Vegetarian Tater Tot Hot Dish – a classic comforting Minnesota casserole, now vegetarian friendly!
Now that it’s officially September we can talk all things FALL! I don’t have another pumpkin recipe for you today to kick off the fall recipes that will be coming your way (although don’t be fooled – they are coming).
No, today I want to share with you a Minnesota classic, a tradition, a right of passage…
Vegetarian Tater Tot Hot Dish
Since I recently moved back to Minnesota, I’ve enjoyed lake days, boat rides, drinks on patios, and soaking up the last few rays of a Minnesota summer before it ends.
I’ve also learned how to make a vegetarian version of hot dish, as a way to welcome myself back home.
If you’re ready to move on from this recipe because what the heck is a hot dish, and why do I care, and this just sounds weird — then WAIT. Please wait. Because I was just like you not so long ago, and I promise you it’s worth figuring out.
To be honest, after spending the majority of my childhood in Minnesota, I never truly had a tater tot hot dish. Sure, I had plenty of casseroles (I am from Iowa – the Midwest has every version of “throw whatever in a pan and bake it”), but I never had a true tater tot casserole/hot dish/whatchyamacallit.
It was time that changed; with the exception of ground beef. Y’all know I’m not usually about the meat, so I knew I didn’t want to include it. It doesn’t really add much for me, and basically all I care about are the tater tots.
This Tater Tot Hot Dish doesn’t miss the meat at all; it’s packed with veggies and the Homemade Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup – ohmygosh – is just to die for in it.
The mushrooms add such a hearty note and the flavor and spice that comes from it – like whoa – if you were ever worried about tater tot hot dish being boring, THINK AGAIN FRIENDS!
Ok, and the tater tots. Let’s not forget the tater tots, because they basically make this hot dish everything and more. There’s nothing better than crisp pillows of potato goodness on top of a savory, creamy, veggie filled dish.
The Irish have Shepard’s Pie, the Minnesotans have Hot Dish — crispy tater tot covered hot dish. FTW, BTW!
For the record, it’s even better if it’s made in a Minnesota shaped cast iron skillet, just saying.
- 1 Tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- ½ cup onion, diced
- ¼ cup celery, finely diced
- ¼ cup carrot, finely diced
- 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- Pinch of red pepper flakes
- 1 cup frozen corn
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 2 Tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 cup Cream of Mushroom Soup*
- ½ cup Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, freshly shredded
- 30-34 frozen tater tots
- Pre-heat oven to 375°F.
- In a large skillet, melt butter with olive oil over medium heat. Add onion, celery, and carrot and cook for 2-3 minutes. Add garlic; season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Stir and cook for another 3 minutes until tender.
- Add frozen corn and peas; stir for approximately 1 minute until coated.
- Add parsley and cream of mushroom soup. Stir until well mixed together.
- Transfer to small baking dish (see note) and spread evenly across pan. Sprinkle cheeses on top. Line tater tots across the surface.
- Bake for 28-33 minutes until bubbly and tater tots are golden brown. Let sit 2-3 minutes before serving.
I’ve also made this in individual crocks and it turns out perfect!
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