Cuisine of Minnesota

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The cuisine of Minnesota is a type of Midwestern cuisine found throughout the state of Minnesota.

Contents

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A tater tot hotdish.
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Wild rice is a staple grain in Minnesota. It is used in many dishes.
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A Jucy Lucy, one of the most well known dishes invented in Minneapolis.
Strawberry Delight.jpg
Strawberry delight, a dessert salad, that is commonly found in Minnesota.

Typical Minnesota cuisine is based off of Norwegian, Swedish, and German cuisine, with heavy Native American (particularly Ojibwe and Dakota) influences. Other European cuisines that influenced Minnesota cuisine include Czech, Cornish, Italian, and Polish cuisine. Since the 1960s, Minnesota's cuisine has also been influenced by the cuisines of the various immigrant and refugee groups who have settled in Minnesota; immigrant cuisines popular in Minnesota include Somali, Hmong, Mexican, Indian, Vietnamese, Korean, Ethiopian, Burmese, Laotian, and Liberian cuisine. Minnesotan cuisine also has regional variations, in rural Minnesota, Scandinavian dishes and foods like hotdishes are made. Fusion cuisine is popular in the Twin Cities, with many new dishes being created like the jucy lucy, and bundt cake. In the Iron Range, Italian inspired dishes are eaten, like pizza rolls and porchetta sandwiches. Pasties are also eaten in Northern Minnesota.

Foods typical in Minnesota cuisine are generally affordable, filling, and hearty, reflecting Minnesota's long, cold winters. The majority of dishes are comfort foods. Meats in Minnesota cuisine typically include: Spam, white fish, walleye, pork, beef, turkey, chicken, lake herring, salmon, trout, and cod. Grains such as corn, wild rice, and wheat are used. Canned fruits and vegetables are used in hotdishes and dessert salads. Minnesotan cuisine is notable for the common use of wild and foraged foods, including wild rice, blueberry, raspberry, blackberry, chokecherry, morels, hazelnuts, and pecan truffles. Though not typical Minnesota cuisine, archetypal fair foods are offered at the Minnesota State Fair including dozens of foods offered "on a stick", such as Pronto Pups and deep-fried candy bars.

Side dishes

Fried cheese curds Fried Cheese Curds Green Bay Wisconsin.JPG
Fried cheese curds

Gravlax, Spätzle, halušky, cabbage rolls, potato dumplings, and pierogis are very popular in Minnesota, all of which were brought by immigrants from Northern Europe. "Minnesotan sushi" is an appetizer that contains a pickle, covered in cream cheese and wrapped in ham, and cut into slices like sushi.

Potato salad, and pasta salad are often served in Minnesota. Mashed potatoes and gravy, asparagus, and green beans are Minnesota staples, often eaten at Thanksgiving or large dinners. French fries are often enjoyed with jucy lucys and corn dogs, along with other foods.Typical sides include pickles, locally grown boiled new potatoes seasoned with fresh herbs or horseradish, baked beans, and vegetables buttered peas, and carrots. Preferred to rice or pasta, potatoes are often served alongside buttered rolls and homemade strawberry jam.

Soups

Booyah seasoned with peas, granulated vegetables and chicken Booyah spiced.jpg
Booyah seasoned with peas, granulated vegetables and chicken

Minnesotan soups include knoephla and booyah, which is a thick stew usually requiring up to two days and multiple cooks to prepare; it is cooked in specially designed "booyah kettles" and traditionally was meant to serve hundreds to thousands of people, but in contemporary Minnesotan usage, booyah has found itself typically served at small gatherings. In cooking booyah, one makes a base or broth derived from meat bones, to which vegetables are added. Beef, chicken, and pork are popular varieties of meat for booyah (with all three often in the same kettle), with vegetables such as carrots, peas, onion, and potatoes also in the mix. A wide variety of seasonings are used.

Some soups proposed as the Minnesota state soup include: cream of mushroom, cream of lutefisk, and wild rice soup, all of which include either ingredients from Minnesotan cuisine or are popular in the state. [3] [4] Brought to Minnesota by Vietnamese immigrants, pho is a soup dish consisting of broth, rice noodles, herbs, and meat usually beef, and sometimes chicken. It is very popular in Minnesota and can be found in eateries around the Twin Cities. Ke'Ke, a Somali-inspired stew made with strips of chapati, was invented in Minnesota.

Main dishes

Tater tot hotdish from the Saint Paul, Minnesota Winter Carnival Tater Tot Hot Dish 2008 Winter Carnival.JPG
Tater tot hotdish from the Saint Paul, Minnesota Winter Carnival
Jucy Lucy, cut length wise Jucy Lucy Cheeseburger.JPG
Jucy Lucy, cut length wise
Corn dog with mustard. Corn dog with mustard.jpg
Corn dog with mustard.

Sandwiches

Sandwiches in Minnesota are typically served hot or cold, and were popular among the working class of Minnesota in the Twin Cities, or in the iron mines of Northern Minnesota. Most Minnesotan sandwiches are influenced by Italian Cuisine.

