Masa wrapped pork in corn husks, steamed and unwrapped at the table, the Christmas Eve and New Year tradition across Albuquerque kitchens and counters.

Tamales arrived in New Mexico with Spanish colonists from central Mexico in the 1600s and adapted to local pork, red chile and Pueblo cornmeal. The Christmas Eve tamale-making tradition is family work: extended families gather to assemble dozens at a time. El Modelo and ABC Cake Shop sell ready made tamales by the dozen through December for households that no longer make their own.

4 editor picks for Red chile pork tamales in Albuquerque, ranked by editorial score. All Albuquerque signature dishes · Red chile pork tamales across every city.