Nacatamal

Before rolling: an indent in the masa was filled with rice and seasoned pork, and then covered with potato, tomato, fresh mint, olives and a few raisins.

A nacatamal is a traditional dish found in Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Honduras similar to the tamal.[1][2][3][4] The nacatamal is perhaps the most produced within traditional Nicaraguan cuisine and it is an event often reserved for Sundays at mid-morning, it is usually eaten together with fresh bread and coffee with milk. It is common to enjoy nacatamales (plural) during special occasions and to invite extended family and neighbors to partake.

Nacatamales tied in plantain leaves ready to be steamed
Using vegetarian ingredients: Tofu, cheese or seitan can be substituted for the meat or just left out.

Ingredients

A nacatamal is made up of mostly nixtamalized corn masa (a kind of dough traditionally made from a process called nizquezar) and lard, but includes seasonings such as salt and achiote (annatto). This combination is traditionally cooked in a large batch over a wood fire. The result becomes the base for the nacatamal and it is also referred to as masa. This base is ladled onto plantain leaves used for wrapping into large individual portions. The leaves undergo their own preparation separately. Before a nacatamal can be wrapped and brought to the last stage of the cooking process, it must be filled. The filling usually consists of annatto-seasoned pork meat, rice, slices of potatoes, bell peppers, tomatoes, and onions; olives, spearmint sprigs, and chile congo, a very small, egg-shaped chile found in Nicaragua. On occasion, prunes, raisins or capers can be added. The masa and filling are then wrapped in the plantain leaves, tied with a string, and made into pillow-shaped bundles - nacatamales. They are then steamed or pressure-cooked for several hours. The entire process is very labor-intensive and it often requires preparation over the course of two days; it may be necessary to involve the whole family to complete it.

Pindongo, no-chile option

Nacatamales can also be made pindongo (with no pork) for religious reasons like the Nicaraguan-Jewish community or with no chile, for people with sensitive stomachs.

Vegetarian option

Traditionally, nacatamales are not vegetarian, as they use lard in the masa, but as vegetarianism becomes more popular, it is certainly possible to make a vegetarian nacatamal. The process for it would be the same, except that the meat would be left out or could be substituted for another protein source such as tofu, seitan or chickpeas. Vegetable oil can be substituted for the lard.

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://www.whats4eats.com/breads/nacatamales-recipe
  2. ↑ http://www.mis-recetas.org/recetas/show/4348-nacatamal-hondureno
  3. ↑ http://www.forums.cuisineathome.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=72133&Main=72122
  4. ↑ http://recipesdeluxe.wordpress.com/2012/02/12/nacatamales/
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