POYHA (Meat and Cornmeal)

Recipe by Montana Heart Song

READY IN: 1hr 5mins SERVES: 8-10 YIELD: 2 loafs

INGREDIENTS

• 2 lbs. ground turkey or 2 lbs. ground chicken

• 3 tablespoons oil

• 3 slices bacon, chopped, if you are not using bacon as the pan dripping, add 1/2 tsp salt (optional)

• 2 (14 ounce) cans whole kernel corn, drained or 2 cups frozen corn, thawed

• 2 cups green seedless grapes, chopped fine

• 1 large yellow onion, diced

• 3 eggs

• 1 ¼ cups coarse yellow cornmeal

• 1⁄2 teaspoon pepper

• Pam cooking spray paprika (optional)

• 1⁄2 teaspoon garlic salt (optional)
  

DIRECTIONS

1. In blender or food chopper, chop the corn until it is in very small pieces (do not overdo.) You don't want liquid. Set aside. (I prefer to use the frozen thawed corn).

2. In large mixing bowl, add chopped corn, chopped grapes, onion, eggs, and pepper.

3. Beat until eggs are mixed. Set aside. If you want to add optional paprika and garlic salt, add these to the mixing bowl.

4. Cast Iron Skillet or Dutch Oven: Brown ground meat in the oil or in the raw chopped bacon pieces. Cook just until brown. Do not overcook. Add drained meat to corn mixture.

5. Wipe out skillet or Dutch oven with a paper towel. Season with a little grease or oil.

6. Add cornmeal to meat and corn mixture. Mix well. I use my hands.

7. Add more cornmeal, a little at a time (i.e. 1 tablespoon at a time, if the mixture is runny.) It should be moist (note: you might have to use a total of 1 1/2 cups cornmeal or a little more if the corn is very moist.)

8. Pack into cast iron Dutch oven. Cover. Note: I put a heat proof dish that will fit down inside on top of meat, then cover.

9. Put on grill medium heat for 45 minutes to 1 hour. Over hot coals for 45 minutes. Cool for at least 15 minutes. Cut slices in the Dutch oven, then lift slices out to serving dish.

10. Meat Loaf pans: Spray with Pam. Pack into two loaf pans.

11. Bake at 350* 45 minutes or bake at 350* for 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes if packed in a very large loaf pan.

12. Make sure you cool for at least 15 minutes or longer. The loaf must set up.

13. Serve with gravy, white sauce, or ketchup.

14. Slice for sandwiches or add with fried potatoes.
    

I like to serve with fried potatoes and white gravy or only plain on a slice of bread or hoagie roll. This is a very moist meat loaf and definitely a full meal. You can add salsa or peppers after slicing if you prefer or any meat sauce. You may put the meat on fry bread and top with salsa also.