While searching in my cookbook Flavours of the Philippines for the Bam-i recipe, I came across the tamalos, a specialty from the same region in the Philippines. These annatto colored, meaty, nutty, and slightly spicy cousins of the Mexican tamales are made with rice flour and wrapped in banana leaves. I've never had this kind of tamale before although I once made another Filipino version that also has peanuts but flavored with coconut milk and shredded cooked chicken.
The preparation of tamalos is quite tedious as there are several steps, not to mention kitchen tools and pans, involved. But I couldn't ignore the yummy ingredients such as peanuts, roasted sesame seeds, and the adobo style pork belly and started imagining what they will taste like. I am not disappointed and although they came out a little bit softer than I would have liked, they are otherwise fantastic! I love the combination of the different flavors of peanuts, sesame seeds, and savory pork belly and the fragrance of banana leaves. Simply delicious.
Tamalos
adapted from Flavours of the Philippines: A Culinary Guide to the Best of the Islands
by Glenda Rosales-Barretto
2 pounds pork belly, skin on
2 tablespoons minced garlic, divided
1 cup vinegar
3 tablespoons soy sauce
2 bay leaves
2 tablespoons sea salt
1 teaspoon whole peppercorns
200 grams toasted peanuts
100 grams roasted sesame seeds
2 hot red chili peppers, chopped
4 tablespoons annatto oil (warm 4 tablespoons olive oil and 2 tablespons annatto seeds, then discard seeds)
200 grams rice flour mixed with 500 ml water
16 pieces banana leaves, cut into approximately 10-inch square
- Place the pork in a casserole together with 1 tablespoon garlic, vinegar, soy sauce, bay leaves, salt, peppercorns, and 2½ cups water. Bring to the boil and cook for 20 minutes, then remove pork from the broth and allow to rest. Slice into 16 portions, return to the broth, cover and simmer until tender, about 1 hour. Remove pork and set aside. Discard the bay leaves and reserve broth.
- In a food processor, grind peanuts, sesame seeds, and chili peppers. Add broth in a slow stream to produce a smooth paste.
- In a saucepan, heat the annatto oil and saute briefly the remaining 1 tablespoon garlic, then add peanut sesame seed paste and cook, stirring continuously until thick. Add the rice mixture and stir well, then immediately remove from heat.
- For each tamalo, place 2 pieces of banana leaves on a flat surface. Spoon or pour about 170 ml of the rice mixture in the center, add 2 pieces of sliced pork and top with another 100 ml more of the rice paste. Hold the 2 sides of the banana leaves and fold together to secure, then clasp both ends to form a compact parcel. Using kitchen twine or strips of banana leaf, tie a knot at both ends and another crosswise around the middle section. Steam for 45 minutes. Let rest for 10 minutes before serving.
16 comments:
Great post and informative as usual. I love learning about Philippine regional specialties and tamalos sure qualifies. I didn't even know about tamalos until now, and yes, I believe they're delicious. With adobo pork belly, how could it not be?
Sure looks like a lot of time and soul went into making these. They look exquisite! Happy you, you can buy banana leaves :)
JS, the adobo pork belly had me drooling while reading the recipe.:)
Lore, thanks. I'm lucky to have a Korean grocery nearby.:)
can i use the aluminum foild instead of babana leave's?
Anonymous, yes, aluminum foil is okay. Brush with oil first so the tamalo does not stick.:)
where did it originated? is it from samar?
where did it originated? is it from samar?
Anonymous, the author of the cookbook Glenda Rosales of Via Mare restaurants says it's from Central Visayas (Cebu).
when we still live in Catbalogan Samar... it was really our favorite!! yumm yumm!!!
Is it really the same taste as the Tamalos we usually order in Catbalogan Samar???
@Anonymous
I haven't tried any tamalos before so I wouldn't know.
Just in case I couldn't find all the ingredients, would peanut butter with chili pepper added would be a good substitute for the paste? Since peanut butter is thick, I still wouldn't know how to make it less thick. May need help with that too if any chefs out there knows how... well, unless of course the thickness of the paste is suppose to be as thick as the store bought peanut butter.
you mentioned that it came out softer than you would like? how would you manipulate the ingredients so it would be the right texture? I just wanted it to be the way it's suppose to look and taste. :)
Anon @3/13/12,
Try it and let me know the result.:)
Anon @4/3/12,
Add a little bit more rice flour??
Glenda Barretto is from Calbayog, scion of prominent Rosales Family
its my favorite in catbalogan city when ee are still living there now i missed it so much the taste i cant forget thats why i would like to try to make and follow your ingredients wish it will be same taste.
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