Healthy Chicken Tamales | Lite Cravings | WW Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Is chicken tamales healthy? ›

Tamales are super nutritious and tasty; there's a reason they've been around for centuries! They have fiber, micronutrients, resistant starch, and protein that can promote health for many people. But tamales are so much more than just their nutrition facts.

“If you know you have high blood pressure or diabetes, you probably shouldn't eat traditional tamales,” Pascoe says. “Instead, I would recommend preparing a dozen or so healthy tamales, which use all of our healthy substitutions.”

There are 252 calories in 2 Tamale with Chicken. * The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet.

You can serve tamales with a variety of sides such as fried plantains, potatoes with rajas, Mexican rice and black beans. “When planning a tamalada, or tamal party, you can accompany your tamales with bowls of red and green salsa, crumbled cotija cheese or queso fresco, fresh lime and pickled red onion,” Sibley says.

The biggest potential drawback of tamales is the type of fat. Many tamales include lard in the masa, which is what gives it the distinct texture.

“Tamales are generally considered healthy,” says Bansari Acharya, R.D.N., a registered dietitian and blogger at FoodLove. “Especially because they're steamed instead of fried.” However, because of the fat and carbohydrate content, it's important to watch your portions.

tamales have a lot of carbs which turns into sugar so you should probably only have two even though they are really good just be mindful of how many you have,” said Thompson.

A typical pork tamale contains a balance of macronutrients: carbohydrates from the masa, proteins from the pork, and fats from the lard and meat. On average, a single pork tamale can have around 250 calories, with a macronutrient distribution of approximately 36% carbohydrates, 17% protein, and 47% fat.

What is the best substitute for lard in tamales? ›

Vegetable shortening is a meat-free and dairy-free substitute for lard, allowing you to serve tamales to meat eaters and vegans alike. That said, there are other substitutes for lard that will work well in tamale recipes as well, like refined coconut oil, butter, and avocado oil.

Chicken Tamales Ingredients

Chicken filling: We turn shredded chicken into a thick, savory filling by cooking it with canola oil, flour, chili powder, salt, garlic and pepper. Tamale dough: This savory corn dough is a combination of shortening, chicken stock and masa harina, a flour made from dried nixtamalized corn.

The pork in traditional tamales usually comes from pork butt, which is also high in saturated fat and cholesterol.

The favorite choice for the term "Tamales" is 1 Tamale with Chicken which has about 18 mg of cholesterol. The amount of cholesterol for a variety of types and serving sizes of Tamales is shown below.

Amount per serving: Calories 280, Total Fat 18g (23% DV), Sat.

Tamale, Plain, Meatless, No Sauce, Mexican Style (1 tamale) contains 17.2g total carbs, 15.1g net carbs, 7.8g fat, 2.8g protein, and 148 calories.

Tamales are a good source of fiber to keep those bowels moving regularly. Tamales give a good supply of protein to repair and renew cells. Eat 1 tamale, and you'll get a good source of iron and phosphorus for a good dose of energy.

Some eat tamales hot with fried eggs for a breakfast that is nothing short of magical, and others prefer them with rice and beans for a complete (and very filling) Mexican lunch or dinner. Since they are wrapped in cornhusks, tamales make for a potentially portable snack but many find it easier to eat them with a fork.

Tamales are not junk food, they are a good nutrition filled food to eat. Aside from the delicious flavor, they provide the essential nutrients our body needs, while also providing a good cultural boost.

Is masa healthy? ›

Masa harina has many health benefits that make it essentially a superfood. It's much higher in fiber and magnesium than its refined wheat flour counterpart. It is rich in niacin, an essential B vitamin that converts food into energy and aids a healthy nervous system.

This makes butter a great option for pie crusts, tortillas, tamale dough, and more. Because butter contains slightly less fat than lard, you may need to use a bit more to achieve the same results. For each cup (205 grams) of lard, you should use approximately 1 1/4 cups (284 grams) of butter.

Commercial candy products, including Hot Tamales, contain artificial dyes that are linked to cancer and other health conditions, such as allergies, asthma, ADHD, hyperactivity, and hypersensitivity.

Foods related to tamale with chicken

Tamale with chicken contains 353 calories per 164 g serving. This serving contains 22 g of fat, 14 g of protein and 24 g of carbohydrate.