Tim Walz's Turkey Trot Tater Tot Hot Dish
Let's put politics aside and make room for a heaping helping of midwest comfort food. Tim Walz shared his take on an American classic and now you can make it at home!
Servings: 8
Equipment
- 1 mixing bowl medium
- 1 skillet 10-inch
- 1 baking dish 9x13
- 1 sauce pan
Ingredients
- 1 lb fresh green beans diced
- 4 slices bacon
- 1 clove garlic finely chopped
- 6 tbsp butter
- 5-6 tbsp flour
- 2 1/2 cups milk cold
- 1/2 cup half and half cold
- 2 tsp salt
- 3 cups cheddar cheese shredded
- 1 lb turkey ground
- 1/2 tsp sage
- 1 tsp pepper
- 1 egg
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 cup green onions
- 1/4 cup onions chopped
- 1 1/2 cups baby bella mushrooms chopped
- 1 package tater tots
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375.
- Put ground turkey in a medium bowl and mix in garlic, sage, green onions, sage, egg, pepper and 1 tsp salt.
- Heat olive oil in a 10 inch skillet, then cook the seasoned turkey mixture at 165 degrees until well done, then place cooked turkey in a 9x13 inch baking dish.
- Blanch the green beans in boiling water for 2-3 minutes, then plunging beans into ice water. Once cool, drain completely and gently mix them into baking dish.
- Fry the bacon until crispy, then chop into 1/4 inch pieces before adding into the baking dish.
- Heat 2 tbsps of butter. Once the butter foam subsides, add mushrooms to the melted butter.
- Gently stir butter and mushrooms for 4-5 minutes or for about 2 minutes after browning point. Remove from heat and add to the baking dish.
- In a sauce pan, melt remaining butter over medium heat and sprinkle flour into the butter. Let cook for two minutes, then slowly whisk in milk and half and half. Cook for two more minutes, then add dished onions and salt and pepper. After a minute, stir in 2 1/2 cups of cheese until melted.
- Pour cheese mixture over the ingredients in the baking dish.
- Scatter tater tots and remaining cheese over top of baking dish.
- Bake for 45 minutes until golden brown.
Notes
Some tips from across the internet from those who have made the dish from this recipe.
Consider using 93% lean turkey and a 12 inch skillet so you can use one pan instead of two. You can also consider using a large oven safe skillet and using that for cooking as well as baking.
Tim Walz doesn't specify tater tot bag size. You may want one or two poinds depending how much tot coverage you want. If you wanna go full tot, go with the two pound bag,
For crispier tots, sprinkle the cheese first and cook a bit longer (up to 55 minutes instead of 45).
If you prefer more flavor, consider doubling the garlic, onion and sage but you may want to make it first original recipe style then see if you need to go bolder.