Roadside Shrimp Tamales

Mexico is a patchwork criss-cross of tiny villages, each touting their own specialty.  They sling up stands along the side of the road and every single vendor sells the exact same thing.  Pretty much identical to the core.  How the heck do you even know where to stop?  Sometimes it's oysters.  Could be truck campers.  Might be  elote.  Maybe dried shrimp packs.  Anytime you stumble across a little town that is obviously very proud of their goods, you might as well stop. 

Sometimes you even run across something you've never had.  Like shrimp tamales. 

Never have I seen shrimp tamales, so when I left San Blas and almost immediately hit up a slew of shrimp tamale coolers along a strip of arid desert, I had to have one.  Hmmmm...it was interesting.  Not quite what I was expecting--the shell was still on--and then as I dove into it a bit further, I noticed a couple of black beads. HELLO SHRIMP EYES BIG AS BLUEBERRIES. 

Good Christ, that was a hunger drainer.  I quietly wrapped my tamale back in its husk and slammed a Nescafe. 

Turns out these tamales are famous in the state of Nayarit...but it's just a wee bit too much sea for me.

Comments

[Jackie]

I have had shrimp tamales but there did not include the entire shrimp. I remember the first time I saw someone eat a shrimp head. I was eating with dinner with a Isla local. He asked me if he could finish my shrimp which was only the discarded heads. Too much shrimp for me!

[annie]

well i'm not surprised about your shrimp tamales because i've been told of eyeball tacos in guadalajara that i don't want to even think of sampling. that being said i still love mexico and isla mujeres in particular. i love your blog and share your verve for mi isla.