Tamal Tolimense

Name: Tamal Tolimense
Yield: 8 tamales
Cuisine: Colombian
Ingredients: 2 cups precooked yellow cornmeal; 1½ cups cooked white rice; 1½ cups cooked yellow split peas; 3 cups chicken or pork broth; ½ cup hogao; 1 teaspoon achiote; 1 teaspoon cumin; 8 small chicken pieces; 1 pound pork ribs or belly, cut into 8 pieces; 2 potatoes, sliced; 2 carrots, sliced; 4 hard-boiled eggs, halved; salt, pepper, plantain leaves, and kitchen twine

Tolima Tamal

Tamal Tolimense is listed in Classic Dishes for Tolima / Huila. Follow the verified ingredients and numbered instructions below.

Prep: 2 hrCook: 3 hrTotal: 5 hr8 tamalesAdvanced

Ingredients

8 tamales

2 cups precooked yellow cornmeal
Walmart Instacart
1½ cups cooked white rice
Amazon Instacart
1½ cups cooked yellow split peas
Walmart Instacart
3 cups chicken or pork broth
Walmart Instacart
½ cup hogao
Amazon Instacart
1 teaspoon achiote(specialty)
Amazon Instacart Amigo Foods
1 teaspoon cumin
Amazon Instacart
8 small chicken pieces
Walmart Instacart
1 pound pork ribs or belly, cut into 8 pieces
Walmart Instacart
2 potatoes, sliced
Walmart Instacart
2 carrots, sliced
Walmart Instacart
4 hard-boiled eggs, halved
Walmart Instacart
salt, pepper, plantain leaves, and kitchen twine
Amazon Instacart

Instructions

1
Pass the leaves briefly over a flame or through boiling water until pliable.
2
Mix cornmeal, warm broth, hogao, achiote, cumin, rice, peas, and salt into a soft, spoonable masa.
3
Lay two overlapping leaves in a cross.
4
Add masa, chicken, pork, potato, carrot, and half an egg.
5
Cover with more masa.
6
Fold into a rounded parcel and tie firmly.
7
Stand the tamales in a deep pot over a rack with simmering water, cover, and steam 3–4 hours, replenishing the water as needed.
8
Rest 10 minutes before opening.

Source Notes

→Tolimense tamales characteristically combine corn masa and rice with peas, chicken, pork, egg, carrots, and potatoes.

Ingredient Substitutions

Recipe-specific substitutions are published only when supported by verified culinary guidance. For ingredient sourcing, see our Colombian Pantry Guide and consult a qualified recipe tester before making substitutions that may change a dish’s flavor or texture.

At a Glance

CategoryClassic Dishes

RegionTolima / Huila

Prep Time2 hr

Cook Time3 hr

Total Time5 hr

Yield8 tamales

DifficultyAdvanced

Shop Ingredients

precooked yellow cornmeal
Walmart Instacart
cooked white rice
Amazon Instacart
cooked yellow split peas
Walmart Instacart
chicken
Walmart Instacart
hogao
Amazon Instacart
achiote
Amazon Instacart Amigo Foods
cumin
Amazon Instacart
small chicken pieces
Walmart Instacart

Shop the Colombian Pantry

Equipment Needed

Large Steamer Pot
Kitchen Twine

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