Carnitas Tamale Pie
This tamale pie has a cornbread crust instead of a cornbread topping, with fork-tender, salsa verde-flavored carnitas.
Ingredients
- 2.5 lbboneless, skinless pork, cut into 1" pieces, shoulder
- 3 tspKosher Salt
- 2scallions, , sliced for serving plus more
- 4 cloveGarlic, peeled
- 0.25 cupfresh oregano leaves or 4 tsp. dried oregano
- 1orange, , juiced
- 1Lime, juiced
- 1 tspGround Cumin
- 1 cupsalsa verde, for serving plus more
- 1 largeEggs
- 0.5 cuppickled jalapeños, chopped
- 0.5 cupcreamed corn
- 0.5 cupSour Cream, for serving plus more
- 1(8.5-oz.) box Jiffy corn muffin mix
- Cooking spray
- 1 cupcheddar, shredded
- 0.5 cupPepper Jack Cheese, shredded
- fresh cilantro tomatoes, chopped finely chopped for serving
Instructions
- 1
Season pork with salt and place in a large resealable plastic bag. In a food processor or blender, blend scallions, garlic, oregano, orange juice, lime juice, and cumin until smooth. Pour over pork. Seal bag and massage marinade into pork. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes or up to 8 hours.
- 2
Transfer pork and marinade to a pressure cooker. Add salsa verde and stir to combine. Cover and cook on high pressure for 45 minutes. Let pressure cooker naturally release for 10 minutes, then quick release.
- 3
Transfer pork to a large, shallow container and shred with forks into small pieces. Pour liquid from pressure cooker into a tall, narrow container (like a deli quart container). Using a ladle, skim and discard fat from the top. Add 1/2 c. pork liquid to meat and toss to combine; discard remaining liquid.
- 4
Meanwhile, preheat oven to 400°. Place a large cast-iron skillet in oven to preheat. In a large bowl, whisk egg, jalapeños, corn, and sour cream until combined. Add corn muffin mix and stir until just combined. Using an oven mitt, remove skillet from oven and spray with cooking spray. Pour in corn muffin mixture.
- 5
Bake cornbread until a tester inserted into the center comes out clean and edges start to pull away from sides of pan, about 20 minutes. Let cool.
- 6
Using the handle of a wooden spoon, poke holes in surface of cornbread. Spoon pork and any accumulated liquid over cornbread. Top with cheddar and pepper Jack.
- 7
Bake tamale pie 15 minutes. Turn on broiler and broil, watching closely, until cheese is bubbling and golden brown, about 5 minutes.
- 8
Top with cilantro, tomatoes, scallions, salsa verde, and sour cream.