A tamale or tamal (from Nahuatl tamalli) is a traditional Native American food consisting of steam-cooked corn meal dough with or without a filling. Tamales can be filled with meats, cheese (post-colonial), and sliced chiles or any preparation according to taste. The tamal is generally wrapped in a corn husk or plantain leaves before cooking, depending on the region they come from.
Tamales have been made throughout the American continent for over 5000 years . Their essence is the corn meal dough made from hominy (called masa), or a masa mix such as Maseca, usually filled with a sweet or savory filling, wrapped in plant leaves or corn husks, and cooked, usually by steaming, until firm. Tamales were developed as a portable ration for use by war parties in the ancient Americas, and were as ubiquitous and varied as the sandwich is today.

Tamales in the Caribbean

Mexican cuisine
Pamonha
Zongzi
Lotus leaf wrap
Pasteles
Hallaca
Corunda