Pastel De Choclo: Chilean Beef and Corn Casserole
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/pastel-de-choclo-beef-corn-casserole-3029546-hero-01-96f8f140cd3c4a71a5da358d6a804a69.jpg)
The Spruce / Diana Chistruga
Nutrition Facts (per serving) | |
---|---|
556 | Calories |
34g | Fat |
28g | Carbs |
36g | Protein |
Nutrition Facts | |
---|---|
Servings: 6 to 8 | |
Amount per serving | |
Calories | 556 |
% Daily Value* | |
Total Fat 34g | 44% |
Saturated Fat 12g | 60% |
Cholesterol 185mg | 62% |
Sodium 495mg | 22% |
Total Carbohydrate 28g | 10% |
Dietary Fiber 3g | 9% |
Total Sugars 14g | |
Protein 36g | |
Vitamin C 6mg | 30% |
Calcium 101mg | 8% |
Iron 4mg | 23% |
Potassium 734mg | 16% |
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. |
Pastel de choclo is a beef and corn casserole that is a very traditional and popular dish in Chile. Lots of different flavors, like beef and onions, raisins, olives, and roasted chicken, go into the body of the casserole, and the whole thing is topped off with a thick layer of creamed choclo corn. The corn "pudding" layer caramelizes in the oven, and the result is a delicious salty/sweet combination that's reminiscent of shepherd's pie.
Choclo is an Andean variety of corn with large starchy kernels that are slightly less sweet than most North American corn varieties, though any corn works well for this recipe. You can often find frozen choclo in Latin American grocery stores.
This dish is traditionally baked in a shallow, round clay pot. A cast-iron skillet works well as a substitute (with the benefit of being able to cook the onions and beef in it first), but any casserole dish will do.
While this dish is filling on its own, sliced tomatoes or a tossed salad is a nice addition to the meal.
Ingredients
-
3 to 4 medium onions, chopped
-
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
-
1 1/2 pounds ground beef
-
2 teaspoons cumin
-
2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
-
1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
-
3 cups corn kernels (fresh or frozen)
-
1 cup whole milk, divided
-
1/4 cup unsalted butter
-
1 tablespoon sugar
-
2 tablespoons basil, finely chopped
-
1/2 cup raisins
-
1/3 cup chopped black olives
-
3 large hard-boiled eggs, chopped
-
1 cup shredded roasted chicken
Steps to Make It
-
Gather the ingredients.
The Spruce / Diana Chistruga
-
Sauté the onions in the vegetable oil until soft and translucent—5 minutes.
The Spruce / Diana Chistruga
-
Add the ground beef, cumin, 1 teaspoon salt, and pepper. Cook, stirring, until the beef is crumbled and browned. Remove from heat and set aside.
The Spruce / Diana Chistruga
-
Place the corn kernels in a food processor or blender with 1/4 cup milk. Process for 1 to 2 minutes, until the corn is blended and appears creamy.
The Spruce / Diana Chistruga
-
Melt 1/4 cup of butter in a large saucepan. Add 1 teaspoon salt, sugar, and the blended corn mixture.
The Spruce / Diana Chistruga
-
Add the remaining 3/4 cup milk and simmer, constantly stirring, until the mixture thickens—about 5 to 10 minutes.
The Spruce / Diana Chistruga
-
Remove from heat and stir in the chopped fresh basil. Preheat oven to 375 F.
The Spruce / Diana Chistruga
-
Drain the liquid from the browned beef mixture.
The Spruce / Diana Chistruga
-
Place the ground beef mixture in the bottom of a 3- to 4-quart casserole dish.
The Spruce / Diana Chistruga
-
Sprinkle the raisins, olives, and hardboiled eggs over the beef, then layer the chicken on top.
The Spruce / Diana Chistruga
-
Spread the corn mixture over the top of the casserole so that it covers the rest of the ingredients. Sprinkle some sugar on top.
The Spruce / Diana Chistruga
-
Bake the casserole in the oven for 30 to 45 minutes, until the filling is bubbling hot and the corn mixture is golden brown.
The Spruce / Diana Chistruga
-
Serve warm.
The Spruce / Diana Chistruga
How to Store
- Pastel De Choclo can be stored in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days. Cover the pan tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil, or put leftovers in an airtight container.
Recipe Tags: