America's Melting Pot

Booyah hero image coming soon

1850s-present - Belgian American communities in northeast Wisconsin

Booyah

Name: Booyah
Prep time: 45 min
Cook time: 3 h
Total time: 3 h 45 min
Yield: 10 to 12 servings
Ingredients: 1 whole chicken or 3 pounds chicken pieces; 1 pound beef stew meat; 12 cups water or broth; 2 onions, chopped; 4 carrots, chopped; 4 potatoes, diced; 2 cups chopped cabbage; 2 celery stalks, chopped; 1 can diced tomatoes, 14.5 ounces; 1 cup corn kernels; 1 cup peas or green beans; 2 bay leaves; 1 teaspoon dried thyme; Salt and black pepper, to taste

Booyah is more than soup in Green Bay and northeast Wisconsin. It is a community event food tied to Belgian American settlements, church picnics, fundraisers, and enormous kettles stirred for hours.

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Difficulty

Moderate

Prep time

45 minutes

Cook time

3 hours

Total time

3 hours 45 minutes

Servings

10 to 12 servings

Region

Northeast Wisconsin

Era introduced

1850s-present

Introduced by

Belgian American communities in northeast Wisconsin

Recipe tools

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The Story

Booyah is a regional food with a regional social life. Belgian immigrants, many from Walloon communities, settled in northeast Wisconsin in the 19th century, and large-kettle chicken-and-beef stews became part of church picnics, reunions, and community fundraisers. Recipes vary by family and fire department, but they usually include chicken, beef, cabbage, potatoes, carrots, onions, and tomatoes cooked long enough for the flavors to merge.

Ingredients

1 whole chicken or 3 pounds chicken pieces
1 pound beef stew meat
12 cups water or broth
2 onions, chopped
4 carrots, chopped
4 potatoes, diced
2 cups chopped cabbage
2 celery stalks, chopped
1 can diced tomatoes, 14.5 ounces
1 cup corn kernels
1 cup peas or green beans
2 bay leaves
1 teaspoon dried thyme
Salt and black pepper, to taste

Equipment

Large pot
Cutting board
Chef's knife
Mixing bowl
Measuring cups and spoons

Directions

Place chicken, beef, water or broth, onions, bay leaves, and thyme in a large pot.
Simmer until chicken is cooked and beef begins to tenderize, about 1 1/2 hours.
Remove chicken, cool slightly, and pull meat from bones.
Return chicken meat to the pot.
Add carrots, potatoes, cabbage, celery, and tomatoes.
Simmer until vegetables and beef are tender, about 1 hour more.
Add corn and peas or green beans.
Cook 10 to 15 minutes.
Season with salt and pepper.
Serve hot in bowls.

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Setting the table...

Booyah

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The Story

Ingredients

Equipment

Directions

Community Recipes

Community Reviews

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