21 tamale recipes

Tamale dough made with pureed chili colorado, corn kernels, and hominy for deeper flavor than plain masa. Pliable, spoonable, ready to wrap in corn husks.

A creative fusion filling that brings together Middle Eastern hummus and Mexican tamales. Chickpeas, tahini, garlic, vinegar, and soy sauce blended into a thick paste, then wrapped in corn husks.

Ground beef, tomatoes, green olives, and cottage cheese baked in a cornmeal batter until set and golden. All the tamale flavor without the husks or the fuss.

Vegetarian tamale pie with a golden cornmeal crust wrapped top and bottom around a spiced bean-and-barley filling loaded with corn, ripe olives, and sweet red pepper. A hearty meatless main baked until the cheese bubbles.

Hot tamale pie with pinto beans, corn, and bell peppers in spiced tomato sauce topped with a cornmeal crust. A hearty vegetarian Southwestern casserole baked until golden.

Aunt Lucille's tamale pie with ground beef, cornmeal, canned corn, and chili powder baked until golden. A dump-and-stir casserole with a spicy tomato-butter sauce on top.

Microwave tamale pie with a spiced bean, corn, and olive filling topped with a cornmeal crust. Vegetarian, no oven needed, and ready in 30 minutes.

Corn tamale pie with cornmeal, cottage cheese, and whipped egg whites baked until golden, served with a reduced Mexican-style tomato sauce. Light, fluffy, and meatless.

Traditional Maya corn and bean tamales with masa flour and slow-cooked beans. A 4-ingredient vegan recipe wrapped in corn husks and steamed for an authentic Mesoamerican meal.

Vegetable tamale pie with pinto beans, peppers, tomatoes, and melted cheddar under a yogurt-cornmeal biscuit topping. A vegetarian Tex-Mex casserole that swaps cornbread for a lighter tamale crown.

Stovetop bean tamale pie with a spiced kidney bean and corn filling under a thick cornmeal crust. No oven needed, serves two, and comes together in one skillet.

Corn tamale casserole layered with blended corn-cornmeal masa, green chiles, and cheddar cheese, baked under foil. Served with a warm oregano-stewed tomato sauce.

This succulent and tantalizing dish is fun for the whole family to make and enjoy!

Black bean tamale pie with a cornmeal-corn crust, ground turkey, black beans, taco seasoning, and melted cheddar. A contest-winning inverted take on a Tex-Mex classic.

Vegetarian tamale pie layered with spiced kidney beans, corn, tomatoes, and cornmeal polenta topped with Monterey Jack cheese. Baked until bubbly and golden.

Hallacas are Venezuela's Christmas tamales: beef, pork, chickpeas, olives, raisins, and capers wrapped in cornmeal dough and banana leaves, then boiled. Holiday tradition in every bite.