tamale

Everyday

1. A tamale is a Mexican and Central American food made of corn dough (masa) filled with meat, cheese, beans or vegetables, wrapped in a corn husk or banana leaf and steamed. tree →
2. You unwrap and throw away the husk before eating. tree →

In the lessons

In food and culture lessons, tamales are made by families together, especially for festivals and Christmas in Mexico and in Mexican-American homes in the USA; making tamales together is called a «tamalada». Phrases: «chicken tamales», «a dozen tamales», «sweet tamales».

Examples

• We steamed tamales wrapped in corn husks. tree →
• Grandma makes tamales every Christmas. tree →
• Don't eat the corn husk, just the tamale inside. tree →
• Some tamales are sweet and filled with fruit. tree →
• The whole family helped fold the tamales. tree →
• A Mexican food truck sold chicken tamales. tree →
• In Central America, tamales are often wrapped in banana leaves. tree →

Note

Countable: a tamale, tamales. Said «tuh-MAH-lee». In Spanish one is «un tamal», plural «tamales»; English made «tamale» from the plural.