Hotdish, It's a Minnesota Thing
By Faye
@FayeHazel (40230)
United States
September 4, 2018 12:15pm CST
Inspired by recent discussions with @Sweetashoney and @RasmaSandra - I thought I would tell you all about a great Minnesota tradition- the hotdish. Now the rest of the country calls it a "casserole" - though we Minnesotans say that the "caserole" is the dish that you bake it in and who wants to eat that? The stuff inside - is hotdish.
So what is hotdish? It is a starch (rice, noodles, potato) , a protein (meat, or tofu), a sauce (cream style sauce, tomato based sauce, cheese sauce, mushroom sauce), and possibly some vegetables -that are all heated together (stove top pan, baked in the over or crock-pot).
Some common variations include
"Tator tot Hotdish", "Tuna Hotdish", "Tomato juice hotdish", and "Chowmein noodle hotdish"
They are practical , and hearty.
Any regional dishes that you would like to share?
Photo: Pixabay
16 people like this
15 responses
@JudyEv (381760)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Sep 18
@Orson_Kart You have to get up early to beat Alfredo. 
2 people like this
@snowy22315 (208746)
• United States
4 Sep 18
Well you learn something new everyday. Well in the South people eat a lot of Brunswick Stew which is basically a chicken stew with okra and various vegetables. It is pretty good. Oftentimes in the fall various churches do a Brunswick stew day..as a moneymaker.
3 people like this
@snowy22315 (208746)
• United States
7 Sep 18
@FayeHazel I like it, but I prefer beef stew.
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
6 Sep 18
I had heard of Brunswick stew, never had it though. Sounds tasty
1 person likes this
@shaggin (74988)
• United States
13 Sep 18
@FayeHazel I'm making Carrot Rice Casserole for myself for dinner tonight. Never made it before but found the recipe on pinterest.
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@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
13 Sep 18
Mmm I could use some hotdish right now
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@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
13 Sep 18
@shaggin that sounds interesting I hope you enjoy it
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@Orson_Kart (8250)
• United Kingdom
4 Sep 18
My first response has been stolen, so I am left to talk about the food.
In the UK we would call the food you describe as a casserole and the dish it's cooked in a casserole dish. I think it's from the French, as many cooking terms are. But I guess a hotdish is a good way of describing it. Another way we might describe it would be a stew or hotpot. I love them, especially in winter.
1 person likes this
@Orson_Kart (8250)
• United Kingdom
6 Sep 18
@FayeHazel From the bottom up? Yeah, sometimes I like to work in that direction. 
Yes, I've got competition it seems. 
Yes, I've got competition it seems. 1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
13 Sep 18
@Orson_Kart Lol, now now, .... I wonder what my dirty gutter mind did with that
@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
6 Sep 18
Oh dear. Seeing as I'm working through responses bottom first... (I know what you're thinking) - I can't wait to see who said what now. Lol.
Surprising you guys call it casserole too - I think we in MN are fairly unique in calling it hotdish. Hotpot that makes sense too though
1 person likes this
@just4him (323168)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
8 Sep 18
@FayeHazel I never had tater tots as a kid, not until I moved away from home and was married.
1 person likes this
@andriaperry (118793)
• Anniston, Alabama
4 Sep 18
We have our fruit sandwiches. Banana, pineapple and tomato.
2 people like this
@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
6 Sep 18
That sounds good actually. What do you use on the bread? Butter? Mayo?
@sweetashoney (3597)
• United States
4 Sep 18
That looks good, I haven't had a casserole in a long time.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (97912)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
6 Sep 18
That sounds really good. I will try to make it. I am originally from New York City but most of the dishes my mom used to make were Latvian. She loved traditional cooking. I remember she made an amazingly great spinach soup with a smoked ham hock and beef bones with meat on them The soup would cook until the meat was tender. Then she would add potatoes in cubes and when they were done then lots of spinach leaves just blanched in the hot soup. The meal consisted of every dish having a boiled egg cut into it, the hot soup over the egg and a spoonful of sour cream mixed through. The meats were eaten on the side and it was all so very good.
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
6 Sep 18
Oh wow, The Latvian food sounds really good and unique. I've not experienced anything like it. I love cooked egg in food, adds a lot.
I hope you enjoy the hotdish too if you try
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@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
6 Sep 18
That's a good one, also interesting that you have it there and we have it here, I guess it is universally appealing :-) Another variation I know of is using chicken, mix vegetables and stuffing mix...
1 person likes this
@DianneN (254949)
• United States
7 Sep 18
@FayeHazel He prefers his foods not touching. lol
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@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
13 Sep 18
@DianneN Ah yes, in that case hotdish may present a problem lol
@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
6 Sep 18
Aw, has he tried? He might like if he tries :-)
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381760)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Sep 18
We call it a casserole here too. When I was growing up, it was 'stew' then 'casserole' became the more sophisticated word. For a while, every new bride would receive at least two casserole dishes as wedding gifts. Funny how wedding gifts run in cycles.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381760)
• Rockingham, Australia
7 Sep 18
@FayeHazel I have four or five, all different sizes which is much better than all the same size, isn't it?
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
13 Sep 18
@JudyEv I agree ! All different sizes and shapes are much better than all the same :-)
@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
6 Sep 18
Casserole dishes are a great gift, if you need them, that is. :-)
1 person likes this
@Courtlynn (67089)
• United States
4 Sep 18
Didn't know it was called hotdish elsewhere. Interesting.
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@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
6 Sep 18
Lol, Yeah I think we're pretty unique in calling it hotdish
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@Courtlynn (67089)
• United States
6 Sep 18
@FayeHazel it doesn't make sense to me, but whatever LOL.
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@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
13 Sep 18
@Courtlynn Each to their own. It's like the catsup/ketchup thing too
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