Tamales are best served with soft, spicy foods. The soft texture of something like scrambled eggs matches the texture of the tamales. Heat or spiciness adds a nice counter to the warm, creamy corn meal dough.
Tamales are steamed snacks made from masa or corn meal dough and a filling. The fillings vary but are usually seasoned beef, chicken or pork. The tamale is time consuming to make, so it is a food found primarily in restaurants and at street vendors. However, tamales are made at home and eaten at all hours of the day with a variety of dishes.
Breakfast tamales
Start off the day with a few tamales served with a side of fried or scrambled eggs. Eggs sunny side up provide a nice dipping sauce for the tamales in the still liquid yolk. Fresh salsa is also a nice touch for both the eggs and tamales.
Lunch and dinner tamales
Tamales also make a hearty main course during lunch or dinner. Pinto beans or refried beans are a warm, and similarly soft textured dish for the tamales. Counter the heavy dishes with light and crunchy vegetables like bell peppers, tomatoes, onions and avocados.
Tamale snacks
A large plate of tamales is good for snacking, pot lucks and parties. Serve with a nice salsa, or a traditional salsa crema for guests to top the tamales.
