Lancashire Hot Pot
Lancashire is a county in the north west of England. It has its own distinct history, culture and cuisine. You can read my introduction to Lancashire in my article here.
There are many traditional foods and drinks associated particularly with Lancashire – though some other areas may have similar dishes. In this article I look at, perhaps, the most famous: Lancashire Hot Pot.
Lancashire Hot Pot is a one-pot meal usually based on mutton/lamb cooked with onions. Other vegetables are most often incorporated – including locally grown carrots and celery. They are put in a liquid stock and covered with a layer of sliced potato. It’s cooked in a slow oven until the meat is cooked and the potatoes go golden brown. On the coastal fringes of Lancashire, oysters and other sea food used to be included because they were plentiful and cheap. Now that these are more of a luxury, they aren’t included very often.
It is frequently served with red cabbage and/or beetroot.
Lancashire Hot Pot was good food for the many hundreds of thousands of people who worked hard in the factories and mills in the Industrial Revolution which had its birth in Lancashire. It was particularly popular in Manchester and the East Lancashire mill towns. The ingredients were cheap and easy to obtain and prepare. It could be left cooking all day while the family was out at work, and would not spoil, and it makes a healthy filling meal for hungry workers.
Another time when Lancashire Hot Pot is served nowadays is at large functions such as parties or events. This is because it is easy to prepare in bulk and can be served easily.
It isn’t exactly luxury food, or a delicacy, but it’s a very loved meal by millions of Lancastrians, both those still in Lancashire and those who have spread all over the world.
No one knows where the name Hot Pot comes from. Some people think it comes from the pot it’s cooked in – a bit like a casserole dish. According to word experts, it more likely comes from the words ‘hodge podge’ or ‘hotch potch’ meaning a total mixture of everything. There are historical records of this version being used going back to the 1600s.
Here are some links to modern day recipes for Lancashire Hot Pot. Why not try it and post pictures in the comments below. Lancashire Hot Pot recipe from the BBC and from Kitchen Sanctuary
Have you got a regional dish in your own area? I’d love to hear about it – and maybe even try it. Why not write a similar article to share the cuisine from your own region of the world.
Look out for more Lancashire articles on Local Guides Connect as I tell you more about my home region.
More articles in this series.
Introductory Post: A Little Look at Lancashire
Traditional Lancashire Food #1 Lancashire Hot Pot
and interestingly enough, the etymology of ‘hot pot’ seems very applicable to the Asian hot pot too where it’s a just a mix of various ingredients cooked in a pot.
I’m not very good with history!
or 
?
