Baked Cheese and Spinach Tamales

• 250g tamale dough (corn flour, water or broth)
• 200g fresh grated cheese
• 200g fresh chopped spinach
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon salt
• to taste black pepper

👨‍🍳 Step-by-step instructions

1. 1

   Step 1: Mix the tamale dough with water or broth until it's smooth and lump-free. Heat the oil in a pan over medium heat and add the fresh grated cheese. Cook until the cheese is melted and the mixture is smooth.

2. 2

   Step 2: Add the fresh chopped spinach to the pan and cook until it's soft. Mix with the melted cheese and set aside.

3. 3

   Step 3: Place a banana leaf on a flat surface and place a tablespoon of the cheese and spinach mixture in the center of the leaf. Fold it like a package and repeat the process with the rest of the dough and mixture.

4. 4

   Step 4: Bake the tamales in a preheated oven at 180°C for 25 minutes, or until they're golden and soft.

💡 Chef's tip

To prevent the tamales from sticking to the banana leaves, make sure they're well covered with the cheese and spinach mixture. It's also important to cook the tamales at the right temperature so they're soft and creamy.

📝 Our take

Estos tamales son una explosión de sabores donde la suavidad del queso se balancea con la verdor de las espinacas. La masa crujiente al exterior ofrece un contraste delicioso. Comerlos es como recibir un abrazo cálido de la tradición colombiana. ¡No hay nada más reconfortante que un tamal que te abraza el alma!

🍷 Wine & food pairing

To pair with the cheese and spinach tamales, I suggest a refreshing drink like natural pineapple juice from the Denomination of Origin (DO) of Rías Baixas in Galicia, Spain. The pineapple juice is light and refreshing, and its sweet flavor perfectly balances the creaminess of the tamales.