Tamale pie

8 servings

Ingredients

QuantityIngredient
1poundsGround round
1largeOnion; finely chopped
1largeGreen bell pepper seeded and diced
1Garlic clove; minced
2cans(15 oz) tomato sauce
4cupsCooked kidney beans or
2cans(16 oz) kidney beans well drained
cupCorn kernels, frozen
1tablespoonChili powder; or to taste
1teaspoonGround cumin
¼teaspoonSalt; optional
¼teaspoonBlack pepper
dashCayenne pepper; optional
1packCorn tortillas, 6-inch round

Directions

Recipe by: Skinny One-Pot Meals - ISBN 0-940625-75-X CONVENTIONAL METHOD:

Preheat oven to 350 F.

In a 3-qt flame-proof, oven-proof casserole, combine ground round, onion, green pepper, and garlic. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until beef has changed color. Remove casserole from burner.

Turn out meat mixture onto large plate lined with paper towels to absorb any excess fat. Return to casserole. Add tomato sauce, kidney beans, corn, chili powder, cumin, salt, if desired, black pepper, and cayenne pepper, if desired. Stir to mix well. Scoop out 5 cups of mixture and reserve in medium-sized bowl.

Lay half the tortillas over mixture remaining in casserole, overlapping can covering entire surface. Add 2½ cups of reserved meat and bean mixture over tortillas, spreading it out with back of spoon. Lay remaining tortillas over mixture in casserole, overlapping and covering entire surface. Top with remaining meat and bean mixture, spreading it out evenly over tortillas.

Bake, uncovered, 45 to 50 mins or until sauce begins to buble and flavors are well blended.

MICROWAVE METHOD (NOTE: tested in 900 watt microwave. Adjust times accordingly). In 2 ½-qt microwave-safe cassrole, stir together ground round, onion, green pepper, and garlic. Cover and microwave on high 6 to 8 mins, stirring meat and breaking it up 1 or 2 times during microwaving, until meat is cooked through. With large spoon, break up any remaining large pieces of meat.

Turn out meat mixture onto large plate lined with paper towels to absorb any excess fat. Return to casserole. Add tomato sauce, kidney beans, corn, chili powder, cumin, salt, if desired, black pepper, and cayenne pepper, if desired.

Stir to mix well. Layer casserole with tortillas as directed above under "conventional method".

Cover with casserole lid and microwave on high 15 to 17 mins or until mixture is heated through and flavors are well blended. Allow casserole to rest on flat surface 5 mins before serving.

NUTRITIONAL DATA (based on 8 servings) Per Serving: Calories 363 Fat (gm) 8.9 Sat. fat (gm) 2.9 Cholesterol (mg) 35 Sodium (mg) 744 Protein (gm) 23 Carbohydrate (gm) 51 % Calories from fat 21