World Flavors Cookbook

Tamales Panameños

Panamanian Christmas tamales — corn masa filled with chicken, olives, raisins, and prunes in a red sauce, wrapped in banana leaves.

Cuisine: Panama

Ingredients

• 1.5kg masa harina
• Chicken broth
• 150ml lard
• For filling: 800g chicken in achiote sauce, olives, raisins, prunes, capers, hard-boiled egg slices
• Banana leaves

Instructions

1. Beat lard until fluffy. Add masa and broth.
2. Cook chicken in achiote-tomato sauce. Shred.
3. Soften banana leaves.
4. Spread masa on leaf. Add filling, olive, raisin, prune, egg.
5. Fold and tie.
6. Steam 1.5 hours.