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The
Cheesecake Factory Sweet
Corn Tamale Cakes
Salsa Verde :
2 tomatillos, chopped (remove papery skin)
1 x 4 ounce can mild green chilies
1 green onion
2 tablespoons fresh cilantro
1-1/4 teaspoon granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon
ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon salt
pinch ground black pepper
For Southwestern Sauce :
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 teaspoon white vinegar
1 teaspoon water
3/4 teaspoon granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon paprika
pinch cayenne pepper
pinch onion powder
dash salt
dash garlic powder
For Tomato Salsa :
1 medium tomato
1 tablespoon minced Spanish onion
1 tablespoon fresh cilantro, minced
1/4 teaspoon lime juice
1/2 small fresh jalapeņo, minced
dash salt
dash ground black pepper
For Cakes :
1-1/2 cups frozen sweet corn
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
pinch salt
1/2 cup corn masa (corn flour)
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
For Garnish :
1/4 cup sour cream
1/2 avocado, chopped
2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, coarsely chopped
Prepare salsa verde by combining all ingredients (tomatillos, green chilies,
green onion, cilantro, sugar, cumin, salt, and pepper) in a food processor on
high speed.
Cover and chill.
Prepare tomato salsa by combining all ingredients (diced tomato, onion,
cilantro, lime juice, jalapeņo, salt, and pepper) in a small bowl. Cover and
chill.
Prepare southwestern sauce by combining all ingredients (mayonnaise, vinegar,
water, sugar, chili powder, paprika, cayenne, onion powder, salt, and garlic
powder) in a small bowl. Cover and chill.
Preheat oven to 400°F.
Prepare the tamale cakes by chopping 1 cup of the frozen corn in a food
processor until it's coarsely pureed. Combine pureed corn with softened butter,
sugar, and salt. Blend well with electric mixer until smooth.
Add masa and flour and blend well. Mix in the remaining 1/2 cup of
frozen corn kernels by
hand.
Measure 1/2 cup portions of the mixture and form it into 3' wide patties with
your hands. Arrange the patties on a baking sheet and bake for 25 to 30 minutes
or until the cakes are browned on the bottom. Carefully flip all cakes with a
spatula and bake for an additional 5 to 7 minutes or until other side is
browned.
While the cakes are baking, spoon a portion of the salsa verde onto a plate or
platter (you may want to heat up your plate in the oven for a bit to help warm
the sauce). You'll need to use enough salsa verde to coat the entire plate -- it
should be about 1/4' deep. Arrange the tamale cakes side-by-side on the salsa
verde. Spoon a dollop of sour cream onto each tamale cake. Drizzle the
southwestern sauce over the cakes in a crisscross patter (use a squirt bottle if
you've got one). Spoon some tomato salsa over the cakes, followed by the chopped
avocado. Finish off the plate by sprinkling the coarsely chopped cilantro leaves
over the top.