There are many types of tamales: wrapped in corn or banana leaves, in a pot, savory, sweet, made from corn or rice… As you can see, there are tamales for every taste, which is why today we want to share with our readers some tips for preparing vegetarian tamales. Don't miss out on enjoying tamales! This way, you can prepare them without using animal products.

Olive oil

One of the most important parts of tamales is the lard. This ingredient is essential for ensuring the dough is well cooked and doesn't fall apart inside the tamale. But if you follow a vegetarian diet, you obviously can't use lard. Instead, we suggest replacing it with olive oil. This will help the dough integrate well, in addition to giving a special flavor to the entire preparation.

Peanut butter

In the case of sweet tamales, such as those made with nuts or chocolate, butter is typically used to mix the dough. Just like with savory tamales, the use of some type of fat is essential for making sure the tamales turn out well. Never think about preparing tamales without this ingredient. For cooking sweet vegetarian tamales, you can use peanut butter. It will add great flavor to the preparation without having to use animal products.

Vegetable broth

Some tamale recipes include chicken broth in their preparation. This is done to hydrate the dough and make it more pliable. If you need some liquid to make the dough lighter, you can use vegetable broth. This has the great advantage of not diluting the flavor (as water might) and will also add a more special touch to the tamale.

Alternative fillings

The most traditional fillings are pork and chicken, but you can make tamales with whatever you like best. It could be a carrot tinga, mushrooms, or strips of peppers. In fact, you can choose your favorite vegetarian stew and use it as a filling for the tamales.

Get inspired with these recipes and turn them into a delicious vegetarian tamale:

Vegan adobo mushroom tacos

Pibil mushrooms

Cauliflower al pastor tacos

Vegan stuffed mushrooms