Sweet Tamale Pie Recipes

SWEET TAMALE PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400ºF. Spray 9-inch glass pie plate with cooking spray; set aside. Brown meat with onions, bell peppers and garlic in large skillet over medium-high heat; drain. Remove 1/4 cup of the diced tomatoes for later use; set aside. Add remaining diced tomatoes, the corn, half of the green chilies, the salt and pepper to meat mixture; mix well. Reduce heat to medium; simmer 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Spoon into prepared pie plate; set aside.
• Beat egg and milk in medium bowl with wire whisk until well blended. Add corn muffin mix; stir just until moistened. Add remaining green chilies, the reserved 1/4 cup diced tomatoes and the cheese; mix well. Spoon evenly over meat mixture in pie plate. Place on baking sheet.
• Bake 20 to 30 minutes, or until wooden pick inserted in center of the cornbread layer comes out clean. Cut into 6 wedges to serve.

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.

SWEET TAMALE PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Pour 2 tablespoons olive oil into a cold skillet; sprinkle in garlic. Cook garlic over medium heat until sizzling and fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir onion, salt, and pepper into the garlic and olive oil; cook until onion is translucent, 5 to 10 minutes. Cook and stir ground beef into onion mixture until beef is browned and crumbly, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Mix 2 cans Mexican-style corn, salsa, hot tomato sauce, 1 can chopped green chiles, and taco seasoning into ground beef mixture; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover skillet, and simmer until liquid has reduced, about 15 minutes. Transfer meat mixture to a 10x14-inch casserole dish.
• Stir corn bread mix, milk, vegetable oil, and egg together in a bowl; fold in 2 cans drained Mexican-style corn, 1 can drained green chiles, Mexican cheese blend, and 1 tablespoon olive oil. Spoon cornbread mixture over meat mixture.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the corn bread comes out clean, about 30 minutes.

PORK TAMALE PIE

Steps:

• Prepare the filling. Combine 1 to 1-1/2 lbs of shredded meat with 1 cup of Salsa Verde. If you are using diced onions, fiesta corn, and sliced olives, adds them here. Note: Shredded rotisserie chicken makes this recipe super easy for any weeknight meal.
• Prepare Dough. Combine masa, warm chicken broth, baking powder, salt, and oil in a large bowl, Mix together until the dough has the consistency of a soft paste. Cover & let rest for at least 15 minutes at room temperature so the dough can thoroughly absorb the liquid ingredients
• Preheat the oven. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and lightly oil a 9 x 9-inch (2-1/2 quart) casserole dish. This will not quite fit in an 8 x 8-inch (2-quart) dish. NOTE: If you do not have a 2-1/2 quart casserole, move up to a 13x9-inch (3-quart) dish to prevent spillage.
• Form the Bottom Tamale Layer. Press half of the tamale dough into the casserole dish forming a thin bottom layer. With your fingers, a fork, or a small spatula, press the mixture evenly across the bottom of the pan and halfway up the sides, about 1/4- inch thick.
• Add the Filling. Spoon the meat mixture prepared earlier evenly over the entire dough surface.
• Prepare the top tamale layer. Spread the remaining tamale dough over the filling, trying to make the top portion about the same thickness as the bottom. Do this by spreading the dough out on a piece of plastic wrap and then inverting it over the tamale casserole and then peeling back the plastic wrap. If it tears a little bit, don't worry! It will come together during baking.
• Create the Steam Bath. Fill a large roasting pan with about 2 inches of hot water. Place the uncovered tamale casserole into the water bath. Cover both the tamale casserole and roaster pan with one layer of aluminum foil and place in oven. The water will steam the tamale and cook it all the way through.
• Bake. Bake for 45 to 60-minutes or until the Masa layer is set. Let it cool slightly (10-minutes) before serving so it holds its form.
• Serve. Serve warm with pico de gallo, salsa verde, sour cream, cheese sauce, enchilada sauce, crumbled cheese, chopped onions, or a traditional red salsa. There's no wrong way to eat a tamale!
• Store. Store any leftover tamale pie covered in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.
• Freeze. Alternatively, tamale pie may also be frozen in smaller portions and reheated in the microwave. This makes a quick and easy weekday lunch.Warm at 50% power until heated through.

