Real Recipes From Real Home Cooks ®

tamale pie

Recipe by
Carol Davis
Silver City, NM

This recipe originally came from my Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook (the red and white checkered one most of us have) that my Mom gave me when I left home, as I couldn't take hers. Mine was a little different but had all my favorite recipes she used to make. When my daughter started cooking I got her one of those red and white gems as well. Once again it was a little different, but still the best basic cookbook. So in their tradition I have updated it (we don't have to chop olives any more) and I added the beans. Enjoy.

yield 6 -8
prep time 20 Min
cook time 1 Hr 10 Min
method Bake

Ingredients For tamale pie

  • 1 lb
    ground beef
  • 1 c
    chopped onion (1 onion)
  • 1 c
    chopped green bell pepper (1 pepper)
  • 15 oz
    can tomato sauce
  • 1 can
    whole kernel corn, drained
  • 4 1/4 oz
    can chopped ripe olives
  • 1 clove
    garlic
  • 1 Tbsp
    sugar
  • 2-3 tsp
    chili power
  • dash
    pepper
  • 1 can
    black beans
  • 1 1/2 c
    shredded cheddar cheese
  • TOPPING
  • 3/4 c
    yellow cornmeal
  • 1/2 tsp
    salt
  • 2 c
    cold water
  • 1 Tbsp
    butter or margerine

How To Make tamale pie

  • 1
    Cook meat, onion, and green pepper in a large skillet till meat is lightly browned and vegetables are tender. Stir in tomato sauce, corn, olives, garlic, sugar, the 1 teaspoon salt, chili powder, and pepper. Simmer 20 or 25 minutes, or until thick. Add beans and cheese; stir until cheese is melted. Turn into a greased 3 quart baking dish.
  • 2
    Make cornmeal topper: In a saucepan; stir cornmeal and 1/2 teaspoon salt into cold water. Cook and stir till thick. Add butter; mix well. Spoon over hot meat mixture.
  • 3
    Bake casserole in moderate oven (375) about 40 minutes, or until cornmeal topping is crusty and cooked through, unless you like it mushy. Serve with sour cream as garnish. Make this as spicy as you're in the mood for by substituting cayenne for chili powder.

Categories & Tags for Tamale Pie:

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