Hotdishes

No one who grew up in Minnesota has ever eaten a casserole. That would be ridiculous, as a casserole is a container that a hotdish comes in.

There can be a few exceptions. For example, if a dish is made of tuna, noodles, peas, and soup, it might be called tuna noodle “casserole” by some. Another is green bean “casserole.” Maybe they are the exception because they were created and named by the Campbells Soup Company. Both were especially popular in the 1950’s. Turns out green bean hotdish and I were born the same year.

As a rule, a hotdish is made of four main ingredients: meat, vegetables, a starch, and canned soup for binder. It is a one pot meal. Various ingredients may be added, but these are your base. Other than that, there are no rules. For example, your family may like onions, mushrooms, cheese, or green pepper. Any of those foods can be included or deleted from just about any hotdish recipe. Hamburger, pork, chicken – and in Minnesota we must include venison – are usually interchangeable. So are cream of mushroom and cream of chicken soup. You can be as creative as you wish to be.

Infamous favorite hotdish recipes include Tator Tot Hotdish, Chow Mein Hotdish, Wild Rice Hotdish, Chicken Noodle Hotdish and Goulash (Minnesota style), just to name a few.  

History goes back to when budget-minded farm wives needed to feed their families and farm hands, and they had a lot of potatoes, vegetables, and meat. During the Great Depression a hotdish was an affordable way to feed an entire family with canned soup and vegetables, and limited meat. The word “hotdish” was first printed in a 1930 Minnesotan cookbook published by the Grace Lutheran Ladies Aid. My favorite theory about the origin of the word hotdish, and probably the true story in my estimation, is that it all began when someone said, “Everyone bring a hot dish to the potluck after church on Sunday”.

When we were kids our family attended countless potlucks, picnics, family gatherings, and ladies’ luncheons at various Lutheran churches. They were hotdish heaven. Sides for hotdish included buns, coleslaw, Jello salad, and chocolate or yellow cake with chocolate frosting. We loved it all.

Minnesota winters can be cold and long. We need piping hot comfort food to warm us up. When winter arrives, I for one will be getting out my casseroles and making my favorite hotdishes.