Chaya Tamale with Crispy Fried Dough
Steamed Yucatán green tamales wrapped in chaya leaves, served alongside crispy youtiao fried dough. A vegetarian comfort meal that's tangy, savory, and completely satisfying.
- Total time
- 25 min
- Servings
- 2
- Calories
- 280
- Protein
- 6g
Ingredients
- 8 leaves fresh chaya leaves (or spinach if unavailable)
- 1 cup masa harina (corn flour for tamales)
- ¾ cup vegetable broth
- ½ cup roasted green tomatoes (or canned tomatillos)
- 4 pieces store-bought youtiao (fried dough sticks)
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- ¼ medium onion white onion, minced
Instructions
- 1
Mix masa harina with broth, minced onion, cilantro, and a pinch of salt until a soft dough forms.
- 2
Lay out chaya leaves. Spoon 2 tbsp masa mixture onto each leaf, top with 1 tbsp green tomato, then fold into a packet.
- 3
Arrange tamales seam-side down in a steamer basket over boiling water. Cover and steam for 12 minutes until firm.
- 4
While tamales steam, warm youtiao in a dry skillet over medium heat, turning occasionally, about 3 minutes until heated through.
- 5
Remove tamales from steamer. Serve alongside warm youtiao. Drizzle with extra green tomato sauce if desired.
Tools you’ll need
- mixing bowl
- steamer basket or bamboo steamer
- pot for steaming (at least 2-quart capacity)
- 12-inch skillet
- spoon for mixing and plating
Cook smarter
Get matched recipes for what’s in your fridge
CookSnap is a free iOS app that finds real recipes from the ingredients you already have. No more grocery-list aspirations.
