The Art of the Tamale

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Source: Saveur
The Art of the Tamale View Gallery Photo: Laurie Smith
1. PRESSING: Oaxacan cook Zoyla Mendoza teaches protégée Lorena how to make tamales amarillos by first pressing a thin masa tortilla.

2. DRYING AND FILLING: In expert hands, the delicate tortilla is dried and filled with poached chicken and Yellow Mole Sauce.

3. FOLDING: The filled tamale is carefully folded and placed fold-side down on a softened cornstalk leaf. Corn leaves add a subtle flavor.

4. STEAMING: Zoyla wraps tamales into beautiful packages and steams for 5 minutes.

This article was first published in Saveur in Issue #1