Tex-Mex Turkey Mole Pie
Tex-Mex Turkey Mole Pie is a fast and easy casserole recipe. It’s my take on Shepherd’s Pie and Cottage Pie. I use ground turkey and add mole to make a gravy. The mole gives the meat a bit of chili heat and chocolate sweetness for complexity. A caramelized crust of roasted yam smash replaces the traditional mashed potato topping. Grated cheddar cheese contributes to the depth of flavor and adds a crunch to the crust.
Pie or Casserole?
Is my recipe a pie or a casserole? A casserole is a cooking vessel with a lid or a category of food. A pie is a sweet or savory baked dish with a pastry dough lining or covering. Like Shepherd’s or Cottage Pie, my “pie” recipe is also a savory casserole. A mashed cooked tuber vegetable acts as a lid or crust. The mash seals in the juices just like a traditional pie crust.
According to my trusty dictionary app, casserole and pie have poetic language origins and are perfectly interchangeable. The word casserole is of 18th Century French origin. It is a diminutive of casse, ‘spoon-like container’. The word pie originates in Middle English. It is a reference to various combinations of ingredients compared to objects randomly collected by a magpie (pie) – a long tailed bird with a raucous voice. Thus, a collection of food ingredients cooked in a container can be a casserole or pie. So, I declare, one spoonful from a container of my Tex-Mex Turkey Mole Pie will make your tastebuds scream with raucous delight!
Tex-Mex: American Regional Cuisine
The culinary history of the Tejano people of Texas define what has become known as Tex-Mex cuisine. The heavy use of shredded cheese defines this subtype of Southwestern cuisine. Beef, pork, chicken, beans, peppers and spices are basic ingredients. The food has deep roots in Spanish, Mexican and Native American culture. In the early 1970’s, cookbook author Diana Kennedy inadvertently designated the regional cuisine as Tex-Mex in Cuisines of Mexico. It became a popular term and now has its own category in American cuisine.
Mole
Homemade mole can take from several hours to days to prepare. Recipes include up to thirty ingredients roasted and ground into a fine powder or paste. The result is a complex layering of flavors. Chili pepper is a primary ingredient of mole. The type used determines the heat index of the mixture. Tomatoes or tomatillos add sourness. Dried fruits or sugar contribute to sweetness. Ground bread, nuts or seeds are thickeners. Chocolate, garlic, cinnamon, cloves, allspice, and black pepper are some of the traditional spices that give each style of mole its unique character.
Serve it up!
Tex-Mex Turkey Mole Pie tastes delicious topped with a dollop of sour cream and guacamole. This fast and easy casserole is a favorite of my family and I know it will be of yours too!
Tex-Mex Turkey Mole Pie
Equipment
- 1 frying pan
- 1 casserole dish
- 1 cookie sheet or roasting pan
Ingredients
- 2 lbs ground turkey
- 1 large onion, diced
- 1 pkg ready to serve mole, 9.5 oz.
- 1 tbsp powdered chicken bouillon
- 6 oz tomato paste
- 1 lb frozen mixed vegetables
- 2 cups grated cheddar cheese
- 2-3 tbsp cooking oil
- 4-6 yams
- salt for seasoning
Garnish
- sour cream
- diced scallions
- cilantro
- avocado
- lime
Instructions
Roast Yams
- Preheat oven to 350°.
- Peel and slice yams into quarters.
- Toss with oil and season with salt.
- Place yams onto a cooking sheet or in a roasting pan. Roast for approximately 30 minutes or until yams are soft and slightly caramelized.
- Let cool and then mash. Set aside until ready to add to casserole.
- Note: While yams are roasting, prepare the rest of the ingredients.
Cook Turkey Meat
- Preheat oven to 350°
- Grease a casserole dish and set aside.
- Add oil to the frying pan.
- Set burner to a medium setting.
- Placed diced onion in the pan and cook until transparent.
- Season ground turkey with powdered chicken bouillon. Add ground turkey to pan and cook thoroughly.
- Stir in mole and tomato paste.
- Add frozen mixed vegetables.
Assemble and Bake
- Place ground turkey mixture in the prepared casserole dish.
- Top with mashed roasted yam and cheddar cheese.
- Bake until the casserole is heated through and the cheese forms a crust.
Notes
Is my recipe a pie or a casserole? A casserole is a cooking vessel with a lid or a category of food. A pie is a sweet or savory baked dish with a pastry dough lining or covering. Like Shepherd’s or Cottage Pie, my “pie” recipe is also a savory casserole. A mashed cooked tuber vegetable acts as a lid or crust. The mash seals in the juices just like a traditional pie crust.
According to my trusty dictionary app, casserole and pie have poetic language origins and are perfectly interchangeable. The word casserole is of 18th Century French origin. It is a diminutive of casse, ‘spoon-like container’. The word pie originates in Middle English. It is a reference to various combinations of ingredients compared to objects randomly collected by a magpie (pie) – a long tailed bird with a raucous voice. Thus, a collection of food ingredients cooked in a container can be a casserole or pie. So, I declare, one spoonful from a container of my Tex-Mex Turkey Mole Pie will make your tastebuds scream with raucous delight!
For more information about this recipe and all my blog posts, visit mollyskitchen.net!