Slow-cooker Southwestern Pot Pie (vegetarian)

Total Time: 6 hrs 30 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 6 hrs

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 2 tablespoons light olive oil, divided
• 1 teaspoon light olive oil
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 medium carrot, chopped
• 1 bell pepper, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 cup frozen corn kernels
• 3 cups cooked pinto beans (or 2 15.5-oz cans of pinto beans, drained)
• 1 jalapeno chile, minced (remove the seeds and ribs for a milder "hot")
• 3/4 cup vegetable stock
• 1 tablespoon tamari or 1 tablespoon other soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
• salt and pepper
• 1/2 cup cornmeal
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 cup milk or 1/2 cup soymilk

Recipe

• 1 the beans can be prepared in the slow cooker! the night before you wish to make the pot pie, pick and rinse 1/2 lb of dry beans, put them in the slow cooker with water to cover plus one inch, and cook them on low overnight. in the morning, the cooked beans are ready to drain and use in this (or any!) recipe.
• 2 in a skillet over medium heat, saute the onion and carrot about 5 minutes, until softened.
• 3 lightly oil a 3 1/2 - 4 quart slow cooker with 1 tsp oil.
• 4 transfer the onions and carrot to the cooker, and add the bell pepper, garlic, corn, pinto beans, and chiles.
• 5 stir in the stock, tamari, and cilantro.
• 6 cool on low for 5 hours.
• 7 add salt and pepper to taste.
• 8 make the topping: in a separate bowl, combine the cornmeal, flour, baking powder, and baking soda, and mix well. add the remaining 1 tbsp oil and the milk (for vegan use the soy milk), and mix until just combined.
• 9 place the topping on top of the filling, turn the cooker up to high, and cook for 1 hour more.