Burgoo

Burgoois a stew, similar toIrishorMulligan stew, often served withcornbreadorcorn muffins, that originated in Kentucky.  It is often prepared communally as a social gathering. It is popular as the basis for civic fundraisers in theUpland South.
The term is of uncertain origin, possibly from the combination of the Welsh words for "yeast" and "cabbage".The Oxford English Dictionary lists the origin as "Arabic:būrgu̇lcooked, parched, and crushed wheat, ultimately [from] Turkishbulgur".
The firstOEDreference in English is from 1743 in J. IshamObserv. Hudsons Bay, defined as "a soup or stew made with a variety of meat and vegetables, used especially at outdoor feasts.North American."  A 1753 reference fromChambers's Cycl. Suppl.reads "Burgoo, a sea-faring dish", likely with associations to theRoyal NavyandMerchant Navy (United Kingdom). An 1863 reference to G. A. Sala,Strange Adventures Capt. Dangerous(II.i.15)' specifies meat as an ingredient: "[He] had the best Beef and Burgoo at the Skipper's table."
Traditional burgoo was made using whatever meats and vegetables were available—sometimes includingvenison,squirrel,opossum,raccoon, or evengame birds—and was often associated with autumn and the harvest season. Today, local barbecue restaurants use a specific meat in their recipes, usuallypork,chicken, ormutton, which, along with the spices used, creates a flavor unique to each restaurant.
A typical burgoo is a combination of meat and vegetables. Common meats are pork, chicken, beef, and/or mutton, often hickory-smoked, but other meats are seen occasionally. Commonvegetablesarelima beans,corn,okra,tomatoes,cabbage, andpotatoes. Typically, since burgoo is a slow-cooked dish, the starch from the added vegetables results in the stew thickening. A thickening agent, such ascornmeal, groundbeans,whole wheat, orpotato starch, can be used when cooked in a nontraditional way. In addition,soup bonestocks can be added for taste and thickening.
The ingredients are combined in order of cooking time required, with meat first, vegetables next, and thickening agents as necessary. A spoon can reportedly stand up in a good burgoo.Cider vinegar,hot sauce,Worcestershire sauce, orchili powderare commoncondiments.
Cooking burgoo in Kentucky often serves as a communal effort at social event in which each attendee brings one or more ingredients. In Kentucky and surrounding states, such as Indiana, burgoo is often used for school fundraising. This has been claimed as an invention of the family ofOllie Beard, a formerMajor League Baseballplayer.
Many places hold great pride in their burgoos. It is a common feature in local events. The village ofArenzville, Illinois, asserts itself as the home of the world's best burgoo and holds a yearly burgoo festival,as doChandlerville, Illinois,inCass CountyandUtica, Illinois, inLaSalle County. Several cities claim to be the burgoo capital of the world, includingLawrenceburg, Kentucky,Owensboro, Kentucky,andFranklin, Illinois.InBrighton, Illinois, a local traditional burgoo is prepared and served annually at the village's summer festival, the Betsey Ann Picnic.At theKentucky Derby, Burgoo is often served and is considered an iconic dish.