Beef and Tomatillo Tamale Casserole
This Southwestern-influenced casserole is sometimes called tamale pie, but there is really nothing pie-like about it, and the corn base is closer to polenta and grits than tamales. Many people shy away from experimenting with tomattillos, but they are wonderful in this recipe; in fact, this is a great recipe for anyone who hasn't used tomatillos before. The casserole can be made 1 or 2 days in advance before baking.
1 pound top sirloin steak, prime or choice grade, 1 inch thick
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon ground
cumin
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese
1 cup grated monterey jack cheese
1 1/4 pounds tomatillos, husks removed, rinsed, cored, and quartered (about 8 large tomatillos)
1 onion, quartered
3 garlic cloves, crushed
3 cups frozen corn, thawed (or fresh)
1 teaspoon sugar
2 cups cooked black beans
2 tablespoons minced canned chipotle chile (or fresh roasted)
2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
5 cups water
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 2/3 cups yellow stoneground cornmeal
TO PREPARE CASSEROLE: Season the beef with 1 tablespoon of the cumin, the salt and pepper, and rub the oil over the beef. Let sit for 30 minutes. Combine the Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses in a bowl and set aside. Puree the tomatillos, onion, and garlic in a food processor for about 4 minutes; the texture should still be somewhat coarse. Heat a large skillet over medium heat and toast the corn for about 7 minutes or until browned, stirring constantly. Turn down the heat to low, add the pureed tomatillo mixture with the sugar and the remaining cumin, and simmer for about 15 minutes, or until thickened. Remove from the heat and stir in the beans, chipotle chile, cilantro, and 3/4 cup of the mixed cheeses. Season with salt and pepper to taste and set aside.
TO PREPARE BEEF: Heat a skillet and sear the beef over high heat for about 1 minute on each side, until browned. Remove and let cool; the beef will be quite rare. Slice the beef across the grain 1/4 inch thick, and then cut each slice into strips about 1-1/2 inches long.
TO ASSEMBLE: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. In a large saucepan, bring the water and salt to a boil. Slowly add the cornmeal to the water, whisking constantly. Turn down the heat and simmer for about 4 minutes, until thickened,. Remove from the heat and stir in 3/4 cup of the reserved cheeses. Grease a 9 by 13-inch baking pan and spread half of the cornmeal mixture over the bottom. Spread the vegetable filling over the cornmeal. Lay out the strips of sirloin over the vegetables. Spread the remaining cornmeal mixture over the top, to within 1 inch of the edge (leaving a 1-inch border of vegetables). Sprinkle the remaining cheese around the edge of the pan. Bake the casserole for about 30 minutes, or until the surface is golden and the casserole is bubbling.
Although the recipe cals for top sirloin, any leftover cooked beef can be sliced or shredded and added. Cooked ground beef or even pork or chicken can be substituted. Add leftover cooked vegetables (especially grilled or roasted). To add a completely different flavor, substitute eggplant for the tomatillo.