Beef and Cheese Tamale Pie

Beef and Cheese Tamale Pie Recipe

This festive casserole is perfect for the holidays. It feeds a crowd and kids love it.

Ingredients
Filling:
1 large onion, chopped
1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 (14-ounce) canned stewed tomatoes
2 cups corn kernels, fresh or frozen
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 1/2 cups grated pepper Jack cheese, divided
1 1/2 cups grated sharp Cheddar cheese, divided

Cornmeal Batter:
3 cups lower-sodium chicken broth
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups yellow cornmeal
2 cups cold water
1 cup low-fat plain yogurt

Toppings:
1/3 cup low-fat plain yogurt
3 tablespoons heavy or light cream
1/2 cup canned diced tomatoes, drained
Sour cream (optional)
1 (6-ounce) can pitted black olives (optional)
Instructions
1. To prepare beef filling, combine onion, ground beef, garlic, oregano, cumin, salt and chili powder in a large skillet; sauté until beef is browned.
2. Add tomatoes and corn and heat through. Remove from heat and stir in cilantro.
3. Preheat the oven to 350F. Lightly grease a 13-by-9-inch casserole dish.
4. To prepare cornmeal batter, combine chicken broth and salt in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat. Whisk together cornmeal and cold water until smooth. While broth is boiling, add cornmeal mixture all at once, whisking constantly. Stir over medium heat until thick and boiling. Cook 3 to 5 minutes or until the consistency of mashed potatoes. Stir in yogurt and cook 3 to 5 minutes, stirring often.
5. Spread about two-thirds of the cornmeal batter in casserole. Add beef filling. Top with 1 cup pepper Jack and 1 cup Cheddar cheese. Spoon on remaining cornmeal batter and smooth with a spatula.
6. To make the toppings, stir yogurt and cream together in a small bowl. Spoon lines of yogurt mixture and diced tomatoes across top. Sprinkle remaining cheeses over top.
7. Place casserole dish on top of a large baking sheet. Bake 30 minutes; cover with foil and bake 30 minutes longer. Let stand 20 minutes before serving. Serve with sour cream and black olives. Serves 10.

Recipe by Jim Fobel, "Relish Entertaining," December 2006.


Nutritional Information
Per serving: 370 calories, 17g fat, 27g prot., 32g carbs., 4g fiber, 1030mg sodium.


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Here are some of the current comments about this recipe. To read more or post your own comments, visit our message boards.
1/2 of WHAT of cilantro? A branch, a cup, a tablespoon??? Please post a correction or clarification.
Thank you.
carolroberts
12/6/06 6:10 PM
Oops, how did that happen? So sorry. The amount is 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro. If you make it, let us know how you liked it. Thanks
The Relish Editors
12/7/06 12:12 PM
It had to be a half cup, no other measure would have fit . That's the way I read it, that't the way I made it and that's the way my co workers ate it!
I thought it was a little labor intensive but it made a delicious dish.
The corn meal batter thickened too quickly on me but I'm not used to an electric stove and may have misjudged the heat.
None the less, it was very good.....especially with a big old glop of sour cream. I'll certainly make it again!
arksawyer
12/7/06 10:16 PM
I too knew that the omitted measurement of 1/2 cilantro, had to be a half- Cup. When the corn meal started to thicken or set as I was spreading it on top, I just dipped my spatcula in a glass of water and the batter spread like butter. Very good recipes.
LaynePearce
Layne Pearce
12/11/06 6:17 PM

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