Lunchroom Tamale Pie

Miss Annie's Note:

This is one of those old recipes that tastes like the school lunchroom tamale pie. I always ate in the lunchroom on the day they served this. It is also one of the recipes that I just do, so prep time is an estimate only.

• Total Time: 1 hrs 5 mins
• Prep Time: 25 mins
• Cook Time: 40 mins

Ingredients:

Serves: 6

Yield: 1.0 9x13 in ...

• 2 cups cornmeal
• 2 cups cold water
• 4 cups boiling water
• 1 lb ground chuck
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 2 teaspoons salt, divided
• 1 (16 ounce) can tomatoes, crushed
• 1 bell pepper, chopped
• 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• non-fat cooking spray
• 2 tablespoons butter

Directions:

1. Brown ground chuck.
2. Add onion, bell pepper, and cook until tender.
3. Add chili powder, black pepper, garlic powder, 1 teaspoons.
4. salt and tomatoes.
5. Simmer for 10 minutes and keep warm.
6. Mix cornmeal with cold water.
7. Add boiling water and cook about 10 minutes, or until thick.
8. Add 1 teaspoons salt, stir well.
9. Spray a 9 x 13-inch casserole dish with cooking spray.
10. Use 2/3 of cornmeal mixture on bottom& sides of casserole dish.
11. Pour meat mixture into casserole dish.
12. Spread the remaining 1/3 of cornmeal mixture over meat mixture.
13. Dot with margarine.
14. Bake at 375°F for 40 minutes.

Reviews

[GinnyP]

I enjoyed the flavor of this. I suggest draining the beef after browning. Also, I used a two-quart casserole, but I wonder if a 9 x 13 x 2-inch dish would be better. What do you use Miss Annie? Also, step #7, mine thickened up in about 3 minutes! :)

[TiaGem]

I have been looking for a recipe like this one! Definitely a keeper! I used ground turkey and a seasoning packet which was not as spicy as I hoped. Next time I will REALLY *spice* it up and maybe use salsa as a timesaver instead of chopping the onions & green peppers.

[Tander]

I love the name, Lunchroom Tamale Pie! Just what I was looking for, The Basic Tamale Pie. I made few changes, one large garlic clove instead of powder, more chili powder, extra lean ground beef, & about 1/2 cup of small black olives. I cook for my 89 year old mother and I knew she was sick of chicken. I put half in an 8x8 pyrex dish and half in an aluminum loaf pan for her. She loved it,(she grew up in San Antonio). Thanks for the great recipe.