Tasty Tamale Pie - Casserole

By Beefman-2

This recipe is from our grammar school cookbook. Thank you Kathy G!
My DH made this and I was truly impressed. This can be made as mild or as spicy as you like. Choose your salsa, cheese & amount of jalapeno according to your taste. Olives are optional. I also like to make the salsa smoother in the food processor to make it more kid friendly (no pieces!). I have used both condensed and regular whole milk with success, also combined bottled and fresh salsa.

Ingredients

• 1 lb lean ground beef, cooked and drained
• 1 small onion, fine dice
• 16 ounces bottled salsa, any heat preference I like medium
• 1/3 cup water
• 1 (7/8 ounce) packet taco seasoning, Chi Chi's Fiesta is my preference
• 3 ounces ripe black olives, chopped (optional)
• 1 cup cornmeal, dry
• 12 ounces evaporated milk, I have used whole milk
• 4 ounces green chilies, canned, diced
• 1 cup monterey jack pepper cheese, divided, grated, sub. cheddar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 jalapeno, sliced

Details

Servings 1
Preparation time 30mins
Cooking time 60mins
Adapted from food.com

Preparation

Step 1

1 Preheat oven to 400°. 2 Cook ground beef and onion in a large skillet until beef is browned, and onions tender, drain. 3 Stir in salsa (can make smoother in texture in the food processor, if you desire), water and taco seasoning packet; bring to a boil until some of the water as boiled off and it is the sauce is saucy not thin and watery. 4 Reduce heat to low and stirring occasionally, for 3-4 minutes. Add olives, if using, and stir. 5 In a medium sauces pan: combine cornmeal, evaporated milk, green chilies, 1/2 C cheese and salt. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly for 5-7 minutes or until thickened (to the consistency of thin oatmeal). 6 In a 8x8 ungreased baking dish: Spoon in meat filling, then spread cornmeal on top of meat mixture. 7 Bake for 25 minutes, sprinkle with remaining cheese and garnish w/ jalapenos. Bake an additional 5 minutes until cheese is melted.