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Tamales 101: A Beginner's Guide to Making Traditional Tamales [A Cookbook]
Alice Guadalupe Tapp, co-owner of Tamara's Tamales, reveals the art of tamale making and imparts her knowledge and passion for this comforting treat in Tamales 101 .
Tamales 101 will show beginners how to make masa dough as well as fold and steam tamales to perfection. Then, once you've mastered the basics, you'll be whipping up batches of Chicken Tomatillo, Chorizo Potato, Vegetable Curry, and Greek tamales in no time.
With recipes for nearly 100 traditional, vegetarian, vegan, and specialty tamales and sauces, and 60 food and spot photographs and 15 illustrations showing, step by step, how to spread masa and wrap and tie tamales, Tamales 101 will send you on a culinary adventure that's sure to delight and impress your guests.
Tamales 101 will show beginners how to make masa dough as well as fold and steam tamales to perfection. Then, once you've mastered the basics, you'll be whipping up batches of Chicken Tomatillo, Chorizo Potato, Vegetable Curry, and Greek tamales in no time.
With recipes for nearly 100 traditional, vegetarian, vegan, and specialty tamales and sauces, and 60 food and spot photographs and 15 illustrations showing, step by step, how to spread masa and wrap and tie tamales, Tamales 101 will send you on a culinary adventure that's sure to delight and impress your guests.
208 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2002
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
July 29, 2017
I want to make them all!!
September 24, 2007
Great cookbook that actual has vegan tamales in it! The book also offers some very low fat/ healthy alternatives to making awesome tamales. The green chili and jack cheese tamale recipe fixed with olive oil turned out GREAT this weekend! If you love tamales, get this book!
October 10, 2026
★★★★★
Tamales 101 is a great choice for anyone interested in learning how to make traditional tamales at home. Tamale-making can seem a little intimidating for beginners, especially when it comes to preparing the masa, choosing fillings, and putting everything together. A beginner-friendly cookbook like this makes the process feel more approachable and encourages readers to give this beloved dish a try.
What makes a guide like this appealing is the opportunity to explore traditional cooking while building confidence in the kitchen. Making tamales can also be a wonderful way to bring family and friends together, whether for a special occasion or a relaxed weekend cooking session. The subject is focused, practical, and perfect for readers who want to learn more about an important part of Mexican food culture.
I especially appreciate cookbooks that help break down an unfamiliar cooking process into manageable steps. This title is appealing to new cooks who want to expand their skills and to home cooks looking to add something different to their recipe collection. Overall, Tamales 101 sounds like a worthwhile addition for anyone curious about homemade tamales and traditional flavors. It earns five stars for its beginner-focused approach and its inviting introduction to a classic dish.
Tamales 101 is a great choice for anyone interested in learning how to make traditional tamales at home. Tamale-making can seem a little intimidating for beginners, especially when it comes to preparing the masa, choosing fillings, and putting everything together. A beginner-friendly cookbook like this makes the process feel more approachable and encourages readers to give this beloved dish a try.
What makes a guide like this appealing is the opportunity to explore traditional cooking while building confidence in the kitchen. Making tamales can also be a wonderful way to bring family and friends together, whether for a special occasion or a relaxed weekend cooking session. The subject is focused, practical, and perfect for readers who want to learn more about an important part of Mexican food culture.
I especially appreciate cookbooks that help break down an unfamiliar cooking process into manageable steps. This title is appealing to new cooks who want to expand their skills and to home cooks looking to add something different to their recipe collection. Overall, Tamales 101 sounds like a worthwhile addition for anyone curious about homemade tamales and traditional flavors. It earns five stars for its beginner-focused approach and its inviting introduction to a classic dish.
August 31, 2023
A good book. I did learn the basics of making tamales. The book also gives ideas for variations.
May 16, 2008
Yummy, delicious, scrumptious, informative, lip-smacking, helpful and did I say yummy and delicious yet?
I have been helping/making tamales for most of my life now and have tried several variations, but this book really taught me so much more and given me the inspiration to be more adventurous with my tamale making. I was even able to convince my husband to help tie/prepare the tamales for once because he was anxious to try new meat and desert version recipes for tamales and had good written instructions to understand what he needed to do (Lord forbid he follow his wife's instructions, right!).
I have been helping/making tamales for most of my life now and have tried several variations, but this book really taught me so much more and given me the inspiration to be more adventurous with my tamale making. I was even able to convince my husband to help tie/prepare the tamales for once because he was anxious to try new meat and desert version recipes for tamales and had good written instructions to understand what he needed to do (Lord forbid he follow his wife's instructions, right!).
March 5, 2009
I loved this cookbook! I had tried making tamales before, and they were dry and tasteless. I love Tapp's recipe for the masa (I just used the dry stuff I could find in the grocery store--no fresh masa for me), and two different stuffings. Highly recommend the black bean one; the jalapeno cheese was super too spicy for me without a carton of sour cream. Well worth the buy or the check-out from the library. Oh, but it did take about 11 hours to make them. I was tired.
August 8, 2014
A kindle copy of Tamales by Alice Guadalupe Tapp - Fast & Delicious Mexican Meals was provided to me by NetGalley for fair review. I gave it four stars.
The instructions are clear. I look forward to trying the techniques explained to make tamales & other recipes.
Link to purchase: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00J...
http://www.facebook.com/InJoyfulBookR...
The instructions are clear. I look forward to trying the techniques explained to make tamales & other recipes.
Link to purchase: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00J...
http://www.facebook.com/InJoyfulBookR...
September 10, 2010
LOVE this book! If you love tamales you should have this book on your shelf. It has all kinds (meat, chicken, vegetarian and sweet). There are recipes for the sauces and the mole if you are industrious. There are tons of beautiful pictures and great intructions for the beginner as well as the seasoned tamale maker.
May 4, 2011
has VEGAN and VEGETARIAN masa and fillings recipes!!!!
This book also has a lot of info on wrapping the tamales with great instructions across the board.
I am also looking forward to trying the sweet tamales ESPECIALLY the tamale dulces and sweet apple tamales!
This book also has a lot of info on wrapping the tamales with great instructions across the board.
I am also looking forward to trying the sweet tamales ESPECIALLY the tamale dulces and sweet apple tamales!
September 1, 2014
I purchased this book years ago. It was the only book that made the art of tamales doable for the inexperienced AND had several vegetarian options. I'm thinking this may be the year -- a family activity for a unique Thanksgiving or Christmas.
December 24, 2007
If you love to cook Mexican food, you'll love this book. The woman owns Tamara's Tamales in Marina del Rey. I wish I still lived in LA so I could try the tamales.
January 17, 2010
Black Bean and Corn, Veggie Special, Chile Cheese are all excellent. Make the masa in two batches though-- it's too much for a home mixer.
June 25, 2013
Great cookbook. Haven't made tamales at home yet. Mainly use the recipes as guides for preparing/combining meat, vegetables, and sauces. Hmmm, any of the 3 pestos sounds interesting.
December 22, 2013
Can't wait to give tamale making a try and use some of these recipes.
June 23, 2015
A must purchase for any tamale lover such as myself. I loved the vegetarian tamales, but there were plenty of meat based ones, as well. Not to mention dessert tamales. Say what?
March 27, 2016
Every tamale recipe in this book looks amazing - after checking it out from the library I had to go buy the book - we plan on trying every recipe!
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews