OT - Tamale casserole

tarheelmatt

Buddy posted a casserole he did where he said he didn't feel like making full blown tamales, so he did this.  I wanted it badly, so I tried it.  Turned out excellent.  



1 - 1-1.5lb ground beef, one onion, 2 cloves garlic, 1 jalepeno, salt, and pepper.  Cook until beef is done.  







2 - Add a jar of salsa. 



3 - Making the tamale bottom and top - 2 cups masa, 4 cups boiling water, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 tablespoon baking powder, chicken bullion (tablespoon).  Mix until spreadable.  Spread in a CI skilled for bottom.  Add filling, and top with remaining.  Bake 350° covered w/ aluminum foil for 45min.  Remove and let set for 30min to set well.  




4 - 



5 - Done!





Wanted to do this on the stove first.  Should couple well with the Egg.  


Thanks for looking.  

Dyal_SC

Mmmmm...    Awesome, man!

theyolksonyou

I could make a mess with that. 

GregW

That looks like it would be great!
With the way my stomach is these days I probably would die from it during the night, but what a way to go.

tarheelmatt

GregW said:

That looks like it would be great!
With the way my stomach is these days I probably would die from it during the night, but what a way to go.

It's not very spicy.  You can certainly tailor to your needs. 

johnmitchell

Looks great Matt and sounds tasty..

yogi84

My mom something similar but we call it tamale pie she uses a new mexico red sauce.. never salsa  Looks good though may have to make this !

tarheelmatt

yogi84 said:

My mom something similar but we call it tamale pie she uses a new mexico red sauce.. never salsa  Looks good though may have to make this !

I really loved this.  Is the red sauce something you can buy or make?  

I will be making this, but on the Egg.  I think that hint of fire taste would work well.  

northGAcock

I could throw back a couple of helpens of that.

JRWhitee

Looks great Matt, a can of Rotel could kick it up a bit.

tarheelmatt

JRWhitee said:

Looks great Matt, a can of Rotel could kick it up a bit.

Absolutely, nice idea!  

Canugghead

Looks great Matt!  How was the pie texture (top and bottom) and what size CI?  Would you do it in egg indirect or raised direct?

tarheelmatt

Canugghead said:

Looks great Matt!  How was the pie texture (top and bottom) and what size CI?  Would you do it in egg indirect or raised direct?

Hello and thanks!  

That was a 10" CI pan.  The texture was just like a tamale, just in a casserole form.  The 30 min wait afterward helps set the top well.  

I did this in the oven, but will be doing in the Egg soon.  

I would go in-direct though, at 350-375° for 45 min.  

yogi84

@tarheelmatt You can buy it or make it... If you can find dried New Mexico red chili or a similar dried chili... Crack the end off remove seeds boil the dried pepper until its soft add to blender w/ garlic,salt,pepper,Mexican oregano and some of the water from the pot the peppers were boiled in. For bonus you can strain again to get any seeds out. The sauce goes great anything....

mrs_story

This looks nummy, and I think both my husband and daughter would enjoy it (she's the tricky/picky one). 

Kinda off topic, but we recently figured out they have those pickled carrots at the grocery store!  We were really happy, because those make a nice easy side to add to a Mexican-themed meal. 

Brisket_Fanatic

Looks wonderful, did you top it with a chili Verde sauce or anything?

pescadorzih

Looks good Matt. Cut me a big slice to go with a frosty beer!

tarheelmatt

Brisket_Fanatic said:

Looks wonderful, did you top it with a chili Verde sauce or anything?

No, I didn't.  Is that traditional?  I bet that would be good.  

Legume

yogi84 said:

My mom something similar but we call it tamale pie she uses a new mexico red sauce.. never salsa  Looks good though may have to make this !

I grew up eating this - tamale pie as you stated.  I think I was an adult before I had real tamales.

tarheelmatt

Whoops... I called it the wrong name.  It is indeed Tamale Pie!  Sorry about that.  

GregW

tarheelmatt said:

GregW said:

That looks like it would be great!
With the way my stomach is these days I probably would die from it during the night, but what a way to go.

It's not very spicy.  You can certainly tailor to your needs. 

Tamale's for a while became my life's obsession.
I love to eat and make them.

A casserole gives all the flavor with a lot less work.
Your's looks great.

eggnewtoy

@legume--have that recipe for NM Red sauce?  Thx

tarheelmatt

eggnewtoy said:

@legume--have that recipe for NM Red sauce?  Thx

@yogi84 noted ingredients above if that helps. 

fishlessman

looks good to me, never had, never seen, have no idea what it tastes like, but i like all the ingrediants.

eggnewtoy

Was so inspired that I made last night too but kind of cheated by using enchilada sauce.  Sautéed medium onion, Serrano pepper, 1 lb of ground beef.  Added 2 packages of Frontera grill red enchilada sauce, s/p, I cup of corn, a can a black beans drained and rinsed, simmered.  Covered with corn meal mixture from NY Times recipe and cooked for 25 minutes in 425-degree oven.  Keeper.  http://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/12015-corn-bread-tamale-pie

tarheelmatt

Nice @eggnewtoy ! 

dldawes1

tarheelmatt ...Looks and sounds awesome bro!!!

I have got to try this one.  Bookmarked !!!!!

GATraveller

That looks fantastic.  I love tamales!!  Good use for some leftover pulled pork too.....carnitas kinda thing.  Bookmarked.

Legume

Oddly enough, my daughter made this for dinner last night - no mention from me, she just wanted to make it and it's in a cookbook I gave her for Christmas.  She cooked it in ci pans and it was a cornbread mix on top.  Comfort food.