Tamal en Cazuela

Name: Tamal en Cazuela
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Cuban
Ingredients: 2 cups fresh corn masa or fine cornmeal; 500g ground beef; 1 onion, diced; 1 green bell pepper, diced; 4 cloves garlic, minced; 2 cups tomato sauce; 4 cups chicken broth; 2 tsp cumin; 1 tsp oregano; 2 tbsp olive oil; Salt and pepper

Tamal en Cazuela (tah-MAHL en kah-SWEH-lah)

Cuban Cornmeal Casserole

⏱ Prep Time 10 min

📈 Difficulty Easy

👥 Servings

🔥 Calories 374 kcal

A deconstructed tamale cooked as a thick, savory cornmeal porridge with ground beef, tomato, and spices — all the tamale flavor without the wrapping.

Nutrition & Info

Protein 22.0g

Carbs 40.0g

Fat 14.0g

Protein Carbs Fat

Dietary

dairy-free gluten-free nut-free

Equipment Needed

large heavy pot wooden spoon

Presentation Guide

Vessel: deep bowl

Garnishes: cilantro, lime wedge

Accompaniments: white rice, avocado

Ingredients

2 cups fresh corn masa or fine cornmeal
500g ground beef
1 onion, diced
1 green bell pepper, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups tomato sauce
4 cups chicken broth
2 tsp cumin
1 tsp oregano
2 tbsp olive oil
Salt and pepper

Instructions

1
Sauté onion, bell pepper, and garlic in olive oil until softened.
2
Add ground beef, cumin, and oregano. Cook until browned.
3
Stir in tomato sauce and chicken broth. Bring to a simmer.
4
Gradually whisk in corn masa or cornmeal, stirring constantly to prevent lumps.
5
Simmer on low heat, stirring frequently, for 20-25 min until thick and porridge-like.
6
Season with salt and pepper. Serve in deep bowls.

💡

Did You Know?

Tamal en cazuela was invented by busy Cuban cooks who loved tamale flavor but had no patience for the hours of wrapping and steaming.

Chef's Notes

Equipment Tips

large heavy pot
wooden spoon

Garnishing

cilantro, lime wedge

Accompaniments

white rice, avocado

The Story Behind Tamal en Cazuela

Tamal en cazuela represents Cuban ingenuity at its best — deconstructing the labor-intensive tamale into a one-pot dish that delivers the same flavors in a fraction of the time. It became a weekday alternative to the time-consuming wrapped tamale, preserving the essential corn-and-meat combination in a more practical format.

🕐 Traditionally enjoyed lunch 📜 Origins: Cuban home cooking tradition

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