The Art Of Mexican Food - Tamales

The basic tamale recipe calls for seasoned meat placed inside a layer of cornmeal dough(masa), that is then wrapped in corn husks and either baked or steamed. Although the exact origin is not known, tamales were a common dish of the Aztecs in Mexico prior to the arrival of the Spaniards. There are dozens of variations for tamales recipes. Many cooks in Mexico also serve sweet tamales, usually filled with fruit.