Tatertot Hot Dish

[zarhooie]

Poll #2535 Tatertot Hot Dish

Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 63

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Do you know what tatertot hot dish is?

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Yes, of course
24 (38.1%)

No idea what you're talking about, crazycakes
39 (61.9%)

What goes into your tatertot hot dish?

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hamburger (cooked)
18 (75.0%)

hamburger (raw)
1 (4.2%)

corn
9 (37.5%)

green items (peas, green beans)
12 (50.0%)

cream of mushroom/chicken/broccoli
20 (83.3%)

cheese
15 (62.5%)

tatertots (arranged properly)
17 (70.8%)

tatertots (just dumped on)
8 (33.3%)

milk/other liquid poured over top
8 (33.3%)

other
6 (25.0%)

What else goes into your tatertot hot dish?

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2 lbs of raw burger
one can condensed cream of mushroom soup
one can corn niblets, drained well
one package onion tatertots (frozen) [you can use regular ones if you want)
A few handfuls of cheese (optional)
Apprx 10oz milk (or about one soup can's worth)

In a 9x12 pan (glass or metal), pat hamburger down in an even layer.
On top of this, spread soup.
On top of this, spread corn.
On top of this, arrange tatertots in pleasing geometric pattern. To dump is to blaspheme.
You can add cheese now if you want to. I don't.

The above arrangement can be covered tightly and frozen, put in the fridge for up to 2 days, or used immediately.

When ready to bake, heat oven to 350*. Pour one can milk over the whole thing. Bake uncovered for 45 minutes or until burger is done.

This is comfort food of the highest order.

-Kat

Comments

[holyschist]

*ponder* I am intrigued, but a large part of my brain is wittering about the SACRED PURITY of tater tots. Probably because I am a weirdo.

[zarhooie]

It is ridiculously easy and super yummy. The tatertots are mostly just delicious on top of the burger corn stuffs.

[holyschist]

It is difficult to go wrong with tater tots.

[tantekoo]

You speak a SACRED TRUTH.

[libitina]

Ah, on top! I can get behind this now. Because you can go wrong with tater tots, and that's damp tater tots.

[holyschist]

Haha, true.

[drgaellon]

Canned veg and canned soup? Not in my kitchen. Might have to play with it to see if I can make it with fresh ingredients...

[zarhooie]

I'm not sure of an adequate substitute for the cream of whatever soup. Maybe sour cream diluted with some milk or some such. That might do the trick. You want the flavor and the fat without too much liquid. Otherwise the meat dries out.

As far as the corn/veg goes, you can sub in frozen for sure and probably fresh too, but you'll need to make sure that it is all cooked before it goes into the casserole. I use canned because it's cheaper and I'm lazy.

[beckyzoole]

The canned soup is just a thick white sauce with chopped cooked mushrooms. I often substitute white sauce for canned soup, with added salt and seasonings.

[monanotlisa]

My thought exactly! :)

But I live in a world that doesn't eat processed foods; I realise it's different elsewhere.

[zarhooie]

Oi! I can my own veg. :)

[killing_rose]

Round this way, we refer to it as tater tot casserole and it's one of the few foods that I totally miss since I went dairy, gluten, and soy free. Making it to suit my dietary needs would defeat the purpose. I've never seen anyone put corn in it--that would involve Vegetables, and I think whoever originally came up with my family's version was scared of them.

Mind you, my family thinks that adding together Italian sausage and hamburger makes it three thousand times better. (I agree with this assessment.) We cook the meat mixture first, mostly because of an incident perpetrated by yours truly at age six. We had a babysitter, babysitter spoke primarily Russian, and I was tetchy about the subject of a babysitter. Babysitter tried taking directions from me as to how to make dinner. The resultant tater tot casserole ended up with a raw meat mixture that didn't quite finish cooking. I plead the fifth as to how sick the household became.

[zarhooie]

I've been putting this together since I was about that old also, but have successfully escaped making anyone sick in that time.

I *hate* the flavor of italian sausage. hate hate hate.

Hmmm.... you could try http://www.recipezaar.com/Non-Dairy-Cream-of-Mushroom-Soup-Substitute-107359 maybe? I'd leave out the liquid at the end, though. Last time I checked, burger and corn were gluten free, and potatoes too. So really, all you'd need to get around would be the cream of whatever soup! Not too hard. :)

[holyschist]

I wouldn't trust the tater tots unless they were explicitly gluten- and soy-free. Soybean oil is a common ingredient, and gluten ends up in all kinds of things.

[zarhooie]

True... You could do this with hashbrowns though! Of the spread-y hash-y variety. Mmmmm... I may need to try that.

[jenett]

Argh! And now I want to make some. (I have hamburger. I have corn! I have non-Cambell's cream of mushroom! But no tater tots.)

I may have to make tomorrow.

