Looking for a complete meal in one dish? This creamy corn and chicken casserole (Escondidinho) is flavorful, nutritious, and incredibly satisfying. Best of all, it’s quick and easy to prepare. Let’s get cooking!
Ingredients for the Corn and Chicken Casserole:
Corn Cream Layer:
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 2 cans (15 oz each) whole kernel corn, drained
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 4 cups whole milk
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Chicken Filling:
- 2 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded
- 3 tomatoes, diced
- Lemon pepper to taste
- 1 1/2 cups green olives, pitted and chopped
- Fresh parsley, chopped, to taste
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- Salt to taste
- Fresh scallions, chopped, for garnish
How to Make the Corn and Chicken Casserole:
- In a blender, combine the milk, salt, flour, and corn.
- Blend on high speed for 4 minutes until smooth.
- In a saucepan over medium heat, warm the olive oil and sauté the onion and garlic until translucent.
- Pour in the blended corn mixture and stir constantly until the cream thickens.
- In a separate skillet, sauté the shredded chicken with garlic, olives, lemon pepper, and salt.
- Add the diced tomatoes and fresh parsley to the chicken mixture, cooking just until the tomatoes begin to soften.
- In a baking dish, spread the chicken mixture evenly, top with the creamy corn sauce, and finish with a layer of shredded mozzarella cheese.
- Bake in a preheated oven at 400°F (200°C) for 15 minutes.
- Remove from the oven, sprinkle with fresh scallions if desired.
- Serve hot and enjoy!
Pro Tip:
For an extra creamy texture, stir a couple of tablespoons of cream cheese into the corn sauce.
Did You Know?
Escondidinho is a traditional Brazilian dish originating from the Northeast region. While the classic version uses dried beef (carne-seca) and mashed cassava, many delicious variations have evolved over time, including this comforting chicken and corn version.
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