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Esteban

How to Make Authentic Red Beef Tamales (Tamales de Res)

Today we’re making red beef tamales!

The recipe for sweet potato tamales I shared around Thanksgiving was so popular, I just had to share another! If you are looking for more tamal recipes though, make sure to pick up a copy of Chicano Bakes.

Red beef tamales are in my top 3 favorite tamal flavors, followed by green chicken tamales (tamales de polllo en salsa verde), and tamales de rajas con queso. The red beef tamales were making today, are made with beef that’s been braised in a vibrant red guajillo chile sauce, that I also like to incorporate into the masa to season the dough. Although the tamales were making today are made using beef, you can easily swap it out for pork, or even chicken.

How to Make Sweet Potato Tamales (Tamales Dulces de Camote)

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Today we’re making sweet potato tamales!

If you are looking for more tamal recipes, make sure to pick up a copy of Chicano Bakes. The book has many recipes for tamales, including sweet strawberry tamales, sweet corn tamales, as well as red beef and green chicken tamales, and tamales de rajas con queso. I made sure there was something for everyone!

Sweet potatoes are known as “Camotes” in Mexico, and the sweet potato tamales we are making today are inspired by camotes enmielados, or candied sweet potatoes, where the sweet potatoes are cooked and drenched in a warmly spiced syrup.

How to Make a Traditional Mexican Rosca de Reyes

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Feliz Año Nuevo, today we’re making a traditional Rosca de Reyes from scratch!

What is a Rosca de Reyes?

Rosca de Reyes, or King’s Cake, is a traditional cake that we enjoy on January 6 (and in the days leading up to it), to celebrate Día de los Reyes Magos, or Three Kings’ Day. This is a yeasted cake in the shape of a round or oval ring. It is adorned with strips of a sweet streusel topping and dried fruits meant to represent the jewels of a crown.

If you’ve never had it before, beware! There’s usually a plastic doll representing baby Jesus hidden somewhere in the rosca de reyes. According to tradition, if you happen to get the slice with the baby in it, you have to host a get together and make tamales on February 2 for Día de la Candelaria!

How to Make Sweet Pineapple Tamales (Tamales de Piña)

Sweet Pineapple Tamales from the Chicano Bakes Cookbook

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Today I’m sharing a recipe for sweet pineapple tamales, from the Chicano Bakes cookbook!

If you are looking for more tamal recipes, make sure to pick up a copy of Chicano Bakes. It is currently on sale for about $15 over on Amazon, and the book has many recipes for tamales, including sweet strawberry tamales, sweet corn tamales, as well as red beef and green chicken tamales, and tamales de rajas con queso. I made sure there was something for everyone!

What are tamales?

Tamales are a traditional Mexican dish typically comprised of a corn dough, or masa, made from nixtamalized corn flour, as well a filling, either chicken, pork, beef, fish or vegetables, wrapped in a corn husk or banana leaf, which is then steamed.

What are sweet tamales?

On the other hand, sweet tamales, incorporate a sweet fruit puree into the dough, and sometimes will fold in fruit as well. Popular sweet tamal flavors include strawberry, sweet corn, pumpkin, and pineapple, which is what we’re making today.

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