Breakfast Tamales | How to Eat Leftover Tamales
Do you have leftover tamales? Make breakfast tamales with them and keep enjoying their delicious flavors. This is a great way to reheat tamales and also enjoy those leftovers without having to freeze them for later.
What To Do With Leftover Tamales
In the next coming days you’re going to be having lots of leftover tamales.
If you’re looking for a different way to eat them, and a good excuse to eat tamales as you’re first meal of the day, then you’ve got to try these breakfast tamales.
Generally speaking, in Mexican homes, any leftover tamales are reheated by steaming in a tamalera or steamer pot, or they can also be cooked on a pan, comal, or even a microwave.
The tamales are enjoyed as leftovers just as you would regularly serve them.
But let me show you a delicious way to serve leftover tamales in the morning. This method gives them a very breakfast touch.
Breakfast Tamales
The first time I heard about these breakfast tamales was a few years ago. My sister told me about them.
She said you’ve got to try a fried egg on top of a tamal for breakfast. It’s delicious — and boy was she right!
I know what you’re thinking, that an egg on a tamale sounds a bit strange.
But trust my sister and trust me, this is a winning combination!
It makes a delicious treat in the morning, I mean if you love tamales wouldn’t you want to wake up to breakfast tamales? Of course you would.
Breakfast Tamales Ingredients
The ingredients for these leftover breakfast tamales are quite simple.
Of course this recipe is vegetarian because of the egg, but I do use whatever vegan tamales I have in my fridge.
- Tamales: Whatever cooked you have leftover in your refrigerator.
- Butter: Either vegan or regular or you can also use oil instead.
- Eggs: to top the tamales
- Salsa: Choose a salsa of your choice. I used salsa verde.
You can also serve with jalapenos and pickled carrots if you’d like.
How to Make Breakfast Tamales
This is one of the easiest breakfast you can make.
Trust me I’m not a morning person so I really appreciate this kind of quick and brainless prep breakfast.
- Unwrap the cooked, refrigerated tamales from their corn husks and place on a hot pan. You can add a little oil to the pan if you’d like, but the fat from the tamales is enough. Cook on both sides until it begins to brown.
- Once you flip to the second side, push the tamal aside to make space to cook the egg. Melt a tablespoon of butter and then crack the egg into the pan. Cook until the white is set but the yolk is still runny.
- Serve the egg over the tamal. Drizzle with your favorite salsa and enjoy. Serve immediately.
What Goes with Tamales for Breakfast?
To serve your tamales for breakfast, besides the fried egg you can also serve with salsa and some refried beans.
This meal is kept simpler with the side dishes. But remember to read my article, What to Eat with Tamales | 24 Tamales Side Dishes for lots of delicious ideas on what to serve with tamales for lunch or dinner.
Other Tamales Questions You May Have
Let me answer some other tamales questions you may have. Please if you don’t find the answer to your question here, do let me know. I’d be happy to answer it for you.
- Masa For Tamales | No Lard Recipe
- The Masa Float Test for Tamales
- How to Prepare Corn Husks for Tamales
- How To Spread Masa for Tamales
- How to Fold Tamales
- How to Steam Tamales Without a Steamer
- How Long Does It Take to Cook Tamales on the Stove?
- How to Store Tamales
- How Long do Tamales Last
- What to Eat with Tamales | 24 Tamales Side Dishes
What is Traditionally Served with Tamales?
Every family is different. In my family we just served the tamales. Occasionally, and how I like them now is with some salsa.
Some people like to do rice and beans. It’s a personal preference really.
If you want a traditional drink to serve you can try an atole, champurrado, Mexican Christmas punch or just hot chocolate.
Can You Have Tamales for Breakfast?
Yes, of course you can!
You can enjoy the tamales with the fried egg like shown here. Or just simple reheat and enjoy. Tamales are great all day long.
What Sauce Do You Eat Tamales With?
This really depends on your preference and the type of tamales you’ll be eating.
I love salsa verde on my tamales rojos and verdes too. Also on the cheese rajas ones. For birria tamales I serve with a little extra birra sauce. Some people like to use guacamole or sour cream. Anything you’d like is fine…or no salsa is also good too!
Can You Fry Leftover Tamales?
Yes, you can.
Fry with some vegetable oil until they are golden and crispy on both sides.
Breakfast Tamales
Ingredients
- 1 Tamales
- 1 Tablespoon butter or oil
- 1 egg one per each tamal
- salsa verde
- pickled jalapenos optional
Instructions
- Unwrap the cooked, refrigerated tamales from their corn husks and place on a hot pan. You can add a little oil to the pan if you’d like, but the fat from the tamales is enough. Cook on both sides until it begins to brown.
- Once you flip to the second side, push the tamal aside to make space to cook the egg. Melt a tablespoon of butter and then crack the egg into the pan. Cook until the white is set but the yolk is still runny.
- Serve the egg over the tamal. Drizzle with your favorite salsa and enjoy. Serve immediately.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nancy Lopez is a food blogger and author of the cookbook Mexican Tamales Made Meatless. Born in Mexico, raised in the US, and currently living in Southern Mexico, she has followed a meatless diet for almost 10 years. It is her passion and mission to share all she has learned about vegan Mexican cooking and vegetarian Mexican recipes. Mexican Made Meatless is a blog dedicated to preserving the authentic flavors of Mexican cuisine just without the meat. It’s a place to celebrate Mexican culture and all it’s delightfully delicious traditional foods. Read more…
