8 tamale recipes

Traditional Italian taralli cookies shaped into rings, dipped in vanilla icing, and topped with sprinkles. A sweet, old-school Italian American cookie from Nonna's kitchen. Makes 24.

Crunchy Italian taralli made with white wine and cracked peppercorns. These boiled-then-baked bread rings from Southern Italy are the ultimate snack for antipasto boards and wine night.

A fragrant South Indian curry powder toasted from whole spices: cumin, black mustard, fenugreek, curry leaves, dried chili, and urad dal, ground fresh. Keeps for four months in a jar.

Red snapper fillets wrapped in soaked corn husks and grilled over embers, finished with a spicy orange vinaigrette. A smoky, tamale-inspired technique that keeps the fish juicy and tender.

Traditional Mexican Atole thickened with masa - two recipes in one: wild Blackberry Atole de Zarzamora and Champurrado (chocolate with cinnamon). A warm, nourishing drink served with tamales.

Homemade red chili sauce from dried red chili pods, garlic, and salt. Just three ingredients blended smooth for enchiladas, tamales, burritos, and any Mexican dish that needs real chile flavor.

Beef tamale pie with seasoned ground beef, peppers, salsa, and black olives sandwiched between two layers of golden cornbread, topped with melted Colby Jack. A potluck-sized 9x13 crowd-pleaser that serves 12.

Onion vetha kozhambu, a tangy South Indian tamarind gravy simmered with small onions, sambar powder, and a hit of hing, thickened with rice flour. A bold, sour-spicy Tamil curry to spoon over hot rice. Vegan.