Tag Archives: Christmas Tamales

Chili Lime Chicken Filling for Tamales

Posted on by January 20, 2015

When embarking on my first tamale party, I started with the two fillings from Anna Zepaltas, including this Chili Lime Chicken Filling for Tamales. I also created one of my own. Hers were so good, that I stuck with them for party number two. Her chicken filling is a classic. It’s very flavorful, but simple, and really highlights how good this tamale dough is. If you’ve ever had dried out, too much dough, unbalanced tamales then you’ll appreciate what’s special about these. The dough is flavorful and tender, and pairs perfectly with the spicy, acidic chicken of this Chili Lime Chicken Filling for Tamales. This is one of those meals where you should read all the recipes before you get started. There are lots of tasks that can be undertaken simultaneously, which will make things much more efficient. For example, you’re going to want to prep the sauce for the chick at the same time you make its accompanying Tomatillo Salsa. And you’re going to want to combine their grocery lists as well, for simplicity sake. Also, after the first year, I learned that I’ll have more fun if I don’t make the tamales fillings and assemble the tamales on … Continue reading →

Tamale Dough

Posted on by October 26, 2014

I’m no tamale expert, unless you count eating them, but last year I adopted the tradition of making tamales for Christmas using Anna Zepaltas recipe (I really liked hers because it used part butter and part lard, rather than the traditional all lard. I think the flavor makes a superior tamale dough). I had never hosted Christmas dinner before and it was a cold December day. I wanted the excuse to hold people captive drinking margaritas all day and playing board games and I’d always wanted to undertake the challenge of tamale making. It was a hugely successful, immensely fun, and seriously challenging undertaking. And I learned a lot. Last year made this year possible, and I have to say that now that I’ve done it twice, I feel confident in my ability to help others make them successfully, and certain that this is well on its way to becoming a yearly tradition. The tamales and salsas are amazing and the day is indeed lots of fun. By breaking the steps down over a couple of days, you’ll make your tamale party fun and low stress. Start with the tamale dough, a few days ahead. It stores well. I make … Continue reading →