Make tamales (and new friends) as you learn the history of this delicious dish.

You can prevent winter cabin fever — and heat up your taste buds — at Beacon Hill’s El Centro de la Raza, where Seattleites are invited to learn how to expertly make a delectable tamale. Whether you enjoy this dish sweet or savory, an upcoming course will teach students everything they need to know about this Latin American staple.

El Centro de la Raza is an organization that specifically advocates on behalf of the Seattle area’s Latino community, but works to support civil rights for all people. Located in the old Beacon Hill Elementary School, the group began in 1972, when a small group of people bought the decaying building from the Seattle Public School District. Since then, the organization has provided many services and programs to benefit the members of its community.

One such program is the tamale-making class series, which are taught by a master tamalera in El Centro’s kitchen roughly once a month. Tamales are a traditional Latin American dish made of a starchy, corn-based dough called masa. Normally, they are filled with meat, cheese, fruit and/or vegetables. The tamales are then wrapped in cornhusks and steamed. They have been traced back to the Aztec Empire as early as 7,000 B.C., and have endured thanks to their compact size and sustainable nature.

The first tamale-making class will be held from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 21, and more classes are scheduled in the coming months. Tickets ($50-75) are available online, via e-mail or by calling (206) 957-4611. The class fee includes the recipe and a dozen tamales; proceeds will support El Centro de la Raza’s Senior Wellness Program and Senior Home Delivered Meal Program. Space is limited, so the organization encourages you to sign up now.

El Centro de la Raza | 2524 16th Ave. S. 98144 | (206) 957-4611