Creamy Corn Pie with Basil and Merkén

Name: Creamy Corn Pie with Basil and Merkén
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 75 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: Chilena
Ingredients: 1.1 lb ground beef; 2 cups onion; 2 tbsp vegetable oil; 2 cloves garlic; 1 tsp ground cumin; 1 tsp sweet paprika; 1 tsp merken; 1 1/4 tsp salt; 1/2 tsp black pepper; 1/3 cup black olives; 1/4 cup raisins; 6 cups corn kernels; 1 cup whole milk; 1/2 cup heavy cream; 1 cup basil leaves; 2 tbsp butter; 3 tbsp fine cornmeal; 2 tsp sugar; 3 oz mantecoso cheese or shredded mozzarella; 1 large egg

An original take on the Chilean classic: corn pie with an extra creamy corn and basil topping, filled with juicy beef, onion, and olives, finished with smoky merkén and a lightly golden crust.

30 minPrep

45 minCook

75 minTotal

6Servings

High Protein

Ingredients

Adjust servings

500 g ground beef (preferiblemente with algo of grasa)
300 g onion (chopped diced small)
30 ml vegetable oil
10 g garlic (chopped fino)
2 g ground cumin
2 g sweet paprika
2 g merken (divided)
8 g salt (or to taste, divided)
1 g black pepper
60 g black olives (without carozo and en mitades)
40 g raisins
900 g corn kernels (fresh or congelados)
240 ml whole milk
120 ml heavy cream
20 g basil leaves (lightly packed)
30 g butter
24 g fine cornmeal
8 g sugar
80 g mantecoso cheese or shredded mozzarella
1 unit egg (beaten)

Nutrition facts

per serving

529 kcal

Calories

26 g

Protein

34 g

Carbs

32 g

Fat

4 g

Fiber

30 g

Net carbs

Approximate nutritional information. Estimated from the recipe’s ingredients and amounts, using standard reference nutrition values. It may vary with brands, sizes and cooking method. For guidance only; not a substitute for medical or dietary advice.

Allergens

DairyEggs

Instructions

1
1. Preheat the oven to 375°F / 190°C. Lightly grease a medium baking dish with a little of the vegetable oil.
2
2. In a large skillet over medium heat, heat the vegetable oil. Add the onion and cook for 8 to 10 minutes until soft and lightly golden. Stir in the garlic, ground cumin, sweet paprika, half of the merken, 1 teaspoon of the salt, and the black pepper; cook 1 minute more.
3
3. Add the ground beef to the skillet and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, breaking it up well, until no longer pink. Stir in the black olives and raisins, mix, and cook 2 minutes more. Remove from the heat and spread this filling in the baking dish.
4
4. Place the corn kernels, whole milk, heavy cream, basil leaves, butter, fine cornmeal, sugar, and the remaining salt in a blender or food processor. Blend until thick but still slightly textured.
5
5. Pour the corn mixture over the beef filling and smooth it with a spoon. Scatter the shredded cheese on top, then gently brush with the beaten egg to help the surface brown.
6
6. Sprinkle the remaining merken over the topping and bake at 375°F / 190°C for 30 to 35 minutes, until the pie is bubbling around the edges and golden on top.
7
7. Let the pie rest for 10 minutes before serving so it sets and is easier to portion.

Chef tips

If using frozen corn, thaw and drain it well to avoid a watery topping. For a more rustic texture, blend only two-thirds of the corn and stir in the remaining kernels at the end.

Substitutions

You can replace the ground beef with ground turkey. The heavy cream can be replaced with more milk, though the topping will be less rich. If you cannot find merken, use mild smoked chili flakes.

What I used to make it

Generic kitchen tools that work for this recipe. You don’t need to buy anything to make it.

Illustrative image
Ninja Professional BL610 Blender
Smoothies, sauces and soups
- Smoothies, sauces and soups
- Easy-to-wash jar
- Check the power and jar size
View on Amazon
Illustrative image
Cosori Pro LE 5 Qt Air Fryer
Browning and baking with little oil
- Browns food with very little oil
- Handy for vegetables, chicken and reheating
- Check the basket capacity
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Illustrative image
TempPro TP19H Digital Thermometer
Checking doneness of meat and chicken
- Checks doneness of meat and chicken
- Quick reading
- Clean the probe after each use
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