The Nacatamal is a typical dish from Nicaragua, consisting of a corn dough filled with various ingredients such as marinated pork, rice, potatoes, vegetables, and herbs, wrapped in plantain leaves and cooked by steam.
The Nacatamal is a delicious traditional Nicaraguan dish prepared with a corn dough filled with marinated pork, rice, potatoes, fresh vegetables, and herbs, wrapped in plantain leaves and cooked by steam.
A true festival of flavors and textures that will delight your palate.
Perfect for sharing on special occasions and enjoying with family.
Before you begin, we recommend as an alternative the delicious recipe from Ceviche on a friendly site.
Traditional Nacatamal
Ingredients
3 Chopped tomatoes
½ Onion
6 Garlic cloves
2 Sweet peppers
1 Bunch of mint
2 Chicken broth packets
3 pounds of Hydrated corn masa
¼ cup of Bitter orange juice
1 cup of Water
Achiote
1 cup of Lard
Plantain leaves
Cooking twine
6 tablespoons of Soaked raw rice
6 Potato slices
6 Sweet pepper slices
6 Onion rings
6 Tomato slices
6 Sprigs of spearmint
1 pound of Marinated pork ribs
1 pound of Marinated pork shoulder
1 pinch of Salt
Preparation
Step 1 : To prepare the sauce, blend the tomatoes, onion, garlic, sweet peppers, mint bunch, Chicken Broth diluted in water, and bitter orange juice.
Step 2 : Then, in a saucepan, place the corn dough and strain the sauce over the dough.
Step 3 : Next, add the bitter orange juice, water, achiote, and salt to taste, integrating with your hands until there are no corn flour lumps.
Step 4 : The saucepan is placed over medium heat, add the lard, and cook, stirring constantly, until the dough reduces and comes off the bottom of the saucepan.
Step 5 : To assemble the nacatamales, place 1 1/2 spoon of dough in the center of the plantain leaves and fill with 1 tablespoon of rice, 1 potato slice, 1 sweet pepper slice, 1 onion ring, 1 tomato slice, 1 piece of marinated pork rib, and 1 piece of marinated pork shoulder.
Step 6 : Wrap and close the tamales, then cook them in a saucepan with water for approximately 3 to 4 hours.
Step 7 : Once ready, remove from water and let them rest before serving.
Step 8 : It is recommended to enjoy this exquisite traditional Nicaraguan nacatamal in the company of your loved ones.
If you liked this recipe, you’ll surely love the dishes at Ensalada de porotos rojos or Bola de fuego from our recipe collections.
