art of tamale-making! 🍽️ It's about creating memories and honoring Mexico's culture together.

🎉 Roll up your sleeves and let's get started! First, let's cover the essentials for hosting the best Tamalada possible:

How to Plan for a Tamalada

Create a space (typically around a large table) where many people can gather.
Invite guests to bring whatever fillings they would like to add to their tamales (below we provide a beef tamale recipe to get you started).
Follow the directions below on how to prepare the corn dough mixture.
Provide an example to guests on how to wrap a tamale. Here’s a helpful YouTube
video on How To Fold Tamales.
Decide on how many tamales you want to make. Consider 1 serving is 3-4 tamales
per person. To keep things simple, we will provide recipes that will make 20-30
tamales. You can always freeze them or keep them in the fridge for a quick snack
during the week if you don't eat all of them.
To keep tamales warm after steaming, keep them in foil and place them in a
crockpot, and turn on “warm”.

Beef Tamales with Red Chile Sauce

1.Tamale Filling Ingredients:

4 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 medium onion, finely chopped
6 cloves garlic, minced
4 pounds beef chuck roast
2 cups beef broth
2 cups Chile sauce (store-bought or homemade, homemade recipe below👇)
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 teaspoons dried oregano
2 teaspoons of salt
1 teaspoon black pepper

2.Red Chile Sauce Recipe Ingredients:

20 dried red chiles (such as New Mexico, Guajillo, or Ancho)
6 cups water
4 cloves garlic
2 teaspoon ground cumin
2 teaspoon dried oregano
2 teaspoon salt

Instructions:

Remove the stems and seeds from the dried chiles. In a medium saucepan, add the chiles and water, bringing to a boil.
Reduce heat and simmer for about 20 minutes until the chiles are softened.
Transfer the softened chiles and their cooking water to a blender. Add the garlic,ground cumin, dried oregano, and salt. Blend until smooth. If the sauce is too thick,add a little more water to reach the desired consistency.
Pour the blended sauce through a fine-mesh strainer into a bowl, pressing with a spoon to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard the solids.

Wrappers and Masa

(This recipe is adapted from Isabel Eats Masa For Tamales recipe)

Ingredients:

8 cups masa harina (half of a 4.4 lb bag Maseca)
1 tablespoons fine salt
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 ¾ cups vegetable oil
7 cups chicken broth

Instructions:

In a large mixing bowl, combine masa harina, salt, and baking powder.
Add oil and mix with your hands until the dough is crumbly and holds its shape when pressed.
Gradually add broth, mixing for 3-5 minutes until the dough is soft and spreadable like thick hummus.
Adjust with more broth if the dough is too dry.
Add more masa harina if the dough is too wet.
Use the dough immediately or refrigerate for up to 3 days.

🌮 Now, your flavorful beef filling is ready to be used in your tamales! 🥩 This rich and savory filling, combined with the masa dough and wrapped in corn husks, will create tamales that are sure to be the highlight of your Mexican-themed night. Enjoy! 🎉

Salsa Cook-Off

Photo by Dennis Klein

🍅Host a friendly competition with a salsa cook-off! Invite your guests to bring their best
homemade salsa recipes. 🌽 Provide tortilla chips for tasting, and let everyone vote for their favorite. The winner gets bragging rights as the salsa king or queen of the night!

Here's a list of the top 10 salsa recipes to kick off the competition and add some spice to your tamalada.

Mangonada

Photo by Shree Lyer

🍹 Mangonada is a popular Mexican frozen beverage that combines sweet, spicy, and tangy flavors. A perfect addition to your Mexican-inspired Tamalada Tamale party!

For an adult version of this beverage, try adding 1 shot of tequila or mezcal to the mix! 🥭🌶️

Here’s a basic recipe to make at home:

Serving Size: 2 drinks

Ingredients:

2 ripe mangoes (or 2 cups frozen mango chunks)
1 cup mango or orange juice
1 tablespoon lime juice
2 tablespoons chamoy sauce
Tajín seasoning
Ice
Tamarind candy straws (optional)

Instructions:

Blend: Mix mangoes, mango or orange juice, and lime juice until smooth.
Rim Glass: Dip the glass rim in chamoy, then in Tajín.
Layer: In the glass, layer chamoy, mango blend, ice, and Tajín. Repeat until full.
Top: Drizzle chamoy and sprinkle Tajín on top. Add tamarind straw if desired.
Enjoy: Serve immediately while cold.

Mexican Music and Dance

Photo by Robert Ce

🎶 Create a festive atmosphere with traditional Mexican music! 🎺 Set up a dance floor and teach your guests some basic steps of popular Mexican dances like the Jarabe Tapatío (Mexican Hat Dance) or salsa dancing. It's a great way to keep the energy high and celebrate the vibrant culture.

🍽️ Looking for the best way to serve your tamales? Don’t let these beautiful tamales go to waste—make sure to snap some photos and present them on our beautiful red ceramic rectangle plates. 📸

Or opt for a more neutral earthy look and explore our newest 12-Piece Porcelain Round Plates and Bowls Set. 🍽️ These sets are versatile and perfect for showcasing your delicious tamales and other Mexican dishes.

Enjoy your Tamalada with style and flair! 🎉

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