This Vegetarian Tamale Pie starts with dressed up cornbread mix, and topped with Tex-Mex spiced Beyond Beef, cheese and whatever toppings you like. Pickled jalapeรฑo slices, sour cream, chopped tomatoes, green onions and black olives are all fair game.
A perfect vegetarian weeknight dinner! It's easy to make, can be made ahead, and is guaranteed family friendly. Even confirmed carnivores will love this one.
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We just got home from a delicious week in Sedona, Arizona. Between all the creative Latin American-inspired dishes I feasted on, and Cinco de Mayo sitting less than one month away, I'm in the mood for a good Tamale Pie.
โ What is a Tamale Pie?
First of all, a Tamale Pie isn't a tamale. A tamale is a meat / fish / vegetable mixture tucked into a mound of specially treated masa, which is then folded into a packet of corn husks, and steamed.
Secondly, a Tamale Pie is more of a casserole than pie.
At its simplest, this classic Southwestern dish is a pie / casserole traditionally made with a cornmeal crust, topped with fillings often used in making tamales.
Today's versions more often begin with a filling that's baked covered with cornbread batter. Many, like this one, use a cornbread base.
๐ง Ingredients for Tamale Pie
- Jiffy Corn Muffin mix - the original Jiffy Corn Muffin mix contains lard, but Jiffy does have a vegetarian version without the lard. You can also use Whole Food's 365 brand of corn muffin mix, but you'll only need half of the container. This product is also vegetarian.
- Sour Cream - both full fat and light versions work fine.
- Creamed Corn - don't skip this! It give some nice added moisture and texture to the cornbread.
- Vegetarian Meat Substitutes - the choices continue to expand. I use Beyond Beef, but feel free to use crumbled Impossible Burgers, tempeh, or even legumes such lightly smashed chickpeas, pinto beans or black beans.
- Peppers - for more heat, use poblano or serrano peppers. For moderate heat, use jalapeรฑo. For no heat, use red bell pepper or skip entirely. Need to simplify? Swap in a small can of green chiles.
- Enchilada Sauce - use your favorite or make your own.
- Cheese - Jack cheese is my favorite in this recipe, but cheddar will work fine too. Need to simplify? Purchase pre-grated Jack, cheddar or Mexican cheese mix. It doesn't melt quite as well, but it's fine in this recipe.
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๐ช Recommended Equipment
Equipment can have a big impact on how a recipe turns out. For example, when I first made this tamale pie, I made the cornbread and the finished pie in a cast iron skillet. It overcooked and was too dry. I like the presentation better, but I prefer the moister texture when baked in a ceramic baking dish.
๐ Instructions Overview
Detailed instructions for making this vegetarian Tamale Pie are in the recipe card below, but here's a quick overview!
Step 1
Make the cornbread. Mix together the cornbread ingredients and spread in the dish you plan to serve the pie in. Bake until golden brown and firm to the touch.
Step 2
Make the "meat sauce". While the cornbread bakes, cook up the plant-based meat mixture. Stir in some of the enchilada sauce.
Step 3
Poke holes in the cornbread. When the cornbread is done, remove from oven and poke holes all over the surface using the round end of a wooden spoon. Pour some of the enchilada sauce over the cornbread.
Step 4
Layer and bake. Spoon the "meat" sauce over the surface of the cornbread and top with cheese. Bake until the cheese is melted and the edges are a little crispy.
Step 5
Serve. Serve the tamale pie with the remaining enchilada sauce, diced tomatoes, pickled jalapeรฑo slices, sour cream, avocado slices and black olives on the side.
๐ฅฉ For the Meat Eaters
Use ground beef instead of Beyond Beef. Ground turkey would work well too.
๐โโ๏ธ Tamale Pie FAQ
Can I use a different pan to make this tamale pie?
Yes. You can use a 10" cast iron pan, but I recommend using the entire can of creamed corn if you do, to prevent the cornbread from being too dry.
How will I know when the cornbread is done?
The top will be firm and lightly browned; the edges will be just about to start pulling away from the baking dish; and a sharp knife or skewer will come out clean when inserted in the center.
Can I make this dish ahead?
Yes. Be sure to completely cool the finished pie before you cover and slide it into the refrigerator. However, a better approach, IMHO, is to make both the cornbread and "meat" sauce ahead of time, and store them in the refrigerator separately. When ready to make the finished dish, bring the cornbread and meat sauce back to room temperature, assemble the pie, and continue with the recipe.
