Tamales are an ancient American food, made throughout the continent for over 5000 years. How about that for trivia, thanks to Wikipedia. There are so many kinds of tamales that if one was to try one per day, it would take you over twenty years to try all the different kinds. That is right, I said twenty years. In Guatemala alone, there must be 100 different kinds if not more. Tamales are usually made with a cooked masa (maize dough), tomato sauce, and a piece of meat; normally pork, chicken, turkey, all wrap around in husks or banana leaves. When I say tomato sauce, I am being over-simplistic since this tomato-based sauce could be as difficult to make as an Indian curry, if not more.
Here I bring to you a very special kind of tamale made with potato dough instead of maize. It is called pache (short) and it is made in all other respects the same way as tamales. In Guatemala, paches are usually sold on Thursdays, I don’t know why, and “normal” maize tamales are sold on Saturdays, although if you know your way around you any kind of tamale any day you like.
You should read the overview entry of tamales in Wikipedia to get a feel for it. I should mention that I think the entry for tamales is very short and it should not. I will research more about the subject and I will update the Wikipedia with my findings.
© 2006 – 2013, Rudy Giron. All rights reserved.
tamales from different countries are very different. the mexican people here make a different tamale than the people here who are from Guatemala. the mexicans wrap their tamale in corn husk and the Guatemalan in a banana leaf. there are other difference also.probably determined from what area they came from.
I can’t tell you how much I miss paches… In my opinion the best ones came from the old lady in the back of the tienda across from La Merced…
Absolutely mouthwatering! These food posts of yours are so delectably wonderful!
I love Paches! They were always my favorite tamale.
does anyone have the recipe for Paches? Rudy you are killing me!
@Mónica, just wait I am already working in a new web site of Guatemalan recipes… it will be in English and Spanish. Stay tune!
Paches are the greatest of all the guatemalan tamales. I am not from Guatemala but my mother and husband are. My husband’s family introduced me to the paches ever since then I love them. I would love to get the recipe. Please!!!!!!!
Recipies, please! Not only are there very few cookbooks available, but even the WWW offering is very sparse.
CathyB, there are many recipes through out the website, you just have to look for them. Browse the Food & Drinks category to find them.
Paches are delicious. One of my favorite tamales for the holidays 🙂
Hola Rudy- Do you have a website in English and Spanish with Guatemalan recipes. What is it called? I would love a recipe for Paches in English. They are delicious.
Perla
Sorry Pearl, I never did find the time to launch the recipe websites. I had the domains for a quite a while, but gave up on the concept for lack of time.