If you love pork, this tamale pie is for you. Filled with chorizo, bacon and ground pork, this meal in comforting and delicious.
Utah is a very finicky state. Yesterday, it was a gorgeous day with temps in the 70s. It’s supposed to be even warmer today, and then all of a sudden, there is supposed to be a high of 48 on Sunday. Yeah, quite the temperature change.
I’ve lived in Utah long enough to know that just because the calendar says that it is spring, that doesn’t mean it’s time to put away the coats, turn off the heater, or say goodbye to comfort foods until next fall. Nope, here in Utah you never know – you can still have a snow storm in April or May!!
But let’s be honest – I still even enjoy a good, comforting meal any time of year. Maybe not as much as in the winter months, but sometimes, you just want a bowl full of comfort. And that is exactly what this meal was to me. I actually had already made a few things from this (March) issue of Every Day with Rachael Ray, and I had inteded to retire the issue to the bookcase for the time being. But then one night, I was watching a DVR’d episode of The Rachael Ray Show, and she made this Tamale Pie. My husband saw it, and couldn’t stop talking about how good it looked. So out came the issue, and this pie was put on the menu.
My husband rarely request meals, but now I’m wishing he would do it more often. This was definitely a once in awhile meal, but it was so good. If you are a pork lover, this is one that you don’t want to miss. It was comforting, and spicy, and everything I look for in a tamale pie. And there is just something about a meal cooked in a cast iron pan that I love. Pure comfort food. Loved it!
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Pork Lover’s Tamale Pie
Ingredients
- 1 cup milk
- 1 cup cornmeal
- 2 cups boiling water
- salt and pepper
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 oz. Mexican chorizo
- 4 sliced bacon finely chopped
- 1 pound ground pork
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1/2 tablespoon ground coriander
- 1 small onion chopped
- 3-4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 cup beef or chicken broth
- 1 10-oz can diced tomatoes with chiles, drained
- 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- cilantro and sliced green onions for garnishing
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan over medium heat, warm up the milk. Whisk in the cornmeal, then the boiling water. Turn the heat to medium-low and cook, stirring occasionally, until it is very thick, 15-20 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, then stir in the butter and the honey.
- Meanwhile, preheat the broiler. In a large ovenproof skillet, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the chorizo adn bacon, and cook for 3 minutes. Stir in the ground pork and cook, breaking up the meat until it is browned, about 8 minutes. Season with the thyme, chili powder, coriander, salt and pepper. Add in the onion and garlic and cook for a few minutes. Stir in the broth and cook for 1 minute. Add the tomatoes, and cook until heated through.
- Spoon the cornmeal over the pork mixture. Top with the cheddar, then brown under the broiler until melted and bubbly.
- Serve from the skillet, garnished with cilantro and sliced green onions.
Susan says
I was looking for variations on Tamale Pie. I made one recently that called for putting the meat mixture in a 13 x 9 pan, putting the cornmeal on top and baking for 30 minutes. Maybe that method would help the corn meal dry a little more while cooking.
I’m very anxious to try this pork version of tamale pie but will use the pork mix from this recipe and stick with my old way of baking the masa on top. Pork, bacon, and chorizo sounds so delicious!!!
Petunia says
I should have known when I read “Rachel Ray” that this recipe wasn’t going to be great. I modified slightly to add more flavor (because her recipes are always lacking), but seriously matter how much I baked this, the corn meal layer never fully cooked. I started out under the broiler like the recipe suggested, then ended up baking it for a good 30-40 minutes more. Between the fat in the chorizo, the broth, and the cheese, the corn meal just stayed wet and uncooked. What a bummer
Julia says
Made this tonight per the instructions. What a disappointment. :o(. The meat was like soup. Even after I drained off a bunch of liquid (the broth is TOTALLY unnecessary) this pie was a soggy mess. Rachel Ray has never steered me wrong before, but this recipe is terrible. You’d do better with some canned chili and a box of Jiffy cornbread mix. :o(
Deborah says
@Julia, I’m so sorry it didn’t work out for you! I didn’t have the same problem, so I’m not sure what went wrong. I hope the next one is better for you.
Chung-Ah | Damn Delicious says
I’m so excited to make this. I only cook on the weekends so it’s absolutely killing me that it’s only Tuesday because I want to make this RIGHT NOW! Ahhhhh!!
grace says
outstanding! my cast iron skillet exists for creations like this one!
Joanne says
NYC weather is similar. It might snow in October. Or in May. You just never know. Thank god for comfort food like this! Though I could eat it year round, it definitely is kind of more fun to cozy upto it in cold weather.
Chels R. says
This Tamale Pie looks so good and very different from the version my Mother in Law gave me. I’ve got to get me a Cast Iron Skillet one of these days. I was eyeing them a few weeks ago at Kitchen Kaboodle and should of bought one 🙁 Now I’m wishing I had.
Deborah says
@Chels R., check out yard sales or thrift stores. I have like 5 of them in different sizes – all that my mom found at yard sales! (and they aren’t too expensive anyway, and they seriously will last a lifetime!!)
Tara @ The Butter Dish says
Boy Deb do I remember Spring weather like that growing up in Colorado. In the 70’s on Monday and the 30’s on Tuesday. Oh and we can’t forget the occassion snow storm in say…around..MAY! 🙂
I’m cleaning up my diet again and working towards a goal but I bet there would be a way to give this a health kick. Either way I’m certaining going to pin this puppy right now for future reference.