History

Hot tamales arrived in Memphis from the Mississippi Delta in the early 20th century, brought by Black field workers exposed to the dish during seasonal migration to Texas and Mexico in the early 1900s. By the 1940s, tamale carts rolled through Memphis neighbourhoods. Cozy Corner sells them today and a few BBQ shops carry them as a side; the tradition is documented by Garden and Gun and Southern Foodways Alliance.

Common allergens: Beef, Corn

Make it at home

Yield Makes 18 tamalesHands-on 1 hrTotal 3 hrDifficulty Intermediate

Ingredients

  • 500g ground beef
  • 100g masa harina
  • 50g cornmeal
  • 30g chili powder
  • 10g cumin
  • 10g paprika
  • Salt and pepper
  • 18 dried corn husks, soaked in warm water 1 hour
  • 1L beef stock, hot

Method

  1. Mix masa harina, cornmeal, chili powder, cumin, paprika, salt and pepper with enough warm beef stock to make a soft paste.
  2. Combine the seasoned beef with the masa mixture until uniform.
  3. Drain corn husks. Spread 2 tablespoons of mixture in a 10cm strip down the centre of each husk. Roll the husk tightly and tie both ends with thin husk strips.
  4. Stand the tamales upright in a pot. Pour in beef stock until just covering. Simmer covered 1.5 to 2 hours until the masa firms.
  5. Remove tamales with tongs. Serve hot with the broth on the side for dipping.

Tip from the editors. Memphis hot tamales differ from Mexican tamales: thinner, spicier and served wet in broth, not dry.

This is the TableJourney editorial recipe, modelled on the canonical bistro / counter version. The first place to try the dish in its city of origin is below.

Where to eat memphis hot tamales

Memphis hot tamales in Memphis

Cozy Corner BBQ ★ 4.7

pinch-district

Cozy Corner BBQ on North Parkway in the Pinch District in Memphis serves the city's most singular plate: hickory-smoked Cornish hens, idiosyncratic since 1977.

Why locals love it: Tourists head to Rendezvous; locals and BBQ pilgrims drive to Cozy Corner for the Cornish hen.

Tip: Tuesday to Saturday only. The bologna sandwich is the second order.

735 N Pkwy, Memphis, TN 38105

A&R Bar-B-Que ★ 4.4

south-memphis

A&R Bar-B-Que on Elvis Presley Boulevard in South Memphis has run Black-owned hickory-smoke BBQ from a converted gas station since 1983, quiet on tourist maps.

Why locals love it: Tourists on the Elvis Presley Boulevard stretch head straight to Graceland gift shops; A&R is the BBQ counter that Memphis locals quietly defer to for ribs.

Tip: The smoked bologna sandwich is the under-radar order; pair it with mustard slaw on the side.

1802 Elvis Presley Blvd, Memphis, TN 38106

Payne's Bar-B-Que ★ 4.7

south-memphis

Payne's chopped pork sandwich with mustard slaw on Lamar Avenue in South Memphis stays under $10, the Memphis cheap-BBQ defining order for over 50 years.

Try: Chopped pork sandwich

Order: Chopped pork sandwich, mustard slaw, fizzy red drink.

Tip: Open Tuesday to Saturday lunch only, 11:00 to 17:30. Cash preferred. The line moves fast.

1762 Lamar Ave, Memphis, TN 38114

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