10 of the Most Popular Foods You Must Try At Least Once in Minnesota

Every day is a gift.  Life is an adventure.  The world is your oyster.  All of those are sayings that I have heard for years.  I've even said those to my kids a time or two.  And I thought that I was actually pretty adventurous when it comes to trying new things until...I found a list of foods in Minnesota you must try at least once.

About 17 to 18% of adults have a fear of new foods.  I wouldn't say that I fall in that category, but based on the list below, it appears that I should challenge my taste buds a bit.

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10 Foods You Must Try At Least Once If You Live in Minnesota

Way back in 2000, I made the decision to move from Iowa and take a job in the Land of 10,000 Lakes.  While the jobs and addresses have changed since then, I have called Minnesota home all of those years.

I thought that I was checking off all of the "How To Be Minnesotan" boxes by:

√  wearing Buffalo Plaid flannel

√ buying a good pair of winter boots

√ seeing a few ice sculptures in the frigid temperatures we call "February".

√ Believe it or not, I have even walked on a lake when it was frozen.  I didn't go ice fishing (I don't want to touch worms or fish), but I was there.

√ gone to the Minnesota State Fair

While I have tasted quite a few things on a stick, thanks to the Great Minnesota Get Together, it appears that I have missed out on a few taste-testing adventures.  According to a list published by AFAR titled "Required Eating: 10 Foods Not to Miss in Minnesota", I am a little less Minnesotan than I thought.

Look through the foods below and see if you can cross them all off:

#10 - Porketta Sandwich

• Pork roast seasoned with fennel and other secret spices are sliced thin and piled onto bread.  Some places serve au jus, grated Parmesan, marinara, or other similar red sauces to help compliment the taste.

#9 - Hmong Sausage

• Our state is more than just lefse!  With the Twin Cities having the largest population of Hmong people in the United States, we also have an opportunity to not just learn about this culture but also have a taste of it, including Hmong sausage.  This is a spicy sausage that is flavored with lemongrass or you can taste what is called sai krok, which is a fermented pork sausage.

#8 - Aquavit

• I know, this isn't a food, but it was on the list so that is why I included it.  If you've never had a taste of Aquavit before, this is distilled from grain or potatoes and then flavored with a selection of herbs and other aromatics.

#7 - Lefse

• Made with potatoes, flour, butter, and milk, lefse is created by using special tools to flatten it out before it is cooked on a large, flat griddle.  It is thin, similar to a pancake, and is normally devoured with butter, sugar, or cinnamon.  If you want a real experience, check out the lefse drive-thru that pops up in western Minnesota or grab a bag of lefse chips from this business in Southeast Minnesota.

#6 - Spam

• Back in 1937, Hormel Foods in Austin, Minnesota created what is now known worldwide as SPAM.  If you want to sample it for free, go visit the SPAM museum.  It is a great little attraction to check out in the Land of 10,00 Lakes.

#5 - Jucy Lucy

• There is a bit of an argument with this burger, mostly about who invented it first, but wherever you go in Minnesota to grab one, you'll love it.  A Jucy Lucy is two burgers with cheese in the middle of it.

#4 - Dessert Bars

• Basically, in Minnesota, a dessert bar is any type of dessert that is in a 9x13 pan and cut into squares.  The only thing it can not be is brownies.  For some reason, those don't count.

#3 - Hotdish

• Everyone else in the world calls this dish a "casserole".  If you say that in Minnesota for an entree of meat, canned veggies, and a cream of mushroom soup concoction of some sort, you will be wrong.  Our world up north calls this a hotdish.  Psst...if you've never made it, it is one of the easiest things to whip up and bake.  Here's a recipe in case you want to give it a try and make it for your family tonight: Minnesotan Hotdish Recipe.

#2 - Walleye

• The state fish of Minnesota, aka, freshwater walleye, is a must to try if you live here.  Catch it yourself when you are out fishing or stop by one of the local restaurants to try it.

#1 - Wild Rice

• Enjoy wild rice in soup or even serve it instead of noodles!

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