Name: Mexican Polenta Pie
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 4 h
Total time: 4 h 15 min
Yield: 12
Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients: 1 lb. pork butt or pork shoulder (a large semi-fatty cut of meat with no bones); 1 lb. dry pinto beans, soaked; 12 oz. light beer + 12 oz. water (just refill the bottle); 1 14 oz. can diced tomatoes; 1 16 oz. jar salsa; 1 packet taco seasoning; 6-8 cloves garlic, minced; 1 1/2 cups polenta; 6 cups water; 1 14 oz. can corn, drained and rinsed; salt and pepper to taste (be generous!); shredded cheese, cilantro, and salsa for topping

Description

This Mexican polenta pie is true comfort food! Made with pork and pinto beans in the crockpot and baked with polenta and cheese.

Ingredients

Scale

1 lb. pork butt or pork shoulder (a large semi-fatty cut of meat with no bones)
1 lb. dry pinto beans, soaked
12 oz. light beer + 12 oz. water (just refill the bottle)
1 14 oz. can diced tomatoes
1 16 oz. jar salsa
1 packet taco seasoning
6–8 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 cups polenta
6 cups water
1 14 oz. can corn, drained and rinsed
salt and pepper to taste (be generous!)
shredded cheese, cilantro, and salsa for topping

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Instructions

Place the pork, beans, beer, water, tomatoes, salsa, seasoning, and garlic in the slow cooker. Cook on high for 4 hours or low for 6-7 hours. When pork is cooked through and beans are tender, shred the pork in the slow cooker with two forks.
Bring water to a boil in a large non-stick pan; add a pinch of salt. Add polenta and cook over medium low heat. It will splatter, so be careful! After a while the polenta should stop bubbling – stir in the corn. Continue stirring every once in a while to prevent it from sticking all over the bottom. It will thicken as it cooks – cook for about 20-25 minutes for a soft polenta, adding more water if necessary and seasoning it with salt and pepper.
Preheat the broiler. Arrange the meat and bean mixture in the bottom of a large pie, casserole, or baking dish and spread the polenta over the top. Cover with cheese (I used about a cup of shredded Mozzarella). Place under a broiler for a few minutes until cheese is melted.

Notes

This would also be great with some roasted bell peppers added to it or some chopped chipotle peppers! I couldn’t even fit all the filling or polenta in the casserole dish that I used. It would easily fill a 9×13 or larger baking dish or two pie dishes.

Also, soaking the beans overnight will help ensure that they are fully cooked when the pork is ready.

Prep Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 4 hours
Category: Dinner
Cuisine: Mexican

Keywords: mexican polenta pie, polenta pie, pork and beans pie