Not Your Average Tamale Pie Recipes

TAMALE PIE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Heat the oil in a 10-inch cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add the beef, onions, garlic and 1 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring and breaking up any clumps with a wooden spoon, until the meat is brown and the onions are softened, about 6 minutes. Add the tomato paste, chili powder and cumin and cook, stirring, about 1 minute. Stir in the enchilada sauce, beans, corn and cilantro and season with salt. Bring to a simmer. Remove from the heat and sprinkle with the cheese.
• Add the cornmeal to a mixing bowl. Mix in the buttermilk and oil. You want the mixture to be thick but pourable. Stir in the scallions. Pour on top of the meat mixture in the skillet and spread in an even layer. Bake until the meat is bubbling and the cornbread is golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes.

TAMALE PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees with rack in middle position and preheat a 10-inch cast-iron pan over medium-high heat.
• Heat oil in pan. When oil shimmers, add onions, bell pepper, and 1 teaspoon salt and cook until vegetables are soft and golden in places, about 5 minutes.
• Add black pepper, oregano, cumin, and ground beef to pan and continue cooking just until beef is cooked through, 3 minutes. Stir in tomato paste and cook 1 more minute. Add tomatoes, breaking them up with side of spoon, and simmer mixture until thickened slightly, 5 minutes.
• Bring 2 1/2 cups water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Stir in cornmeal and remaining 1 teaspoon salt and cook until thick and creamy, 2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in cheese, jalapeno, and corn. Spread evenly over beef mixture.
• Transfer pan to oven and bake until top is golden and filling bubbles along the sides of pan, 40-45 minutes. Let stand 20 minutes before serving.

OLD-SCHOOL TAMALE PIE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir ground beef, onion, and bell pepper in the hot skillet until beef is browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes. Drain and discard grease.
• Stir tomatoes, tomato sauce, corn, olives, chili powder, garlic, cumin, salt, red pepper flakes, and black pepper into the skillet. Bring to a low boil, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low and let simmer for 5 minutes. Stir in 1 cup Cheddar cheese and continue to simmer until melted, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat and transfer mixture to the prepared baking dish.
• Heat milk, butter, sugar, and salt for topping in a large saucepan over medium heat until butter has melted, 2 to 3 minutes. Reduce heat to low and stir in cornmeal a little at a time, stirring vigorously with each addition, until smooth and thickened. Remove from heat and stir in 1 cup Cheddar cheese. Drizzle in beaten eggs slowly, stirring vigorously until combined. Pour mixture over filling in the prepared dish, smoothing evenly over the surface.
• Bake in the preheated oven until top is golden brown and filling is bubbly, 30 to 40 minutes. Allow pie to rest for 10 to 15 minutes before serving.

TAMALE PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Lightly grease a 13-by-9-inch pan or a 5-quart casserole with 1 tablespoon butter.
• Puree corn and set aside. In a large heavy-bottomed pan, melt the pound of butter over medium heat. Add flour and cornmeal and stir until smooth. Using a wire whisk, beat in milk and eggs. Add corn puree and cook for 5 minutes, until thick.
• Pour two-thirds of the corn mixture into the prepared pan. Put in oven and bake until the top is brown and set, about 45 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a skillet, saute onion and pepper in the oil until soft. Add the beef and cook until brown, about 5 minutes. Drain excess oil from skillet. Add tomatoes, beans, Tabasco, cumin, cayenne, oregano and salt. Cook, stirring, for about 5 minutes and remove from heat.
• Remove cornmeal mixture from oven and, with a slotted spoon, top with the meat mixture. Using a spatula, spread remaining uncooked cornmeal mixture over the meat. Return to oven and bake until the top is light brown and set, about 30 minutes. Remove from oven and let rest about 15 minutes before cutting. Casserole can be stored, covered, in the refrigerator for a week. Reheat for 15 minutes in a 350-degree oven before serving.

NOT YOUR AVERAGE TAMALE PIE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400°F. Coat a 9 x 13-inch casserole dish with cooking spray.
• Coat a large sauté pan with cooking spray and set it over medium-high heat. Add the turkey, onion, and poblano pepper and season with salt and pepper. Cook until the meat is browned throughout, about 7 minutes; drain well. Return the mixture to the pan and add the corn, tomatoes, cumin, chili powder, and garlic powder. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes. Pour the mixture into the prepared casserole dish.
• Prepare the cornbread mix according to the package instructions. Pour the mixture over the top of the casserole. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until the topping is cooked and golden brown.