Keyword: costa rican recipes, Costa Rican Tamal de Maicena Recipe
Servings: 8servings
Calories: 466kcal
Equipment
Large mixing bowl
Spoon for mixing
Pot for boiling water
Steamer or colander
Knife for cutting banana leaves
Ingredients
2cupsof cornstarchmaicena
1cupof sugar
1cupof milk
1cupof coconut milk
1/2cupof melted butter
1teaspoonof vanilla extract
1/2teaspoonof salt
Banana leavesfor wrapping
Raisins and chopped nutsalmonds, pecans, or walnuts for filling.
Instructions
Soak the banana leaves in warm water for about 30 minutes to soften them. Cut them into squares (about 12x12 inches) and set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the cornstarch, sugar, and salt.
In another bowl, mix the milk, coconut milk, melted butter, and vanilla extract.
Add the liquid mixture to the dry ingredients and mix well until you get a smooth batter.
Place a banana leaf square on a flat surface and spoon some of the batter onto it. Add some raisins and chopped nuts on top of the batter.
Fold the banana leaf to form a packet, making sure that the batter is fully enclosed.
Repeat until all the batter is used up.
In a large pot, bring water to a boil. Add the tamal packets and cook for about 30-45 minutes or until the batter is firm and the tamal is fully cooked.
Remove the tamal packets from the pot and let them cool for a few minutes before serving.
Notes
Tip and Tricks
Soak the banana leaves in warm water for at least 30 minutes to make them more pliable and easier to fold.Use a steamer or colander to keep the tamal packets upright while they cook.Use an electric mixer or blender to mix the ingredients for a smoother batter.