Tastes Like Tamales! (Casserole)

This is a delicious comfort food dish with a Mexican theme. I wanted to try to make tamales one day and then lost all motivation when I found this recipe which provided the flavors of chicken tamales without all the work! It's a win-win! This recipe is a "treat meal" for us, as admittedly it isn't super healthy, though it isn't all bad either. Moderation, moderation, moderation....

Serves:

4

Origin:

Variation of Cooking Light Chicken Tamale Casserole 

Ingredients:

• 4 oz shredded extra sharp cheddar cheese
• 1/3 cup fat-free milk
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 can creamed corn 
• 1 box corn muffin mix (you can't go wrong with Jiffy! you can also whip up your own mix)
• 1 jalapeno seeded and chopped
• cooking spray
• 1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1/2-3/4 cups salsa of your choice (we really like tomatillo salsa on this!)
• 2 cups shredded, cooked chicken breast
• fat-free sour cream
• 2 green onion sliced
• 1 bunch cilantro, chopped 

Cooking:

1. Preheat your oven to 400°.

2.  Take 1/4 of your cheddar cheese and mix it with the milk, egg, cumin, red pepper flakes, creamed corn, muffin mix and jalapeno. Stir this until incorporated. It is okay if it looks lumpy!

3. Pour the batter into a 13 x 9 inch baking pan, coated in cooking spray. Bake for about 15 minutes, or until it is just set.

4. Poke some holes in the top of the cornbread with a fork and then spread your salsa over it.Then layer with your beans, chicken, and the rest of your cheese. Return it to the oven for an additional 15 minutes, or until the cheese begins to bubble.

5. Cut into pieces and top with a small spoonful of sour cream, an a sprinkling of green onions and cilantro.

6. Enjoy.

Notes:

• I have substituted regular corn for the creamed corn and just added a little extra milk. It works just as well, the corn kernels are just solid, rather than crushed.
• You could easily spread refried beans on top of the cornbread for something a little different.
• I've used red enchilada sauce instead of the salsa and while I liked it, Jerry prefers the salsa.
• This is great to eat as a left-over, too!!

So, tamale flavor without all the work? It is pretty much a no-brainer! Give it a try and let me know if you agree!

-Carly