Tamale Pie Recipe

Here's a recipe for a delicious, complete vegetable protein dish called Tamale Pie. The combination of beans and cornmeal makes for filling and healthy treat.

Filling
2 c. cooked pinto beans or kidney beans
2 T. coconut oil
1/2 c. chopped onion
1/4 t. garlic powder
1 t. chili powder
1 T. tomato paste
3 T. water
1/2 c. chopped green pepper
1/4 c. chopped celery

Crust
2 c. cold water
11/2 c. corn meal
1/2 t. chili powder

Grind beans in a blender or mash in a food mill. Mix tomato paste with water. In a skillet, sauté onion in oil and combine all the rest of the ingredients for the filling. Let cook over medium heat until warm. Keep stirring the mixture to keep beans from sticking. Adjust seasonings to taste.

Combine the ingredients for the crust in a heavy pan and cook over medium heat until cornmeal thickens and comes to a boil. You have to stir this constantly or the cornmeal will stick.

Grease an 8"x8" pan and spread two-thirds of the cornmeal mixture over the bottom and sides. Pour the bean mixture onto the crust. Spread the remaining one-third of the cornmeal on the top.

Bake in a preheated oven for half an hour. Enjoy!

Source: adapted from, "Tamale Pie" in Laurel's Kitchen by Robertson, Flinders, and Godfry 1976