Karelian hot pot

Karelian hot pot
Alternative namesKarelian stew, karjalanpaisti
TypeStew
Place of originKarelia
Region or stateKarelia
Finland
Main ingredientsMeat (pork, beef, or lamb), black peppercorns
Ingredients for Karelian stew

The Karelian hot pot (British)[1] or Karelian stew (US)[2] (Karelian: päččiliha[3]; Finnish: karjalanpaisti; Russian: рагу по-карельски ragu po-karelski; Swedish: karelsk stek) is a traditional meat stew originating from the region of Karelia. It is commonly prepared using a combination of pork and beef, but elk or lamb can also be used. Along with the Karelian pasties (karjalanpiirakat), it is the most widely recognized Karelian food in Finland. In 2007, it was selected as the national dish of Finland by the readers of the Finnish tabloid Iltalehti.[4] In a similar poll organized by the ELO Foundation for the Promotion of Finnish Food Culture in cooperation with the Central Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners (MTK) and the Finnish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry in autumn 2016, Karelian hot pot took second place, losing to rye bread.[5]

The hot pot is typically seasoned with black peppercorns, salt, bay leaves and allspice. Common vegetables such as carrots, onions, and root vegetables are acceptable additions to the stew.

Like most other Karelian foods, the Karelian hot pot is traditionally braised (cooked in a pot (uuniruukku or pata in Finnish) placed inside an oven). In Karelia, it is usually referred to as merely 'oven stew' (uunipaisti). The term Karelian hot pot can be used to refer to nearly any food that contains meat and that is prepared in this traditional Karelian fashion.

Due to the scarcity of meat in the past, the hot pot was traditionally only prepared for festive occasions. As meat became more readily available during the 20th century, the dish became a common, everyday food throughout Finland.

  1. ^ "The American Heritage Dictionary entry: hot pot". The American Heritage Dictionary. Retrieved 2024-01-01.
  2. ^ Fred Ferretti (1986-08-03). "Fare Of The Country - Finnish Stew Of Meaty Riches - Nytimes.Com". The New York Times. Finland. Retrieved 2016-01-02.
  3. ^ Lappalainen, Hannu (2023). Gastronominem sanasto Suomi-Livvinkarjala [Gastronomic terms Finnish-Livvi Karelian] (in Finnish). Translated by Giloeva, Natalia. Karjala Sivistysseura ry. p. 4. ISBN 978-952-7193-82-2.
  4. ^ Haapio, Markku (6 December 2007). "Se on karjalanpaisti!" [It is karjalanpaisti!]. Iltalehti (in Finnish). Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  5. ^ "The people have spoken - rye bread is the national food". yle.fi. Yle. 19 January 2017. Retrieved 8 February 2017.