Tamal

A tamal is a traditional Mexican meal that begins with corn flour mixed with water and lard. This mixture is then filled with meat or cheese or any preparation according to taste (chicken with mole, and chicken with red or green sauce are very popular). Tamales are a favorite Christmas meal in Mexico and the American southwest[?].

This preparation is wrapped in dry corn husks or in banana leaves, depending on the region of the country, and then steamed until the corn mixture acquires a firm texture.

A very traditional variation is to add sugar to the corn mix and fill the tamal with raisins.

This substantial meal is normally accompanied by atole[?] or hot chocolate.

The plural is tamales, and this is the form of the word most often seen in the United States with the singular frequently given as tamale.