Easy Tamale Turkey Pot Pies

This one is the ultimate comfort food FAST.
If you have the ground turkey on hand then this one comes together very quickly.  You can easily customize it with what you have on hand.  

I used canned stuff, but easily could have used fresh or frozen.  The brilliant part of this is the topping of cornmeal cooked up with jalapeno and some cheese.  It's a simple thing to do.

You could serve this right away, but it's especially nice topped with more cheese and cooked up bubbly in the oven.  I used individual dishes, like mini pot pies, but an 8x8 pan would work just as well.

NOTE:  I show the butter to be used with the polenta/tamale topping, but I completely forgot about it and didn't add it.  I'd say it's up to you, it would be delicious with it, but if you want to keep this dish lower fat, then leave it out.

My suggestion would be to make sure that the polenta/tamale topping tastes yummy before you add it on top of the turkey mixture.  Add salt and pepper and taste it.

Makes 4-6 servings
Ingredients

1-20 oz pkg of low fat ground turkey
1/4 cup white onion, minced
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 can corn, drained
1 can tomatoes, drained
1 jalapeno, minced (optional)
2-3 Tbsp green onion, chopped
2-3 Tbsp cilantro, chopped 
1-2 tsp chili powder
1 tsp cumin
 Salt to taste

2 cups water, or chicken stock
1/4 cup butter (optional)
2/3 cup cornmeal
1 jalapeno, minced
1 cup cheese, grated (with a little more for the top)
1/2 tsp salt 

Preheat the oven to 400

Fry up the ground turkey and the onions over medium high heat.  Cook until no longer pink.  Drain off any extra liquid.  Drain the tomatoes, beans (rinse and drain) and the corn.  Mix in the jalapeno and the green onion.  Add the cumin and the chili powder.  Add a little salt if needed.

Add the meat mixture to a dish, or dishes.

In a saucepan, heat up the water or broth and the butter until almost boiling.  With a whisk stir the liquid while sprinkling in the cornmeal.  Stir to combine.  It will take 2-3 minutes to thicken.  Add in the cheese and the jalapeno, stir to combine.  Taste and add salt and pepper if needed.
Pour over the meat mixture.  Top with a little more cheese and bake for 10-15 minutes at 400 until it's bubbling and the cheese is starting to brown.

Serve with salsa and sour cream, if desired.