Mother-in-law (sandwich) facts for kids
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| Place of origin | Chicago |
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| Main ingredients | Tamale, chili, hot dog bun |
The Mother-in-law is a special fast food dish from Chicago, USA. It's a unique kind of sandwich that might sound a bit unusual! Imagine a tamale – which is a tasty roll made from cornmeal – placed inside a hot dog bun. Then, it's covered with a generous amount of chili.
What makes the Mother-in-law sandwich special is the type of tamale used. In Chicago, tamales are often made by machines. They are shaped into rolls and wrapped in paper instead of the usual corn husks. These tamales are usually cooked in a hot-dog steamer, which keeps them warm and ready to eat.
Contents
What is a Mother-in-law Sandwich?
A Mother-in-law sandwich is a popular street food in Chicago. It combines two different kinds of food into one interesting meal.
The Main Parts of the Sandwich
- Tamale: This is the main part of the sandwich. A tamale is a traditional dish from Mexico. It's made from a dough called masa (which is ground corn). In Chicago, these tamales are often long and thin, like a sausage. They are usually wrapped in paper, not corn husks, and cooked by steaming.
- Hot Dog Bun: Just like a regular hot dog, the tamale is placed inside a soft, sliced hot dog bun.
- Chili: To finish it off, the tamale in the bun is covered with warm, savory chili. This adds a lot of flavor and makes the sandwich even more filling.
Where Did the Mother-in-law Sandwich Come From?
The exact story of how the Mother-in-law sandwich started is a bit of a mystery! People aren't sure who first thought of putting a tamale in a hot dog bun with chili.
Tamales Arrive in Chicago
Tamales themselves came to Chicago a long time ago.
- Mexican-Americans brought their traditional tamales to the city.
- Later, African-Americans from the Mississippi Delta region also brought their style of "hot tamales" to Chicago.
Even though tamales have a clear history in Chicago, the idea of combining them with a hot dog bun and chili is still a puzzle. Some people think it might be similar to a Mexican dish called torta de tamal, which is a tamale served in a type of bread roll called a bolillo. But no one knows for sure!
