Minnesotahash Recipes

MINNESOTA HASH

Steps:

• In a nonstick skillet, melt the butter in the olive oil over high heat. When the butter starts sizzling in small bubbles, add the carrot rounds and cubed potatoes. (NOTE: I always leave the skins on the potatoes: they just taste better that way and have a better texture for this dish.).
• Stirring occasionally, sauté the carrots and potatoes in the oil and butter until both begin to brown on their cut surfaces. At this point, lower the heat to medium and add the chopped onion and celery seeds. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper, coating everything to taste. (NOTE: Adding salt earlier than this step usually impedes the nice browning you get on the carrots and potatoes that you want.).
• Continue to sauté the vegetables until the onions begin to turn translucent. Pull all the vegetables back from one side of the skillet and add the chopped kielbasa, stirring it in, slowly. Doing this -exposing the bottom of the pan in this way- will help the meat brown faster when it hits the pan. Brown the meat and onions while keeping an eye on the potatoes and carrots, being careful not to burn them.
• When the meat has browned on the outside of most pieces, add the chopped apple pieces along with the dried herbs. (NOTE: Fresh herbs are nice but I find that dried help suck up more of the moisture in this dish and have a certain rustic quality. Just make sure that when you add the dried herbs, rub them between your fingers to crush them into powder.).
• After about a minute or two, when the apple pieces have softened slightly, add the chopped cabbage over the top, season with a tiny bit of salt (remember: the kielbasa is already salty) and a decent amount of pepper, before folding into the hash.
• Wilt the cabbage as you mix the complete dish together and remove from the heat.
• Serve hot. This goes very well with poached eggs.

MINNESOTA HMONG HOTDISH

Steps:

• Make the sauce: Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add the lemongrass, onion, galangal, ginger, garlic and lime leaves. Add the curry paste and cook, stirring, just until a fond forms on the bottom of the pan, about 2 minutes, being careful not to burn the aromatics. When the curry paste is a crimson red, stir in the roasted red peppers and tomatoes. Add the coconut milk, bring to a simmer and cook until the sauce is reduced, pale orange and bubbling, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove the lime leaves.
• Carefully transfer the sauce to a blender and puree until smooth. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve and season with salt to taste. (For a thicker sauce, cook a few minutes more to further reduce.)
• Make the hotdish: Preheat the oven to 425˚ F. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the pork, season with salt and pepper and cook, breaking up the meat, until no longer pink, 4 to 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, toss the onion and root vegetables with the olive oil on a baking sheet; season with salt and pepper. Roast until just tender but still with a little bite, 12 to 15 minutes. Cut into 1/2-inch cubes.
• Reduce the oven temperature to 375˚ F. In a large bowl, combine the pork, roasted vegetables and 2 cups of the curry sauce; the mixture should have the consistency of a stew. Transfer to a 3-quart casserole dish, packing the mixture down, then scatter the tater tots evenly on top.
• Bake until the tater tots are golden and cooked through, about 20 minutes. Once out of the oven, top the hotdish with cilantro, scallions and lime wedges.

A MINNESOTAN'S BEEF AND MACARONI HOTDISH

Steps:

• Cook beef in large skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until browned, about 5 minutes. Transfer beef to a bowl.
• Cook macaroni, bell pepper, and onion in the same skillet over medium heat for 3 minutes. Add cooked beef, tomato sauce, tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, salt, basil, oregano, ground black pepper, chili powder, garlic powder, and hot pepper sauce. Pour in beef broth. Cover skillet and simmer until macaroni is tender, about 15 minutes. Remove lid and simmer, stirring occasionally, until thickened, 5 to 10 minutes.

EASY DINNER HASH

Steps:

• Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Stir in the sausage, and cook until crumbly and just slightly pink, about 5 minutes. Stir in the diced potato and onion. Continue cooking until the potatoes are tender and have lightly browned, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Once the potatoes are tender, stir in the mixed vegetables until hot. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with Cheddar cheese before serving.