[zarhooie]

Comfort. Food. I have a sinus infection, so I have the makings for the ultimate comfort food trio: tatertot hot dish, chili and corned beef with cabbage, celery, potatoes and carrots. Mmmmmmm.

[yarnofariadne]

I've never heard of this but I think I must have it.

[zarhooie]

TRY IT. There are some neat variations if you expand out the poll. Any combination of the ingredients will be yum yum yum.

[sqbr]

I also have too many intolerances for this to be something I'm likely to make but it sounds intriguing in an..I'm trying to think of a less loaded word than "exotic" for "that which is alien to my culture and thus has novelty value"... sort of way. *ponders if it would work with mashed potato and dairy free white sauce*

[zarhooie]

It will work with those things. I suggested some GF/Dairy free/Soy free subsitutes up-thread; you may want to investigate. And do let me know if it works!

This is basically the midwestern version of the traditional shepard's pie, so I think it would work marvelously with mashed potatoes. :)

[sqbr]

HMM. I will probably forget to to let you know, for I am very absent minded, but regardless I'm sure I will have a tasty meal thanks to you at some point in the future :)

[zarhooie]

My pleasure. :)

[psyche29]

I am currently sicker than a dog, but want some of my own tater tot hotdish now. And I have to say that ILU for calling it "hotdish."

Mine is different from yours, but I'll take it just about any way I can get it, minus the corn because my body can't process it.

[zarhooie]

Yeah, I know how that can be. I've got a sinus infection and went grocery shopping. This *points to kitchen* is why that is dangerous.

If you were close, I'd offer to bring some over! *checks your location* hmm... Where in Minnesota? Southwestern corner?

[explorer0713]

I was going to say "hotdish" is an upper midwest thing.

But where I live, technically, - casseroles go in the oven but the exact same thing cooked entirely on the stovetop is a hotdish. Of course, we still call casseroles hotdishes anyway, regardless of what the recipe says it is.

[psyche29]

Mm, agreed, "hotdish" is generally a MN thing; it seems everywhere else, it's a casserole. Either way, YUM TO THE NTH DEGREE.

[psyche29]

Hubby just brought me some ice cream, which will have to do for now; I may end up with some simple ramen later, though dreams of tater tots will haunt me all evening. Hee!

Nope, Twin Cities, northwest suburbs. You?

[zarhooie]

Sioux Falls, SD, but I have a lot of very good friends in the cities. If you're free for brunch on Easter Day, I'm having a get-together with some internet folks somewhere in the greater Shoreview area. You're welcome to come if you're available. Otherwise, coffee!

[azurelunatic]

I would like to complain about this poll. ;)

I have previously been educated upon the existence of such a thing, but I still have not been offered proof that it exists.

[wolfie74]

I come bearing link: http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art55350.asp
Has a pretty picture too. :)

[existence]

Waitwaitwait. They make onion tatertots?

...i may have to see if I can find these. And the regular kind. And make two batches. For testing. >.>

[zarhooie]

Testing, of COURSE. Ore-Ida makes 'em, if that helps :)

[existence]

One must try to expand one's boundaries of yummniess whenever possible. Thanks!

[lqc]

I haven't had this in forever. Might have to consider making one, though not sure if I'd use corn myself. I wonder if it'd work as well with ABC tater tots (http://www.oreida.com/products/abc-tots.aspx)

[redsnake05]

I had to ask a friend what tater tots even were. I don't even know if they exist under some other name in this part of the world, but I shall look in the freezer section of the supermarket next time I am there. I don't eat meat, but they may make a nice change from potato dumplings baked on top of chickpea goulash, for times when I can't be bothered making dumplings.

[sporky_rat]

You may see if they have the frozen hashbrowns - the ones you scatter. Those could work just about as well.

[redsnake05]

*blinks* I have never scattered hash browns in my life. I have a vague knowledge of what they are, though, but if I want latkes, I make them by hand. I think hashbrowns are a little similar (see? Very vague knowledge). Anyway, there are frozen hash browns at the supermarket, I think. I shall investigate their scatteribility.

[amadi]

I don't eat meat, but I make a variation on this with faux "ground meat" or faux "chicken" products when I need to take a casserole to an event. (I try not to have to take casseroles to events, of course.) It's a crowd pleaser.

[redsnake05]

I will go to great lengths to avoid taking casseroles to events too - my default is a salad. If I do, it usually features chickpeas, but this sounds interesting as a more omnivore-friendly type of dish.

[amadi]

Most people have no clue that they're eating a meat analogue when it's covered in veggies, white sauce, cheese and tater tots (or shredded potatoes, most usually).

[sqbr]

They're called potato gems in (Western) Australia, if that helps any.

[viklikesfic]

Zomg tatertot casserole.

I don't eat beef anymore but I am now tempted to do some sort of refried bean variation...