 The "arepa" of northern South America, though similar, is made with ground maize, not hominy, and does not provide the same nutrition as foods made from hominy.The "tamal" (or tamale) of Mexico and Central America is also made from "nixtamal" (Aztec word for hominy), but is much thicker and is a dish unto itself, usually including other ingredients and flavors, rather than a staple food used in other dishes.Maize has been a staple food for centuries.