Beverages

Craft root beer is popular in Minnesota and there are many brands in Minnesota such as Killebrew, Lift Bridge, and Northern Craft Root beer. Milk is very important for making cheeses. It is also the state beverage of Minnesota. [13]

The Bootlegger cocktail was invented in Minnesota and remains popular today. Akvavit was brought from Scandinavia by immigrants and is produced in numerous distilleries. The Minnesota Slammer, a popular cocktail in Minnesota, is made with cherry brandy, sweet and sour mix, peach and sour apple schnapps, and lemon-lime soda. [14]

Minnesota is also home to several breweries, including Hamm's, Summit Brewing Company, Surly Brewing Company, and August Schell Brewing Company, which also produces Grain Belt. [15] [16]

Wine

Minnesota also produces Minnesota wines. The Minnesota Grape Growers Association (MGGA) is a statewide organization that promotes grape growing and winemaking in the state and also in cold-hardy climates. Minnesota is home to the International Cold Climate Wine Competition (ICCWC) hosted annually in partnership between MGGA and University of Minnesota. This is the only wine competition solely dedicated to the promotion of quality wines made mainly from cold-hardy grape varieties.

Desserts

partially cut bundt cake Bundt Cake with Grapes 001.jpg
partially cut bundt cake

Dessert bars, bundt cakes, cookie salad, dessert salads, Snickers salad, strawberry delight, South Minneapolis style vanilla ice cream, and glorified rice are desserts invented in Minnesota or the Midwest. [17] [18]

other desserts brought to Minnesota by immigrants include: rosettes, krumkake, kransekake, marzipan, lebkuchen, gingerbread, stollen, Shoofly pies, poppy seed roll, kolaches, Smultring, German baked apples, hamantashen, Sandbakelse, and potica.

Lefse, brought to Minnesota by Norwegian immigrants, is often eaten as a dessert around Christmas, topped with butter and a variation of sugar and cinnamon or brown sugar. [19]

Blue Moon ice cream is also popular in Minnesota and throughout the Midwest. [20] Licorice is a popular confection usually flavored and colored black with the extract of the roots of the licorice plant Glycyrrhiza glabra . Licorice is so popular that it was proposed as the state candy in 1997. [21]

Other dishes

A blueberry muffin. Muffin NIH.jpg
A blueberry muffin.

Produce

The Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station's Horticultural Research Center at the University of Minnesota has developed three new apple varieties, the Haralson, Honeycrisp, and the Sweetango. These fare well in the harsh Minnesota climate and are popular fruit. Morel mushrooms are the state mushroom, and very popular among Minnesotan chefs. Wild rice is a popular appetizer in Minnesota. It can be eaten in several "ways" such as in a soup or hotdish. Lingonberries are used to accompany lefse and lutefisk. The berry can also be eaten plain as a snack.

Cheese

Minnesota is known for its dairy industry. Cheeses in Minnesota are made with cow, sheep, or goat milk. [22] Caves of Faribault and Shepherd's Way Farms are among the Minnesota businesses that produce artisan cheese. Caves of Faribault has produced cave-aged cheeses in Faribault since 2001. Shepherd's Way, which began producing cheese in 1998. Minnesota produces numerous cheeses such as: cheddar, brie, swiss, and gouda.

Sausages and cured meats

Breakfast dishes

Minnesota-style barbecue

Minnesota barbecue in includes meats like lamb, ribs, chicken, pulled pork, and fish such as smoked salmon. Horseradish is used opposed to chiles. Brown sugar, molasses, and tomato is also used. Spices such as allspice, nutmeg, and star anise. Minnesota barbecue is served with lingonberries, lefse, ranch, pickles, and broccoli salad. Smoked juicy Lucy is also part of Minnesota barbecue. Minnesota barbecue originated in the Twin Cities, but smoked fish barbecue started in Duluth. [27] [28] The restaurant that started Minnesota-style barbecue was Neighbor’s BBQ Co. [29]

Food as an event

Minnesota potluck Potluck06.jpg
Minnesota potluck

Potlucks

Minnesota is known for its church potlucks, where hotdish is often served. Hotdish is any of a variety of casseroles, which are popular throughout the United States, although the term "hotdish" is used mainly in Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Hotdishes are filling comfort foods that are convenient and easy to make. Tater tot hotdish is popular, as is wild rice hotdish; Minnesota is one of the leading producers of wild rice. Dessert bars are also common at Minnesota potlucks. Other dishes include glorified rice, German baked apples and cookie salad.

Fish fry

The Friday night fish fry, often battered and fried perch or walleye, is traditional throughout Minnesota. It usually also includes french fries, coleslaw, macaroni salad, lemon slices, tartar sauce, hot sauce, malt vinegar and dessert. Some Native American versions are cooked by coating fish with semolina and egg yolk. Fish is often served on Friday nights during Lent, the Christian season of repentance, as a restaurant special or through church fundraisers.

Booyah

A booyah is a large gathering in which booyah stew is served, typically outdoors. [30] The annual booyah cook off is held in St. Paul. [31]

Smorgasbord

Smorgasbord is a buffet-style meal of Swedish origin. It is served with various hot and cold dishes. In Minnesota it is served with kolaches, potica, halušky and pierogis.

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