World Flavors Cookbook

Tamales Ticos de Navidad

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

Cuisine: Costa Rica

Ingredients

• For masa: 1.5kg masa harina, pork broth, 150ml lard, salt
• For filling: 800g pork in achiote sauce, 200g cooked rice, olives, capers, chickpeas, prunes, bell pepper strips
• Banana leaves, wilted

Instructions

1. Cook pork in achiote-tomato sauce until tender. Shred.
2. Beat lard until fluffy. Add masa and broth alternately.
3. Soften banana leaves over flame.
4. Spread masa on leaf. Add pork, rice, olive, caper, chickpea, prune, and pepper strip.
5. Fold into rectangle. Tie with string.
6. Steam 1.5 hours.