Mother-in-law (tamale)

The mother-in-law sandwich is a Chicago area fast food dish that features a Chicago-style corn-roll tamale nestled in a hot dog bun and smothered with chili.^[1] The mother-in-law is made with Chicago's unique style of tamale, a machine-extruded cornmeal roll, wrapped in paper, which is typically cooked in a hot-dog steamer.^[2]

History

Although African-Americans migrating from the Southern United States may have brought tamales to Chicago, no one knows how this sandwich developed.^[3] Maybe, some speculate it may have had its beginnings in Mexico City's torta de tamal, a tamale on a bolillo. The precise origins of the Chicago tamale style are also obscure.^[2]

References

1. ^ Making a Mother-in-Law Sandwich
2. ^ ^{a b} Zeldes, Leah A. (Dec. 18, 2009). "The unique Chicago tamale, a tuneful mystery". Dining Chicago. Chicago's Restaurant & Entertainment Guide, Inc.. http://blog.diningchicago.com/2009/12/18/the-unique-chicago-tamale-a-tuneful-mystery/. Retrieved Dec. 18, 2009. 
3. ^ Chicago Reader | Omnivorous | On the Trail of the Delta Tamale: Southern food sleuths take on the murky origins of the mother-in-law sandwich. By Mike Sula