Burgoo has been a favorite type of meal in the United States for many people since the 1700s. The components and cooking methods of a stew or porridge vary depending on the region in which it is served. It’s a thick, spicy stew inspired by Irish Mulligan stew, made with a wide variety of vegetables, meats, and spices. Burgoo is frequently served at outdoor gatherings like barbecues, family reunions, and picnics.
This dish, also known as burgout or sailor’s stew, was once a thin porridge or gruel served to sailors as a food source on ships. Sailors would prepare the meal with whatever catch they had that day, as well as any herbs and spices they had on board. It’s possible that some ship chefs added alcohol to the stew.
Burgoo is a stew that can be used in a variety of ways. No two cooks can make the same version of the meal, according to tradition. The soup can be made with whatever ingredients are on hand. The stew’s meat can be anything from chicken to pork to sheep to venison, and the flavorful broth can be made with any vegetables and stock. Burgoo is always seasoned with salt and pepper, as well as any other spices that the chef prefers.
The most common vegetables found in this stew are corn, potatoes, and tomatoes. Also popular are onions, celery, and other crunchy vegetables. Other vegetables such as okra, carrots, peas, or bell peppers can be added if desired. Chicken or beef stock, or a combination of the two, can be used to make the soup’s broth. Another option is to use vegetable stock.
Vegan meat substitutes can be used as a protein source in vegetarian stews. Beans are frequently used in vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes. To make this stew, combine any meats or meat substitutes, stocks, vegetables, and herbs, and cook on the stove for at least two hours.
The dish is frequently served with barbecued mutton or sheep. Burgoo is a popular dish in the town of Owensboro, Kentucky, which is known as the world’s barbecue capital. As a result, the stew is frequently served with other traditional barbecue fixings. Potato salad, cole slaw, corn on the cob, boiled eggs, barbecued or baked beans, baked potatoes or French fries, and other traditional Western picnic foods are examples of these.
This term can be used to describe a variety of foods in addition to stews and porridges. Burgoo is made by combining molasses and hardtack, a type of cracker, and cooking them together. When people gather for a picnic or fish fry and burgoo porridge or stew is served, the event is known as a burgoo.