Best Not So Corny Tamale Pie Recipes

TAMALE PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9"x9" baking dish or 10-inch oven safe skillet with nonstick cooking spray.
• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and onion and cook until beef is browned and no longer pink, stirring often. Drain any grease from the pan.
• To the beef, stir in tomatoes, corn, olives, chiles, chili powder, garlic powder and salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until thickened; about 10 minutes. Pour the beef mixture into the prepared baking dish.
• In a medium sized bowl, stir together the cornmeal, milk, sugar and eggs just until combined. Mixture will be thin. Spread evenly over the beef mixture in the pan, then top evenly with the cheese.
• Bake uncovered in the preheated 350 degree oven for 40-50 minutes. Top should be golden brown and the sauce should be bubbling up on the sides.
• Let sit for 5-10 minutes before serving. Top with sour cream and sliced green onions if desired.
• Top individual servings with sour cream and parsley or chives for garnish, if desired.

TAMALE PIE

Steps:

• With rack in center position, preheat oven to 400°F. Grease a 2.5-quart baking dish (mine was 10.5- by 7.5-inches) or spray with nonstick cooking spray.
• Set a large skillet, sauté pan, pot, or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook until no longer pink, breaking apart and stirring as the meat cooks. Drain grease and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Remove cooked beef to a separate plate or bowl and return the pot to the stove.
• Reduce heat to medium. Add olive oil and minced garlic; stir for 30 seconds or until fragrant. Whisk in flour and stir continuously for 1 minute. Slowly whisk in beef broth and then tomato sauce, followed by chili powder, cumin, coriander, garlic salt, onion powder, dried oregano, and chipotle chile pepper powder (if using), to taste.
• Bring the sauce to a simmer. Reduce to a low simmer, stirring occasionally, and cook for a couple minutes or until thickened. Turn off the heat.
• Stir the cooked ground beef into the sauce as well as the diced green chiles and 1 CUP of the shredded cheese. Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the masa harina, baking powder, and salt. Stir in the melted butter, milk, egg, and the remaining ½-cup of shredded cheese until all ingredients are just combined. The mixture will be extremely thick.
• Dollop the masa mixture over the beef mixture in the baking dish and spread to the edges, covering completely. Bake, uncovered, for 25 to 35 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and tests done with a toothpick inserted in the center. Serve immediately, plain or topped with your favorite garnishes.

CORNBREAD TAMALE PIE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Grease a 3-quart high-sided casserole dish with cooking spray. In a large skillet, saute the beef and onion over medium-high heat until the meat is brown and the onion translucent, about 10 minutes. Then add the beans, corn, tomato sauce, broth, bell pepper (if using), chili powder, cumin, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Simmer for 15 minutes. Set aside.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder and teaspoon salt. In a small bowl whisk together the egg, milk and oil until combined. Whisk the milk mixture into the flour mixture until combined. Spread the meat mixture into the casserole dish and cover with the corn bread topping. The topping will disappear into the meat mixture but will rise during baking and form a layer of corn bread. Bake until the corn bread is brown, 20 to 25 minutes.