Mexican Polenta Pie Food

MEXICAN POLENTA PIE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F. Grease pie plate, 9x1 1/4 inches. Mix cornmeal, water and salt in 2-quart saucepan. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly; reduce heat to medium. Cook about 6 minutes, stirring frequently, until mixture is very thick; remove from heat. Quickly stir in egg. Let stand 5 minutes.
• Spread cornmeal mixture in pie plate. Bake uncovered 15 minutes. Spread beans over cornmeal mixture. Sprinkle with cheese and corn chips.
• Bake uncovered about 20 minutes or until center is set. Let stand 5 minutes before cutting.

MEXICAN POLENTA PIE

Steps:

• Place the pork, beans, beer, water, tomatoes, salsa, seasoning, and garlic in the slow cooker. Cook on high for 4 hours or low for 6-7 hours. When pork is cooked through and beans are tender, shred the pork in the slow cooker with two forks.
• Bring water to a boil in a large non-stick pan; add a pinch of salt. Add polenta and cook over medium low heat. It will splatter, so be careful! After a while the polenta should stop bubbling - stir in the corn. Continue stirring every once in a while to prevent it from sticking all over the bottom. It will thicken as it cooks - cook for about 20-25 minutes for a soft polenta, adding more water if necessary and seasoning it with salt and pepper.
• Preheat the broiler. Arrange the meat and bean mixture in the bottom of a large pie, casserole, or baking dish and spread the polenta over the top. Cover with cheese (I used about a cup of shredded Mozzarella). Place under a broiler for a few minutes until cheese is melted.

MEXICAN POLENTA PIE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375.
• Mix cornmeal, water, chicken broth and salt in medium saucepan. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly, over medium-high heat.
• Reduce heat to medium, continue cooking, stirring frequently, until mixture is very thick and stiff (2 to 5 minutes). Remove from heat; let stand 5 minutes.
• Stir in egg and half-n-half.
• Spread cornmeal mixture into buttered 9" pie plate. (*I find that using a lightly buttered sandwich-baggie over my hand works great for this, to push the cornmeal mixture evenly into the pie plate and up the sides.) Bake uncovered 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, mix salsa, jalapenos (if using)and beans in medium bowl; mash a little with a potato masher to incorporate.
• When cornmeal crust is done, spread bean mixture over evenly.
• Sprinkle with cheese and tortilla chips.
• Bake uncovered 20 minutes.
• Let stand a few minutes before slicing.
• Top individual servings with sour cream.

MEXICAN POLENTA PIE

Steps:

• preheat oven to 375°F.
• In a skillet cook onion, sweet pepper,and garlic in 1 tablespoon hot oil until tender.
• Add turkey, chili powder, cumin and cayenne.
• Cook until turkey is no longer pink, stirring to break up meat.
• Add beans, undrained tomatoes and salsa.
• Bring to boiling; reduce heat.
• Simmer gently 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, grease a 3-quart rectangular baking dish with the remaining 1 tablespoon oil.
• Cut 1 tube polenta into 1/2-inch cubes; press evenly into prepared baking dish.
• Halve remaining polenta lengthwise and cut into 1/2-inch thick slices; set aside.
• Sprinkle 1 cup of cheese over polenta in dish.
• Top with meat mixture.
• Arrange sliced polenta over meat; sprinkle with remaining cheese and fresh tomato.
• Bake, uncovered, for 35 minutes or until bubbly.
• Sprinkle with cilantro.
• Let stand 15 to 20 minutes before serving.
• Makes 12 servings.

ENCHILADA POLENTA PIE

Steps:

• Heat oil in a small skillet and cook the onion until browned, about five minutes.
• Transfer the onion to a lightly oiled slow cooker (at least 3.5 quarts). Add the cornmeal, salt, and 1/2 teaspoon of chili powder. Stir in boiling water. Cover and cook on Low for 6-8 hours, stirring often.
• In a large bowl, combine the salsa, beans, corn, chiles, red onion, olives, and remaining 1 tablespoon chili powder. Set aside.
• About half an hour before ready to serve, spread the bean mixture over the top of the polenta. Cover and continue to cook on Low until warmed through.
• Serve garnished with cheddar cheese or monterey jack cheese, and crumbled tortilla chips.

POLENTA PIE

Steps:

• Combine mushrooms and 1/2 cup hot water in a small bowl; set aside.
• Lightly coat bottom and sides of a 10-inch deep-dish pie pan with cooking spray.
• Place broccoli in colander and squeeze out excess water; set aside.
• Heat oven to 400F.
• In a large heavy-bottomed pot, combine remaining 1 1/2 cups hot water, milk and salt; bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat to medium-low and slowly drizzle in cornmeal, whisking constantly.
• Continue to cook, stirring frequently, until polenta is as thick as mashed potatoes, about 6 to 8 minutes.
• Stir in broccoli, mushrooms and their liquid, 3 tablespoons Parmesan and butter.
• Spread polenta mixture evenly in prepared pan.
• Sprinkle on tomato and remaining Parmesan.
• Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until edges begin to brown.
• Cool at least 30 minutes, or serve at room temperature.

POLENTA TAMALE PIE

Steps:

• Sauté beef in heavy large pot over medium-high heat until no longer pink, breaking up meat with back of fork, about 3 minutes. Add chili powder and cumin; stir 1 minute. Add salsa, beans and broth. Simmer until mixture thickens, about 10 minutes. Mix in 1/4 cup cilantro; season with salt and pepper.
• Oil 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish. Place half of polenta in dish. Top with sauce and 1 1/2 cups cheese, then remaining polenta, cheese and cilantro. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover with foil; chill.)
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake freshly assembled pie, uncovered, until heated through and sauce bubbles, about 35 minutes, or bake refrigerated pie, covered, 20 minutes, then uncover and bake until heated through, about 35 minutes.

MEXICAN PIE

Steps:

• Heat oil in skillet over medium high heat.
• Cook onions until translucent.
• Add garlic, taco seasoning and ground beef, cook until brown.
• Stir in green chilies.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Lightly grease pie plate and cover bottom with 4 tortillas.
• Layer in this order: 1/2 beef mixture, 1/2 cheese, 4 tortillas, beans, 4 tortillas, chipolte peppers, 4 tortillas, remaining beef, remaining cheese.
• Bake 30-40 minutes uncovered, or until cheese is melted.
• Serve with toppings of choice (salsa, sour cream, and guacamole).
• Leave out the chipolte peppers if you do not like spice, feel free to add black beans with refried beans for extra protein, and substitute leftover chicken or turkey for the beef with ease. Double recipe to freeze ahead for a lazy or crazy day.