How do you eat a tamale?

Every now and then we get calls from people asking us “How Do You Eat A Tamale?" and “Do I Eat The Husk?" We thought if we got this many calls we should tell the world...

Here is a simple answer: Open it up/peel it open. Eat by hand, fork, spoon or chopsticks, your personal preference.

When do you eat tamales?

They are an everyday food. Make a great snack, breakfast, lunch and dinner. Tamale time is anytime.  Families have traditionally had them around the holidays but now more then every people are eating Tamales every day.

Get this straight - Martha Stewart doesn't write about tamales in her etiquette book and probably never will.

Other ways to eat a tamale

• Put salsa, hot sauce, sour cream, guacamole, queso, chili, onions/ cilantro or even fresh fruit on them
• You may love them chopped up, and cooked in scrambled eggs for breakfast
• Over a bed of white rice with chili
• Texans like to pour enchilada sauce over the top of them
  
  

Common questions

Do I leave the husk on?

Answer: Many people like to leave the husk on because the tamale is very hot in the middle and the husk provides and insulation from the heat. You could even peal the husk back like a banana and eat the tamale.

Should I save the Husk?

Answer: There is no real reason to save the husk unless you eat so many tamales you plan on building a Husk Hut.

Will the Husk make me sick?

Answer: You wouldn't get sick because it's part of the corn plant (dried corn cob leaves) but it would be very chewy and not taste very good. We recommend you do not eat the husk.

Why do you put it in a husk?

Answer: The husk is to hold it all together. The corn masa can be fragile and the stiff husk forms the tamale into a perfect shape.