Description
Hearty cornbread tamale pie from Texas kitchens blends comforting Southwestern flavors with layered meat and cornmeal magic. Home cooks savor this rustic casserole that delivers rich, satisfying textures you’ll want to make again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 cup black beans (rinsed and drained)
- 1 cup corn (drained, canned, or frozen, thawed)
- 1 medium onion (finely chopped)
- ½ cup green bell pepper (optional)
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- 1 tbsp chile powder
- ½ tsp ground cumin
- 1 ½ tsp salt (plus more to taste)
- ¼ tsp black pepper (plus more to taste)
- 1 cup beef or chicken broth
- ¾ cup cornmeal
- 1 tbsp flour
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1 ½ tsp baking powder
- 1 egg
- ⅓ cup milk
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
Instructions
- Meat Preparation: Brown ground meat in a large skillet over medium-high heat, simultaneously sautéing diced onions until they become translucent and fragrant, about 8-10 minutes.
- Flavor Infusion: Incorporate corn kernels, black beans, tomato sauce, broth, bell peppers, chili powder, cumin, salt, and black pepper into the meat mixture. Allow the ingredients to simmer and meld together, stirring occasionally for 12-15 minutes.
- Cornbread Batter Setup: Combine dry ingredients (cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, salt) in a medium mixing bowl, whisking thoroughly to ensure even distribution.
- Liquid Integration: Whisk egg, milk, and vegetable oil in a separate bowl until smooth, then gently fold into the dry ingredients, mixing until just combined to maintain a light texture.
- Assembly and Baking: Transfer the meat and vegetable mixture to a lightly sprayed 3-quart casserole dish, spreading evenly. Pour the cornmeal batter over the top, creating a complete covering. Bake in a preheated 425°F (218°C) oven for 22-27 minutes, or until the cornbread topping achieves a golden-brown color and passes the toothpick test.
Notes
- Meat Selection Magic: Choose lean ground beef or turkey for a healthier version, ensuring the meat is well-browned for maximum flavor development.
- Spice Adaptation: Adjust chili powder and cumin quantities to match your personal heat preference, creating a customized taste profile.
- Batter Blending Technique: Mix wet and dry ingredients gently to prevent tough cornbread; a few small lumps are perfectly acceptable and contribute to a tender texture.
- Doneness Precision: Check cornbread topping with a toothpick test, looking for a clean insertion and golden-brown color to guarantee perfectly cooked pie.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 360
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg