America's Melting Pot

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1800s-present - Kentucky camp cooks, community fundraisers, and Southern stew crews

Burgoo

Name: Burgoo
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 2 h
Total time: 2 h 30 min
Yield: 10 servings
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons oil; 1 pound beef stew meat; 1 pound pork shoulder or leftover pulled pork; 1 pound chicken thighs; 1 onion, chopped; 3 garlic cloves, minced; 1 can crushed tomatoes, 28 ounces; 6 cups chicken or beef broth; 2 cups diced potatoes; 2 cups corn kernels; 1 1/2 cups lima beans; 1 cup chopped cabbage or okra, optional; 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce; Salt, pepper, and hot sauce, to taste

Burgoo is Kentucky gathering food, cooked in big kettles for barbecues, political events, church fundraisers, Derby parties, and camps. Its origins are murky, with links to frontier stews, ragout, and communal cooking, but its identity is unmistakably Kentucky.

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Difficulty

Moderate

Prep time

30 minutes

Cook time

2 hours

Total time

2 hours 30 minutes

Servings

10 servings

Region

Kentucky and the Upper South

Era introduced

1800s-present

Introduced by

Kentucky camp cooks, community fundraisers, and Southern stew crews

Recipe tools

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The Story

Burgoo traditionally scales up to huge kettles and long paddles, but a home pot can keep the same spirit. Older versions used whatever meats were available, including game; modern versions often combine chicken, beef, and pork with tomatoes, corn, lima beans, potatoes, and cabbage or okra. The stew should be thick enough that the vegetables and shredded meat nearly merge.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons oil
1 pound beef stew meat
1 pound pork shoulder or leftover pulled pork
1 pound chicken thighs
1 onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 can crushed tomatoes, 28 ounces
6 cups chicken or beef broth
2 cups diced potatoes
2 cups corn kernels
1 1/2 cups lima beans
1 cup chopped cabbage or okra, optional
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
Salt, pepper, and hot sauce, to taste

Equipment

Large pot
Skillet
Grill
Cutting board
Chef's knife
Measuring cups and spoons

Directions

Heat oil in a large pot and brown beef and pork if using raw pork.
Add chicken, onion, garlic, tomatoes, and broth.
Simmer until meats are tender, about 1 1/2 hours.
Remove chicken, shred meat, and return it to the pot.
Add potatoes, corn, lima beans, cabbage or okra if using, and Worcestershire.
Simmer until vegetables are tender and stew is thick, 30 to 45 minutes.
Season with salt, pepper, and hot sauce.
Serve hot, ideally with cornbread.

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Setting the table...

Burgoo

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The Story

Ingredients

Equipment

Directions

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