Tim Walz's winning hotdish recipe

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This is from 10 years ago when he was a Rep. (cross posted in the cooking & baking forum)

Rep. Tim Walz won the Minnesota congressional delegation's annual hotdish contest for the second year in a row. The Democrat's blend of bacon, ground turkey and other ingredients was declared the winner. Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., started the contest four years ago.

https://www.kare11.com/article/life/food/recipes/rep-tim-walzs-winning-hotdish-recipe/89-107523676

1 pound of fresh green beans, chopped into bite sized pieces

4 slices of Hormel bacon

1 clove of garlic, finely chopped

6 tablespoons butter

5-6 tablespoons flour

2 ½ cups Whole milk

½ cup half and half

2 teaspoons salt

3 cups Kraft shredded sharp cheddar cheese

1 pound Jennie-O ground turkey

½ teaspoon sage

1 teaspoon pepper

1 egg

1 tablespoon olive oil

½ cup green onions

¼ cup chopped onions

1 ½ cup chopped baby bella mushrooms washed and well dried

1 package tater tots

Pre-heat the oven to 375 F.

In a medium bowl, mix turkey, garlic, sage, green onions, egg, pepper and one teaspoon salt.

Using a 10-inch cast iron skillet, heat the olive oil and then cook the turkey to the well-done temperature of 165 F and place in 9-by-13-inch baking dish. (Browning similar as you would for ground beef).

Blanch the green beans by dropping them into boiling water for 2-3 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, remove and plunge them into ice water. Once cool, drain completely and gently mix them in with the turkey in the dish.

Fry the bacon until crispy then chop into ¼-inch pieces. Add bacon into turkey mixture.

Heat 2 tablespoons of butter. As soon as you see that the butter foam has begun to subside, indicating it is hot enough, add the mushrooms. Stir continuously and gently with wooden spoon for 4-5 minutes or for about 2 minutes after browning point. Remove from heat and add to casserole dish.

In a sauce pan, melt remaining butter over medium heat. Little by little, sprinkle flour into the butter. Let cook for 2 minutes, then slowly whisk in the milk and half and half. Cook for 2 more minutes, add diced onions and salt and pepper. After a minute, stir in 2 ½ cups of cheese until melted.

Pour cheese mixture over the ingredients.

Scatter tater tots over the top and remaining cheese.

Bake 45 minutes or until golden brown.

[ProudMNDemocrat]

1. It is SACRILEGE for a Minnesota Hot Dish NOT to have Tater Tots in it.

That would be WEIRD.

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2. On social media, some people are questioning the use of just one garlic clove

But people from the upper midwest are pointing out that this is a normal amount for a lot of recipes we use!

[cyclonefence]

5. Check the very last item in the ingredient list, my friend

[cyclonefence]

3. Definitely making this for Sunday supper

but what's the deal with using ground turkey (which kind of urps me) in place of hamburger? It can't be to lower the fat--we've got whole milk, 1/2&1/2, and a ton of cheese. Is this to get his daughter the vegetarian to eat it?

Being a patriotic Democrat, I'll go ahead and make it with the goddam turkey. We'll see. I mean, Minnesotans love their food, right, so it's got to be delicious.

[sarisataka]

7. A couple reasons for the turkey

One, Minnesota is the #1 turkey producer in the US, putting out about 20% of the turkey consumed in the US

Two, ground turkey is an excellent substitute for beef in many dishes. I have made tacos, chili and several hotdishes for people who normally use beef. All agreed the change is not noticeable and some have also switched claiming they like the turkey more.

[cyclonefence]

8. Thank you

I am reassured. And looking forward to chowing down.

[Zoomie1986]

13. Turkey can be a good substitute in many dishes

But I find it has to be super lean, otherwise it can be too limp and mushy.

[BrenAndRay]

18. Turkey Day vibe

The recipe calls for sage, which goes amazing with turkey. Gives that Thanksgiving vibe

[moonscape]

4. Scattering tater tots at the

end cracks me up. Is this a Midwestern thing?

Reminds me of 60’s casserole dishes that were topped with canned french-fried onion rings. Not sure if this was mostly a Southern thing, but I had left that cuisine many decades ago, only to be revisited when having dinner with a childhood friend in their mansion in Atherton, CA.

Not sure what I was expecting, but it surely wasn’t a throwback side dish of green beans baked with canned mushroom soup, topped with canned onion rings. Used to love those onion rings right out of the can much to Mom’s dismay when she would discover I had raided the pantry.

[progressoid]

6. Yep.

I remember seeing it a lot when I was a kid in the 70s.

[Zoomie1986]

12. I love the canned onion rings, too

But I've updated my game to packaged fried pickles. French's used to make them, but now I can find only the Fresh Gourmet.

[Zoomie1986]

14. The tater tots on top is a midCentury thing

I hoovered up my mom's box of 60s women's magazines that I found in her attic. Tater top toppings were a regular feature in recipes back then. It was nationwide.

Gelatin molds started going out in the early 60s, though. Those were the scary recipes. Let's put dinner in Jell-O! The few times I had one of those dinner in gelatin dishes, it was as gross as it sounded.

I did like the jello mixed with, I guess milk? and layered with regular jello. That was pretty good.

[haele]

15. Jello 1-2-3!

The bottom layer was clear flavored standard jello, middle layer was thicker jello (almost a jello-pudding mix), top layer was like Junket or a gelatin custard.
It was okay, and definitely unhealthy. I liked Junket, especially the Raspberry flavor.
I'm old.

Haele

[sarisataka]

17. Now you've done it

This weekend my family will have tater tot hotdish with a jello mold side dish for dinner. Bundt cake dessert but I have to remember how to make that plastic lemon icing

[Bok_Tukalo]

9. That tracks

Only in Minnesota could that recipe win a cooking contest.

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10. My friend from MN called it "peak Minnesota"

[Zoomie1986]

11. I can't do the tater tots

But I could make my own from boniatos.

Sometimes, the best thing for dinner is a good old fashioned casserole/hot dish. Think I'll save this one for cooler weather. Too hot outside now for something so heavy.

[Hekate]

16. That will definitely stick to your ribs!

Not sure it’s me, however. I love it that someone called it “peak Minnesota, “ though.