The colado tamal
According to Mérida's city government recipe, in a colado tamal the corn masa is diluted and strained before cooking, giving it a very smooth texture. Yucatán's tourism ministry recipe book pairs it with masa, achiote, tomato and epazote, plus chicken, lard and onion.
The vaporcito
The tourism ministry singles out vaporcitos in the Yucatecan repertoire, and even served them at a food showcase in Los Angeles. They're wrapped in banana leaves, which the ministry recommends passing over a flame or briefly boiling to make them pliable.
Other versions
- Xpelón tamal: the official recipe book records it with masa made without pork lard.
- Mucbipollo: a tamal of spiced meat stew cooked underground, typical of Hanal Pixán.
- Espita's kots'oob: a masa tamal with ground pumpkin seed and lima beans, wrapped in xmakulán leaf; its name comes from k'ots', "to roll."
- The Yucatán government also lists chicken or hen tamales.
When to eat them
Mérida's city food guide assigns tamales to Saturday, along with panuchos and salbutes. During Hanal Pixán, tamales are part of the altars.
Tips
- Ask which kind of tamal it is before ordering: they vary a lot.
- Don't eat the banana leaf.
- Pair them with tomato or habanero salsa.
Tamales and towns
Inland towns such as Izamal, Homún and Valladolid keep their own recipes. Mary Tours visits those towns from Mérida; check the booking section for trips that include a regional lunch.
| Tamal | Feature | Cooking |
|---|---|---|
| Colado | Diluted, strained masa | Wrapped, steamed |
| Vaporcito | Wrapped in banana leaf | Steamed |
| Xpelón | Masa without pork lard | Varies |
| Mucbipollo | Large tamal with stew | Underground |
| Kots'oob | Pumpkin seed and lima beans, xmakulán leaf | Local recipe |
Fun facts
- Xpelón tamales are made without pork lard.
- Kots'oob comes from a Maya word meaning to roll.
- Banana leaves are passed over a flame to make them pliable.
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Frequently asked questions
What is a colado tamal?
A tamal whose corn masa is diluted and strained before cooking.
What is a vaporcito?
A Yucatecan tamal wrapped in banana leaf and steamed.
What day are tamales eaten in Mérida?
The city guide assigns them to Saturday.
What is kots'oob?
An Espita tamal with pumpkin seed and lima beans, wrapped in xmakulán leaf.
