Gluten-free dinners: tamale pie (with a dash of spicy gossip)

I was a total Mexican food junkie a few years back and this dish was a staple in my repertoire. The spice fetish got sidelined when the kids came along, but I’m becoming more adventurous again now that they are too.

This is also great as a vegetarian dish – just skip the chicken and cheese layer in the middle.

RECIPE: Chicken Tamale Pie

• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 onion, finely diced
• 1 green capsicum, finely diced
• 1 red capsicum, finely diced
• 1 large garlic clove, crushed
• 1 tsp chipotle chilli powder or 1/2 teaspoon chilli flakes + 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1/2 tsp ground cumin
• 2 corn cobs, kernels removed from husk
• 2 cups milk
• 2 cups water
• 400g can chopped tomatoes
• 1 cup polenta
• Shredded meat from thighs and legs of a cooked chicken
• 1 & 1/2 cups grated cheddar cheese
• 2 green onions/shallots, finely sliced
• 1/4 cup coriander leaves, chopped
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1/4 cup pitted olives, chopped

METHOD: Preheat oven to 200°C (180°C fan-forced).

Heat oil in a heavy-based frying pan. Add onion, capsicums and garlic. Saute over a gentle heat until softened.

Stir in chipotle powder/smoked paprika and chilli, cumin. Cook for 1 minute. Add milk, water and tomatoes. Bring to a simmer. Gradually stir in polenta until the mixture thickens. Return to a simmer.

Cook over a low heat, stirring regularly, for around 15-20 minutes until mixture thickens. Stir in corn kernels (or, if you have a child who doesn’t like them – as I do – steam them to sprinkle on top at the end).

Pour half of the polenta mixture into a flat casserole dish. Top with the shredded chicken and half the cheese. Pour the rest of the mixture over the top. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Allow casserole to cool.

Bake for 20-30 minutes until heated through and the cheese is bubbly.

Serve with dollops of sour cream and sprinkled with shallots, coriander and olives (or whatever combination your kids prefer).

MEANWHILE … OVER AT HOUSEGOESHOLLYWOOD …

Another gem from Kirstie Alley‘s recent interview with Barbara Walters regarding her love for John Travolta:  “I know John. With all my heart and soul, he’s not gay…I think it’s some weird way, in Hollywood, if someone gets big enough and famous enough, and they’re not out doing drugs and they’re not womanizing, what do you say about them?”

Dlisted’s verdict: “she’s the official guardian of his closet door now.”

To catch up on the latest Hollywood happenings, click over to …

HouseGoesHollywood