Healthier tamales for expat retirees at Christmas time
Tamales are a typical dish at Christmas time in Costa Rica but also available year-round. They are similar to Mexican tamales, however there is one big difference: the Mexican ones are wrapped in corn husks but Costa Rica tamales in banana leaves.
There is a joke about Costa Rican tamales. An American comes to Costa Rica during Christmas time. Someone asks him if he tried the tamales, to which he replies, “They were delicious, but the lettuce was very hard”. (He ate the whole thing without removing the banana-leaf wrapping.)
In Costa Rica tamales start with a corn-based dough that’s mixed with lard and seasonings. About a cup of the mixture is placed on a plaintain leaf, and other ingredients are inserted. They usually include: lives, pork, chicken or beef, raisins, green peas, rice, chickpeas and hard boiled eggs. In stores tamales are sold by the pair, called a piña.
Beware! Tamales are loaded with fat and calories. Each tamal has between 500-600 calories, depending on its size. Here is a recipe for Costa Rica tamales.: https://www.delapuravida.com/2010/costa-rican-christmas-tamales/
Good news for health-conscious expat retirees! Now there are two healthier versions of the traditional Costa Rica tamal. The first is the fish tamal. The recipe is similar but the tamal contains fish (mackerel) and no pork, beef or chicken. Mackerel is a better option since it it contains only non-saturated Omega-3 fat. The latter is a healthy type of fatty acid that is good for the prevention of heart disease and is also rich in vitamins and minerals.
Although not as popular as traditional tamales, vegan and vegetarian tamales are also available in Costa Rica. They even contain fewer calories than fish tamales, thus making them an even more healthier option. However, vegetarian and vegan tamales are harder to find here. So, here is a link with vegetarian and vegan recipes so you can make them on your own.
Vegetarian and Vegan Tamales:
https://www.yummly.com/recipes/vegan-tamales
