What are tamales normally filled with?

Tamales are a traditional Latin American dish made of masa or dough, which is steamed in a corn husk or banana leaf. The masa can be filled with a variety of ingredients, both sweet and savory. Some of the most common fillings for tamales include:

Meat Fillings

Tamales are often filled with shredded or ground meats. Popular options include:

Pork – This is one of the most traditional tamale fillings. Shredded or ground pork is seasoned with chili peppers, garlic, cumin and other spices.
Chicken – Shredded or ground chicken thigh meat is a leaner alternative to pork. It can be seasoned similarly with spices and peppers.
Beef – Ground or shredded beef is also commonly used, often seasoned with chili powder, garlic, and cumin.

Turkey – Ground turkey breast is a lighter option that can be seasoned to taste.
Chorizo – Spicy Mexican chorizo sausage is a flavorful choice and needs little extra seasoning.

The meat is usually sautéed with the spices and seasoning before being used to fill the tamales. This infuses it with lots of flavor.

Cheese Fillings

Cheese makes a popular tasty filling for tamales. Some cheese varieties used include:

Oaxaca Cheese – This stretched curd cheese has a mild flavor similar to mozzarella. It melts beautifully.
Cheddar Cheese – Sharp cheddar provides a bold, tangy flavor.

Monterey Jack – Its mild taste and melting quality make it a common choice.
Queso Fresco – This fresh Mexican cheese has a crumbly texture and salty taste.
Requesón – Similar to ricotta, this fresh cheese has a light taste and soft texture.

The cheese filling can be left plain or combined with spices. Chiles, garlic, cumin, and black pepper are common seasonings.

Bean Fillings

Beans are a very traditional tamale filling. Options include:

Refried Beans – These well-seasoned, mashed pinto beans are a classic.

Black Beans – Whole or refried black beans work well, adding nutrition.
Pinto Beans – Whole pinto beans or a spicy refried version make great fillings.
Red Chili Beans – Beans simmered in a red chili sauce are very flavorful.

The beans may be used plain or jazzed up with bacon, chili peppers, roasted veggies, or Mexican herbs.

Veggie Fillings

All kinds of vegetables can be used for delicious vegan and vegetarian tamale fillings:

Roasted Green Chiles – Fire roasted and peeled hatch green chiles are a classic.

Tomatoes – Diced tomatoes or a tomato-based salsa make a nice option.
Mushrooms – Sautéed mushrooms with garlic are simple but tasty.
Zucchini – Shredded zucchini cooks down into a soft filling.

Sweet Corn – Kernels cut fresh off the cob are sweet and colorful.
Spinach – Sautéed spinach makes a healthy, vibrant choice.

Spices like chili powder, cumin, oregano, and garlic can add lots of flavor to the veggie fillings.

Fruit Fillings

Sweet tamales are often stuffed with luscious fruit fillings like:

Strawberries – Sweet puréed strawberries make a wonderful choice.
Pineapple – Pineapple chunks or shredded pineapple work beautifully.

Mango – Sweet mango puree has a lovely tropical flair.
Raisins – Raisins infused in rum or almond extract are popular.
Apples – Soft, simmered apples fill tamales with cinnamon flavor.

Bananas – Mashed ripe bananas make a tasty option.

Spices like cinnamon, allspice and vanilla add nice flavor to fruit fillings. A pinch of chili powder can also perk up the fruit taste.

Sweet Fillings

Beyond fruit, tamales can also be stuffed with sweet fillings like:

Brown sugar – A simple brown sugar filling is a classic dessert tamale.
Chocolate – Melted dark, milk or white chocolate makes a decadent filling.
Coconut – Shredded coconut flavored with rum is delightful.

Peanut butter – Creamy peanut butter with honey or jam is comfort food.
Pumpkin – Spiced mashed pumpkin is perfect for fall or winter.

Nuts, extracts, spices and liqueurs help add interesting flavors to sweet tamale fillings.

Unusual Fillings

While traditional fillings are most common, some creative tamale makers have stuffed them with more unusual ingredients like:

Turkey, stuffing and cranberry sauce – A Thanksgiving twist.
Jambalaya – Spicy Cajun rice dish fillings.

Macaroni and cheese – The classic comfort food baked inside.
Chicken tikka masala – Curried chicken and rice filling.
Philadephia roll – Smoked salmon, cream cheese and dill filling.

The masa dough wrapping acts as a portable vessel to contain all kinds of fillings from any cuisine. The possibilities are endless.

Regional Differences

While the above fills are common, tamale fillings also vary greatly by region and local tastes throughout Mexico, Central America and South America. For example:

Oaxaca, Mexico is known for spicy, complex moles and rich pork fillings.

