There are foods and drinks that history and customs have transformed into an inseparable concept. And, without a doubt, a perfect companion for Café 1820 is the Tamal Asado.
This is a tradition that is rooted in the culinary identity of many Costa Ricans and that has marked our culture around the world. And, if there is something that identifies us outside our borders, in addition to Costa Rica coffee, it is the variety and flavor of our gastronomy.
That is why, in this blog, we want to give space to Tamal Asado, a perfect companion to Café 1820.
Brief origin of the Tamal Asado
The word «tamale» has its origin in pre-Columbian times. In other words, this delicious dish has been in the diet of the inhabitants of Central America since long before the arrival of the Spanish.
Likewise, it is a dish that is widely spread throughout the entire Latin American region and in each country it is prepared in a different way.
In Costa Rica there is a well-known version that has a sweet taste, which is ideal to eat as a coffee dessert. Both complement each other very well because they do not counteract their flavors. Backwards: one maximized the other.
How to prepare it?
Costa Ricans have a great variety of tamales and their preparations are also different. That is why at Café 1820 we wanted to give a special touch to the Tamal Asado recipe.
Take notes and decide to prepare the perfect companion for your coffee.
Ingredients
The ingredients are easy to find. You can find them in any market or maybe they are already in your cupboard.
You need:
2 cups of cornmeal
4 cups of sour milk or the equivalent of one liter.
1 and a half cups of sugar.
2 o 3 eggs.
A teaspoon of lemon zest.
Half a tablespoon of vanilla extract.
230 gr of melted margarine.
1 and a half cups of white cheese, grated into thick strips.
Preparation
- Blend the cornmeal with the sour milk.
- Add the eggs to a larger bowl and add the sugar, lemon zest along with the margarine and cheese to the existing batter.
- Make sure to mix in an immersive way. The result should be a homogeneous mass.
- Once it is ready, I spread the dough on a rectangular pyrex that is greased on its surface. If you don’t have this container, you can use the tamale leaves. Besides being traditional, they give a special flavor to tamales.
- Bake the dough at about 350 degrees Fahrenheit for an hour or until golden brown.
- Once they’re ready, you make a Café 1820 and sit down with your family and loved ones.
Take us home!
Whenever you go to the supermarket, choose Café 1820. You can also find us in our digital store https://atucasa.cr/ You receive your coffee at home! Or if you want to order from the USA you can do it through Amazon.
Start the morning with a good cup of coffee, prepared with the favorite coffee of Costa Ricans. Enjoy its flavor and every moment and find delicious and varied recipes that you can easily prepare at www.cafe1820.com
Café 1820 is always with you.