Delta Hot Tamale Stew

📍 Where this dish comes from: Clarksdale, Mississippi · The Crossroads (Highway 61 & 49)
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Delta hot tamales are a beloved crossover dish, spiced meat wrapped in cornmeal dough and simmered low. This stew pulls the same warm chili spice and rich meat filling into a bowl, skipping the masa wrapper for a heartier, faster weeknight version.

What You’ll Need

Delta Hot Tamale Stew

A spiced ground beef stew inspired by the Mississippi Delta's famous hot tamales, simmered in a rich chili-spiced broth.

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Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 50 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour 10 minutes minutes

Course: Soup

Cuisine: American

Servings: 6 servings

Calories: 360kcal

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 lbs ground beef
• 1 tbsp avocado oil
• 1 onion diced
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 2 tbsp chili powder
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes
• 3 cups beef broth
• 1 tbsp tomato paste
• Salt and black pepper to taste
• Chopped cilantro, for garnish

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Instructions

• Heat avocado oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Brown ground beef, breaking it apart, about 6–7 minutes.
• Add onion and cook 4–5 minutes until softened. Add garlic and cook 1 minute more.
• Stir in chili powder, cumin, and cayenne, cooking 30 seconds until fragrant.
• Add diced tomatoes, broth, and tomato paste, stirring to combine.
• Simmer, uncovered, 35–40 minutes, until thickened to a stew-like consistency.
• Season with salt and pepper, garnish with cilantro, and serve.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 360kcal | Protein: 28g | Fat: 23g | Fiber: 2g

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Health Benefits

• Ground beef delivers iron, zinc, and complete protein.
• A one-pot stew with no added starch keeps the dish naturally low-carb.
• Chili powder and cumin contribute flavor without relying on added sodium.