Veracruz, Mexico has a strong coastal cuisine with lots of seafood tamales.
Yucatan, Mexico flavored theirs with achiote and wrapped them in banana leaves.
Guatemala uses many minty, herby fillings along with masa flavored by tomato, chili or loroco flowers.

The Andean region of Bolivia and Peru make very large tamales called humitas stuffed with fresh ground corn.
In Brazil, sweet tamales wrapped in corn husks or banana leaves are popular for Christmas.

Trying tamales with different fillings is a delicious way to explore all the varied cultures and flavors of Latin America.

Fillings for Dietary Needs

One benefit of tamales is that the fillings can easily be adapted for different diets and restrictions including:

Gluten-free – Use corn masa and fill with meats, cheeses, veggies, beans, fruits, etc. Avoid grain-based options.
Vegetarian – Use cheese, beans, veggies, fruits and other plant-based fillings.

Vegan – Fill with beans, vegetables, fruit, plantains, jackfruit and other vegan items.
Low carb – Focus on lean meats, cheeses, veggies low in carbs like mushrooms.
Paleo – Fill with lean grass-fed meats, vegetables and fruits. Avoid beans and grains.

With so many varieties of fillings, most dietary needs can be accommodated in tamale form.

Fillings List by Category

Here is a summary list of common tamale fillings broken down by category:

Meats

Pork

Chicken
Beef
Turkey

Chorizo
Goat
Lamb

Seafood

Shrimp
Crab
Tuna

Cod
Salmon
Octopus

Scallops

Cheeses

Oaxaca
Cheddar

Monterey Jack
Queso Fresco
Requesón

Mozzarella
Pepper Jack

Beans

Refried Beans

Black Beans
Pinto Beans
Red Chili Beans

Peruano Beans
Garbanzo Beans

Vegetables

Green Chiles

Mushrooms
Zucchini
Corn

Spinach
Potatoes
Sweet Potatoes

Kale
Tomatoes
Onions

Peppers
Pumpkin
Butternut Squash

Fruits

Strawberries
Pineapple
Mango

Raisins
Apples
Bananas

Plantains
Blueberries
Cherries

Peaches

Sweets

Brown Sugar
Chocolate

Coconut
Peanut Butter
Almond Butter

Pecan Pie Filling
Pumpkin Pie Filling

Most Common Tamale Fillings

Based on traditional recipes and popularity, the following fillings seem to be the most common overall:

Meat	Cheese	Beans	Veggies	Fruit	Sweets
Pork	Oaxaca	Refried Beans	Green Chiles	Pineapple	Chocolate
Chicken	Cheddar	Black Beans	Mushrooms	Strawberries	Coconut
Beef	Queso Fresco	Pinto Beans	Corn	Mango	Brown Sugar

Choosing Your Tamale Fillings

With so many options, choosing tamale fillings can be both fun and overwhelming. Here are some tips:

Pick 2-4 fillings to offer variety.
Include vegetarian and meat-based options.

Balance rich fillings with lighter ones.
Combine soft and chunky textures.
Mix sweet and savory flavors.

Consider dietary needs and preferences.
Highlight seasonal ingredients.
Draw inspiration from your cultural heritage.

Make some traditional and some fusion-style.

Tamales are the perfect party food because you can please many appetites with an assortment of fillings. Be creative and have fun!

How to Cook Tamales

Once you’ve chosen your fillings, making tamales takes a bit of time and effort but the results are well worth it.

Here is an overview of the tamale making process:

Make the masa dough from corn flour or masa harina, stock, fat and seasoning. Allow to rest.

Prepare the fillings of your choice and any sauces.
Soak corn husks to soften and prevent tearing.
Spread about 2-3 tablespoons of masa on the wider end of each husk.

Spoon some filling down the center of the masa.
Fold the sides of the husk over the filling then fold up the pointed end.
Tie closed with a thin strip of husk or string.

Place tamales upright or folded side down in a steamer basket.
Steam for 45-60 minutes until masa pulls away from husk.
Serve warm with desired sauces and enjoy!

Making tamales does take some work but it’s a labor of love. The results are well worth the effort for this amazing comfort food.

Conclusion

Tamales can be stuffed with an incredible variety of fillings both traditional and modern. Most common are spiced meats, cheeses, beans, vegetables and sweet options like fruit or chocolate. Regional variations showcase diverse Latin American flavors and cultures. With so many choices, part of the fun is picking your perfect combinations! With a masa dough wrapper steamed to softness and filled with savory, spicy, herby or sweet goodness, tamales make a wonderful hearty comfort food perfect for parties, holidays and festive occasions.