Ingredients
8 large corn leaves
4 c. corn flakes, crushed
21 Ritz crackers, crushed
2 tsp. taco seasoning
1 tbsp. adobo sauce
1 1/2 c. corn stock or low-sodium vegetable broth
1/4 c. peanut oil
1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
3 tbsp. powdered cheese
1 tbsp. ranch seasoning powder
2 tbsp. evaporated milk
2 c. cooked pinto beans
1/2 c. corn
2 large cabbage leaves or dampened paper towels
Preparation
Step 1Over an open medium flame, use tongs to heat corn leaves until lightly charred. Set aside.Step 2Make the “masa”: In a large pot over medium heat, add corn flakes and Ritz and stir constantly until toasted, about 2 minutes. Stir in taco seasoning and adobo sauce, then add stock or broth. Cook until corn flakes are softened and stir until paste forms. Add oil and pepper and stir until fully combined and “masa” pulls away from the sides of the pot.Step 3Make the filling: In a large bowl, whisk together cheese powder, ranch powder, and milk until smooth. Add in beans and mash until mostly smooth. Fold in corn until evenly combined.Step 4Lay 4 toasted corn leaves down on a microwave-safe plate. Spread half the masa into a flat 8" round. Spread the bean filling on top, leaving a 1" border. Press portions of remaining masa between your palms into flat pieces and patch together to form the top masa layer. Press edges of masa together to seal in filling completely.Step 5Cover tamale pie with the 4 remaining corn leaves, then cover completely with cabbage leaves or dampened paper towels.Step 6Transfer to the microwave and cook until fragrant and masa begins to crack on top, about 10 minutes.
If you don’t have half a packet of cheese powder sitting around like I did, you can substitute in any form of cheesiness you’d like: American, cheddar, Velveeta, or Cheez Whiz would all be delicious. If you want to go into the white cheese territory, I can’t imagine Parm or Pecorino, feta, or mozzarella not being good in this. Any recipe created during Budget Eats follows the ethos of “make do”—take your liberties with this “recipe” below, and be sure to report back in the comments section what your adventures yielded.