SWEET TAMALES

Steps:

• If using corn husks, soak in warm water for a 1/2 hour until pliable and then drain. If using banana leaves, Defrost the banana leaves overnight in the refrigerator if frozen, and cut off any hard sections or sections with holes. Cut the leaves into unbroken 12 inch pieces. If the leaves are pliable, proceed with the recipe. If not steam the banana leaves in the top of a double boiler until soft and pliable, 20 to 30 minutes. Set aside until ready to assemble the tamales.
• In a small saucepan gently heat the rum. Place the raisins in a small bowl and cover with the warm rum. Let the raisins soak and absorb the rum while you prepare the masa.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer beat the vegetable shortening until very light, about 1 minute. Add the sugar and half of the masa and beat until combined. Mix the milk and coconut milk and add alternately with the remaining masa in several batches to the mixture until the mixture is the consistency of medium-thick cake batter. Add baking powder, salt, and cinnamon, and beat for 30 more seconds. Add the melted butter and beat to incorporate, being careful not to overmix.
• Spoon about 3 tablespoons of the masa batter into the center of a banana leaf. Place about 2 teaspoons of the plumped raisins in the center. Fold 1 side over the batter and then the other to enclose the filling. Bring the bottom and the top over the filling to create a package. Tie the tamale with a piece of string, and repeat with the remaining masa batter and filling.
• If using corn husks spoon about 2 tablespoons masa down the center of the husk and then about a tsp of raisins. Fold both sides over the masa and then fold up the bottom. (Please refer to the photos for guidance).
• Line an insert steamer with a layer of unused banana leaves. Lay the tamales in the lined steamer, and steam over simmering water until the tamales are cooked through and release easily from the banana leaf wrappers about 1 1/2 hours.

SWEET TAMALES (TAMALES DULCES)

Steps:

• Place butter and sugar in a medium size bowl and, with the help of a mixer, beat for a couple of minutes until it has a creamy texture. About 2 minutes.
• In a larger bowl, mix Masa Harina, baking Powder and raisins. Stir well and then add the warm water little by little.
• While mixing the dry ingredients with the water, add the drops of red food coloring. Mix well to have a uniform color.
• Once you've incorporated the food coloring into the dough, it will look slightly pink. Now add the butter and sugar mixture.
• Beat the dough with your hands or a wooden spoon, as the dough is somehow too heavy to work with your mixer unless you have a Heavy Duty Stand Mixer like Kitchen Aid. The dough will be ready when it looks fluffy and creamy, like a very soft ice cream. If your dough seems too dry, add a little more water. The consistency has to be very soft.
• Drain the corn husks from the soaking water. Place about 1/3 cup of the dough over the corn husk and wrap the tamal. If you're also making savory tamales, you can tie the sweet tamales in order to differentiate them from the savory ones. Keep assembling the rest of the tamales.
• Place the tamales standing up in your steam pot (Tamalera), add about an inch of hot water, cover with corn husks, aluminum foil or a plastic bag, and then cover with the pot lid. Cook for 1 to 1 1/4 hour at medium heat. Add more hot water if needed to avoid burning the tamales.

TAMALE PIE

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients. Preheat the oven to 400 F.
• Heat the oil in a 12-inch deep skillet over medium heat (cast iron, stainless steel, or oven-safe nonstick). Once hot, add the ground turkey and onion. Sauté, breaking up the turkey, for 3 to 4 minutes, or until the turkey is mostly cooked and the onion is turning translucent.
• Add the bell pepper and garlic and sauté for 2 to 3 more minutes.
• Add the chili powder, cumin, and salt and stir to completely combine.
• Add the black beans, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, chiles, and corn. Stir and cook just until bubbly.
• Taste for seasoning. Turn off the heat and set aside while you make the topping.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine the masa harina, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Whisk together to combine.
• Add the chicken broth and use an electric mixer to beat for 2 to 3 minutes, until fluffy. Alternatively, beat with a wooden spoon.
• Add the melted butter and egg and beat for 2 more minutes until well combined. The mixture should resemble creamy mashed potatoes-if it is too stiff, add another splash or two of broth. Add 1/2 cup shredded cheese and mix just to combine.
• Spread the cooked filling out in the skillet into an even layer. Top with 1 cup of cheddar cheese.
• Top with large dollops of the masa topping, then use a rubber spatula to gently spread into an even layer, spreading almost to the edge.
• Bake, uncovered, for about 30 to 45 minutes, or until the filling is very bubbly, the topping is pale golden brown, and a toothpick inserted in the center of the masa comes out clean. Let cool for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.

KETO TAMALE PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• For the tamale pie filling, heat the oil in a large skillet. Add the onion and sauté about 10 minutes, or till the onions start to become transparent and darken. Add the bell pepper and continue to sauté till tender. Add the garlic and stir.
• Add the chili powder, cumin, and cinnamon and cook for two minutes while tossing.
• Add the ground beef. Crumble the ground beef while browning. Continue stirring the vegetables while you do this. Add the beef base paste and stir it in.
• Optional: Add the spinach and turn the heat off. Allow the spinach to wilt for 2-3 minutes.
• Stir in the tomato sauce.
• Pour filling into an 8"x8" glass pan or similar size (I've also used a ceramic casserole dish like this gorgeous one).
• Sprinkle the cheddar cheese over the filling.
• For the cornbread topping, add all ingredients except the last 2 tablespoons of butter to a medium bowl and stir till smooth. Gently spread evenly over the top of the filling. Baste the remaining melted butter evenly over the top of the cornbread topping.
• Bake in preheated 375°F oven for 25 minutes. Allow the casserole dish to sit for 10 minutes before serving. Enjoy!