Tamales with Red Chile Sauce
Tamales with Red Chile Sauce are a traditional Mexican dish made of masa (corn dough) filled with meats, cheeses, or chiles, wrapped in corn husks or banana leaves, steamed, and then smothered in a rich, earthy red chile sauce. The red sauce is typically made from dried chiles like ancho or guajillo, blended with spices, garlic, and broth. This dish is a cornerstone of Mexican and Mexican-American cuisine, often prepared for holidays and family gatherings.
🍽️ Nutrition at a glance
Tamales are a balanced but calorie-dense food, providing a good mix of carbohydrates from the masa, protein from the meat filling, and fat from the lard or oil used in the dough and sauce. A single serving is a solid source of energy, iron, and B vitamins, with a rough calorie ballpark of 300-450 kcal per tamale with sauce.
Nutrition breakdown
| Calories | 380 kcal |
| Protein | 15 g |
| Carbs | 38 g |
| Fat | 18 g |
| Fiber | 5 g |
| Sugar | 3 g |
| Sodium | 680 mg |
| Iron | 2.5 mg |
| Calcium | 80 mg |
| Potassium | 320 mg |
| Vitamin B6 | 0.3 mg |
| Niacin (B3) | 3.5 mg |
| Magnesium | 45 mg |
| Phosphorus | 180 mg |
| Zinc | 2 mg |
Per 1 tamole with sauce (approx. 180 g) · estimated, varies by recipe
💡 What's interesting
The process of making tamales is a cherished cultural event known as a 'tamalada,' where family and friends gather to assemble hundreds of them, often passing down recipes through generations. Nutritionally, the corn masa is a good source of complex carbohydrates and, when made with nixtamalized corn (masa harina), provides bioavailable calcium and niacin.
