Chef Christian Irabién brings a Mexican Christmas Eve tradition to the table with fresh tamales ($79 to $89 per dozen) available for takeout. Choose from chicken with salsa verde, pork with chile colorado, and roasted poblano chiles with mushrooms, or a mix of those options. Order for pickup at the Dupont restaurant on Tuesday, December 23. 974 Palmer Alley, NW
To soak the husks, first fill your kitchen sink with warm water and submerge them, swishing them around to clean and remove any silk or debris. After this, let them soak for at least 45 minutes to two hours, but there is no harm in soaking them longer, even overnight. The idea is to rehydrate the husks sufficeintly so they fold easily without tearing, keeping the masa from escaping and making a mess out of your steamer.
Tamales are a Mexican staple that, at one point, was only available at street vendors, restaurants, and from the kitchens of Mexican cooks. Now, they're widely available in grocery stores and big box stores nationwide. Tamales are a traditional and important part of Mexican cuisinedating back to between 8000 and 5000 B.C. A tamale features corn-based dough ( called masa) and a variety of fillings, including meats, vegetables, cheese, beans, and even fruit.