World Flavors Cookbook

Tamal Tico (Christmas Tamal)

Costa Rican Christmas tamales — corn masa filled with pork, rice, chickpeas, olives, and raisins, wrapped in banana leaves.

Cuisine: Costa Rica

Ingredients

• For masa: 1kg masa harina, pork broth, 100ml lard, achiote
• For filling: 500g pork in tomato sauce, cooked rice, chickpeas, olives, capers, raisins, red pepper strips
• Banana leaves
• String for tying

Instructions

1. Make masa: beat lard, add masa and broth with achiote to make spreadable dough.
2. Soften banana leaves over flame.
3. Spread masa on leaf. Add filling in center.
4. Add rice, pork, chickpeas, olive, caper, raisin, pepper strip.
5. Fold banana leaf into rectangle. Tie with string.
6. Boil in water 1.5 hours.