Savory Sweet Corn Tamale Cakes with Three Salsas
Enjoy the delectable taste of homemade Sweet Corn Tamale Cakes, inspired by a beloved Cheesecake Factory dish. This easy-to-follow recipe features three delightful sauces: a vibrant Salsa Verde, a fresh Tomato Salsa, and a creamy Southwestern Sauce. Perfect as a light lunch or snack, these tamale cakes are a wonderful combination of flavors and textures. The corn cakes are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, served atop a bed of zesty salsa. Whether you’re entertaining guests or simply indulging in a delicious meal, these tamale cakes promise to impress. If you decide to make this recipe before I do, I’d love to hear your thoughts on how it turned out!
N/A
Servings
N/A
Calories
30
Ingredients
Ingredients
Tomatillos
2 (chopped (remove papery skin))
Mild Green Chilies
4 ounces
Green Onion
1 (chopped)
Cilantro
2 tablespoons (fresh)
Ground Cumin
1 1/4 teaspoons
Salt
to taste
Fresh Ground Pepper
to taste
Medium Tomato
1 (diced)
Spanish Onion
1 tablespoon (minced)
Cilantro
1 tablespoon (fresh minced)
Lime Juice
1/4 teaspoon
Jalapeno
1/2 (small minced)
Mayonnaise
1/2 cup
White Vinegar
1 teaspoon
Water
1 teaspoon
Granulated Sugar
3/4 teaspoon
Chili Powder
1/2 teaspoon
Paprika
1/4 teaspoon
Cayenne Pepper
1/8 teaspoon
Onion Powder
1/8 teaspoon
Garlic Powder
to taste
Sweet Frozen Corn
1 1/2 cups
Butter
1/2 cup (softened)
Granulated Sugar
3 tablespoons
Salt
1/8 teaspoon
Masa Harina (Corn Flour)
1/2 cup
All-Purpose Flour
2 tablespoons
Sour Cream
1/4 cup
Avocado
1/2 (chopped)
Cilantro
2 tablespoons (fresh chopped)
Instructions
1
Prepare the Salsa Verde by blending chopped tomatillos, mild green chilies, chopped green onion, fresh cilantro, ground cumin, salt, and fresh ground pepper in a food processor until smooth. Cover and chill in the refrigerator.
2
To make the Tomato Salsa, combine diced tomato, minced Spanish onion, minced cilantro, lime juice, minced jalapeno, salt, and fresh ground pepper in a small bowl. Mix well and cover to chill.
3
For the Southwestern Sauce, whisk together mayonnaise, white vinegar, water, granulated sugar, chili powder, paprika, cayenne pepper, onion powder, salt, and garlic powder in a separate small bowl. Cover and chill.
4
Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
5
In a food processor, coarsely puree 1 cup of the frozen corn. Combine the pureed corn with softened butter, granulated sugar, and salt. Blend using an electric mixer until smooth and fluffy.
6
Gradually add the masa harina and all-purpose flour to the mixture, blending well after each addition.
7
Fold in the remaining 1/2 cup of frozen corn by hand until fully incorporated.
8
Measure 1/2 cup portions of the mixture and shape them into 3-inch patties.
9
Place the patties on a greased baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the bottoms are golden brown.
10
Carefully flip the cakes using a spatula and return them to the oven. Bake for an additional 5 to 7 minutes, until the other side is browned.
11
While the cakes are baking, arrange a generous layer of Salsa Verde on a serving platter.
12
Once the cakes are done baking, place them atop the Salsa Verde. Add a dollop of sour cream on each cake and garnish with chopped avocado and fresh cilantro.
Nutrition Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Savory Sweet Corn Tamale Cakes?
They are crispy and tender corn cakes served with three different salsas: Salsa Verde, Tomato Salsa, and Southwestern Sauce.
Which restaurant inspired this recipe?
This recipe is inspired by a beloved Cheesecake Factory dish.
How many sauces are featured in this dish?
The recipe includes three delightful sauces: a vibrant Salsa Verde, a fresh Tomato Salsa, and a creamy Southwestern Sauce.
What are the main ingredients for the Salsa Verde?
The Salsa Verde consists of tomatillos, mild green chilies, green onion, cilantro, ground cumin, salt, and fresh ground pepper.
How do you prepare the Salsa Verde?
Blend the chopped tomatillos, chilies, onion, and spices in a food processor until smooth, then cover and chill in the refrigerator.
What goes into the fresh Tomato Salsa?
It combines diced tomato, minced Spanish onion, cilantro, lime juice, minced jalapeno, salt, and fresh ground pepper.
How is the Tomato Salsa mixed?
Combine all ingredients in a small bowl, mix well, and cover to chill.
What ingredients are in the Southwestern Sauce?
The sauce contains mayonnaise, white vinegar, water, sugar, chili powder, paprika, cayenne pepper, onion powder, salt, and garlic powder.
How do I make the Southwestern Sauce?
Whisk all the ingredients together in a separate small bowl, cover, and chill until ready to serve.
What is the recommended oven temperature?
Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) before baking the corn cakes.
How much frozen corn is pureed for the batter?
You should coarsely puree 1 cup of the frozen corn in a food processor.
What is blended with the corn puree?
Combine the pureed corn with softened butter, granulated sugar, and salt using an electric mixer until smooth and fluffy.
What flours are added to the corn mixture?
Gradually blend in 1/2 cup of masa harina (corn flour) and 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour.
How much whole corn is added to the final batter?
Fold in the remaining 1/2 cup of frozen corn by hand until fully incorporated.
What size should the tamale cake patties be?
Measure 1/2 cup portions of the mixture and shape them into 3-inch patties.
How long do the cakes bake initially?
Bake them on a greased sheet for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the bottoms are golden brown.
When should you flip the tamale cakes?
Flip them carefully using a spatula once the bottoms have browned after the first 25 to 30 minutes.
How long is the second bake after flipping?
Return the cakes to the oven for an additional 5 to 7 minutes until the other side is browned.
How are the tamale cakes served?
Arrange a layer of Salsa Verde on a platter, place the baked cakes on top, and add a dollop of sour cream.
What are the recommended garnishes?
Garnish each cake with chopped avocado and fresh cilantro.
Is this recipe vegetarian?
Yes, the recipe contains corn, butter, flours, vegetables, and dairy, making it suitable for vegetarians.
What type of corn is best for this recipe?
The recipe calls for sweet frozen corn, using a total of 1.5 cups divided into pureed and whole portions.
What occasions are these tamale cakes good for?
They are excellent as a light lunch, a snack, or a party appetizer.
How many total ingredients are listed in this recipe?
The recipe features 30 specific ingredients to make the cakes and the three accompanying sauces.
How do you prepare the tomatillos for the sauce?
Remove the papery skin and chop the tomatillos before adding them to the food processor.
What type of onion is used in the Tomato Salsa?
The recipe specifically uses minced Spanish onion for the fresh Tomato Salsa.
What spices provide heat to the Southwestern Sauce?
Chili powder, paprika, and cayenne pepper provide the spice profile for the Southwestern Sauce.
Should the salsas be served warm or cold?
The instructions recommend chilling all three sauces in the refrigerator before serving them cold with the warm cakes.
What is the final texture of the corn cakes?
The corn cakes are designed to be crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.
What is Masa Harina?
Masa Harina is a traditional corn flour that provides the signature tamale flavor and texture to these cakes.