Ecuadorian food: Tamales de Arroz
From delicious desserts made with milk to tasty dishes made with rice, there are great dishes to taste while you explore Ecuador.
Due to its location and small size, seafood, fruits, and vegetables abound in Ecuador. Recipes and ingredients are varied, resulting in a variety of tasty traditional dishes in each region.
You can learn a lot about Ecuador through its food, and in this travel blog, we want to share the flavors that are traditional to the different regions of the country.
Today, we want to discuss a tasty Ecuadorian dish made in the city of Ibarra, the tamales de arroz.
About tamales de arroz
A tamal is a dish popular in many countries in Latin America. It is a dish made of dough made from corn in most cases. Tamales de arroz is a traditional dish mostly around Christmas, made in the city of Ibarra, located two hours north of Quito.
Once this masa made of rice is prepared with a sofrito of meat or chicken, it is steamed inside a banana leaf. The wrapping can be discarded, but it is commonly kept underneath and used as a plate
There is a similar food called humitas, and they may be served with tamales, but they are not the same.
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What do they taste like
Tamales de arroz are savory, have the flavor of rice, and are moister than the version made from corn. They are perfect with afternoon coffee or in a meal.
How and where to eat tamales de arroz
My grandmother used to make tamales de arroz, and many families in Ibarra keep this tradition. You can enjoy tamales de arrow during a cafecito or afternoon coffee, or sometimes for lunch.
A great way to enjoy tamales de arroz is with aji or hot sauce.
We have tried making tamales at home, and if you want to make tamales de arroz at home, this is the recipe. What you can do is replace the banana leaf with parchment paper.
Tamales de arroz are not easily found in supermarkets, but you may find them in restaurants selling traditional food in Ibarra.
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Have you tried tamales de arroz? Leave your comment below!
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