Can I freeze this dish?
I personally haven't tried this, but it should theoretically work fine. After cooling, slice the pie and store the slices in an airtight container.
๐ More Mexican Dishes You Might Like
If you like enchiladas, I have two kinds on the blog - 30-Minute Skillet Enchiladas and more traditional rolled vegetarian enchiladas. The vegetarian rolled enchiladas post also provides oodles of ideas for other vegetarian enchilada fillings!
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Tamale Pie Recipe (Vegetarian!)
Ingredients
Cornbread
- 1 box Jiffy Corn Muffin mix vegetarian version without the lard
- 1 large egg
- ยฝ cup sour cream
- ยฝ cup creamed corn
- ยผ cup whole milk (ONLY FOR HIGH ALTITUDE BAKERS)
Tamale Pie Filling
- 1 pound Beyond Beef
- 1 ยฝ cups diced onion about 1 small onion
- 4 ounces can diced green chiles, drained or 1 jalapeรฑo or serrano chile finely diced
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ยฝ teaspoon kosher salt or ยผ teaspoon table salt
- 10 ounce can red enchilada sauce or make your own
- 4 ounces shredded Monterey Jack cheese
Garnishes
- cilantro, pickled jalapeรฑo slices, avocado, diced tomatoes, additional enchilada sauce
Instructions
Cornbread
- Preheat oven to 400หF and butter a ceramic baking dish.
- In a mixing bowl, combine the Cornbread ingredients. Mix well with a wooden spoon, and spread into a 9ยฝ"ceramic pie plate or 9" X 9" baking dish. Bake for 20 minutes, or until golden brown and firm to the touch.
- High Altitude Tip: Add 5 minutes onto the baking time.
Tamale Pie
- While the cornbread bakes, break up the Beyond Beef in a large skillet. Add the onion and pepper. Sautรฉ until the "meat" begins to brown (about 15 minutes), and then add the spices.
- Continue to cook for another few minutes until the "meat" is crumbly and browned. Stir in ยผ cup of the enchilada sauce.
- When the cornbread is done, remove from oven and poke holes all over the surface, about halfway down its thickness, using the round end of a wooden spoon.
- Pour ยฝ cup of the enchilada sauce over the cornbread so that it runs across the surface and into the holes. Spoon the "meat" sauce over the surface of the cornbread. Top with cheese. Bake another 15 minutes until the cheese is melted and the edges are a little crispy.
- Bake another 15 minutes until the cheese is melted and the edges are a little crispy.
- Serve warm with garnishes.
Notes
- Jiffy Corn Muffin mix - the original Jiffy Corn Muffin mix contains lard, but Jiffy does have a vegetarian version without the lard. You can also use Whole Food's 365 brand of corn muffin mix, but you'll only need half of the container. This product is also vegetarian.
- Sour Cream - both full fat and light versions work fine.
- Creamed Corn - don't skip this! It give some nice added moisture and texture to the cornbread.
- Vegetarian Meat Substitutes - the choices continue to expand. I use Beyond Beef, but feel free to use crumbled Impossible Burgers, tempeh, or even legumes such lightly smashed chickpeas, pinto beans or black beans.
- Peppers - for more heat, use poblano or serrano peppers. For moderate heat, use jalapeรฑo. For no heat, use red bell pepper or skip entirely. Need to simplify? Swap in a small can of green chiles.
- Enchilada Sauce - use your favorite or make your own.
- Cheese - Jack cheese is my favorite in this recipe, but cheddar will work fine too. Need to simplify? Purchase pre-grated Jack, cheddar or Mexican cheese mix. It doesn't melt quite as well, but it's fine in this recipe.
Patti Calabrese
Jiffy brand corn muffin mix contains lard!
The Wimpy Vegetarian
Thank you so much for your comment!! Someone else let me know this too just now. I've made the changes in the post. Jiffy has a vegetarian version that doesn't contain lard. The Whole Food 365 cornbread mix mentioned as an alternative is also vegetarian.
mjskitchen
We do love tamale pie and this is a great vegetarian version. Normally, I make mine with beans and sometimes I'll add a little chorizo, but you have me interested in trying the Beyond Beef. I haven't used any of that product yet. Great recipe and supporting kitchen notes. Thanks Susan!
The Wimpy Vegetarian
I don't eat a lot of it, but it's really good. I use it in this tamale pie, sloppy joes, and sometimes a pasta sauce. The texture and taste are great!