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What is a Lancashire Hotpot?

Sara Schmidt
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Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 5,047
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A simple, inexpensive dish, Lancashire hotpot is a type of dish from the county of the same name. Similar to Irish stew, it consists of meat, potatoes, onions, and anything else that the cook wishes to include. Given that it is often cheaply prepared with whatever is on hand, it is a popular dish to serve at gatherings with large groups of people in attendance.

Frequently served as pub fare, Lancashire hotpot is often served with a flavorful, buttered slice of potato or pastry. This tasty addition serves as a covering to keep the meal hot. The dish is normally served in an aesthetically pleasing pottery dish, which is why the food is known as a hotpot stew.

Any meats may be included in Lancashire hotpot, as well as a vegetable mixture. In addition to the traditional inclusion onions and potatoes, chefs may include leeks, carrots, turnips, rutabaga, and any other fresh vegetables desired. Cheese, beetroot, or pickled red cabbage may be served alongside the meal.

Some traditional recipes also call for lamb's kidneys and lard. These ingredients can be replaced with whatever meats and stocks the chef prefers. Olive oil and Worcestershire sauce are also often included in Lancashire hotpot. Salt and pepper are almost always added; other common ingredients include butter and thyme.

To brew a steamy batch of Lancashire hotpot, a chef can combine any meats and spices desired with potatoes, onions, and a complementary stock. The pot should be filled as full as possible. Mutton or lamb is a traditional meat to use, though many chefs prefer beef. The mixture is cooked in the oven at 350° Fahrenheit (160° Celsius) for at least two hours and served hot. For recipes without any or much stock, a cover may be used to increase moisture.

Prior to preparing the stew, any meats should be cooked on the stove top. The same can be done with any root vegetables, for added succulence and flavor, if preferred. For a very tender stew, the dish may be cooked over the course of a full day. Some recipes include oysters, which can be added to create a more sophisticated dish.

Pop culture has another meaning for this phrase. The Lancashire Hotpots is a name for an English comedy folk band. Using a Lancashire dialect, the band performs music about British culture and other topics. The phrase has also been utilized in many films as a reference to British food and culture.

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Sara Schmidt
By Sara Schmidt
With a Master's Degree in English from Southeast Missouri State University, Sara Schmidt puts her expertise to use by writing for WiseGeek, plus various magazines, websites, and nonprofit organizations. She published her own novella and has other literary projects in the works. Sara's diverse background includes teaching children in Spain, tutoring college students, running CPR and first aid classes, and organizing student retreats, reflecting her passion for education and community engagement.

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Discussion Comments
By GrumpyGuppy — On Oct 21, 2010

@dill1971: Okay, please note that I have not actually made this recipe so I can’t vouch for how good it is. I got it out of a magazine. If you make it, please post how it turned out.

2 lbs. end of neck lamb cutlets, 2 lbs. potatoes (peeled and sliced), 2 large onions (sliced into rings), 1 1/2 pints of stock (your choice), 1 oz. butter, salt and pepper to taste.

Trim any fat off of your lamb chops. Season the chops with salt and pepper and place them in a deep casserole dish. Layer the slices of potato and onion on top of the lamb chops. Sprinkle salt and pepper between each layer. Finish with a layer of potato.

Pour the stock over the top. Dot the butter on the top potatoes. Cover the casserole dish and bake at 300 degrees for about 3 hours.

By dill1971 — On Oct 21, 2010

I get the basic concept of Lancashire Hotpad but I am unsure how to put it all together. Has anyone out there actually made it? If so, could you tell me how? Thanks in advance.

By googie98 — On Oct 21, 2010

This is a pretty interesting fact regarding Lancashire hotpot. In August of 1939, The Times newspaper reported that 30 sailors from the crew of the Napier Star liner of the Blue Star company were given six weeks hard labor per person. This happened because they said that the Lancashire hotpot that they had for dinner wasn’t fit for a dog!

Sara Schmidt
Sara Schmidt
With a Master's Degree in English from Southeast Missouri State University, Sara Schmidt puts her expertise to use by writing for WiseGeek, plus various magazines, websites, and nonprofit organizations. She published her own novella and has other literary projects in the works. Sara's diverse background includes teaching children in Spain, tutoring college students, running CPR and first aid classes, and organizing student retreats, reflecting her passion for education and community engagement.
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