Casserole - Wikipedia

Variety of cooking pot and general category of foods cooked inside it For the form of protest, see Cacerolazo. Not to be confused with Dutch oven also known as casserole dish.

It has been suggested that this section be split out into a new article titled casserole pan. (Discuss) (June 2025)

Casserole

Macaroni casserole with cheese topping
Course	Main course
Place of origin	Europe
Main ingredients	Chopped vegetables, meat and starchy binder
Variations	Vegetable, chicken, cheese, beef, fish, seafood, mutton, etc.
Media: Casserole

A casserole (French: diminutive of casse, from Provençal cassa, meaning 'saucepan'[1]) is a kind of large, deep pan or bowl used for cooking a variety of dishes in the oven; it is also a category of foods cooked in such a vessel. To distinguish the two uses, the pan can be called a "casserole dish" or "casserole pan", whereas the food is simply "a casserole". The same pan is often used both for cooking and for serving.

History

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This section needs expansion. You can help by adding missing information. (November 2019)

Early casserole recipes consisted of rice that was pounded, pressed, and filled with a savoury mixture of meat such as chicken or sweetbread. Sometime around the 1870s the casserole seems to have taken on its current definition.[2] Cooking in earthenware containers has always[citation needed] been common in most[citation needed] cultures, but the idea of casserole cooking as a one-dish meal became popular in the United States in the twentieth century, especially in the 1950s when new forms of lightweight metal and glass cookware appeared on the market. By the 1970s casseroles took on a less-than-sophisticated image. Culinary experts, such as John F. Mariani, attribute this to the beginning of the dark ages of American culinary culture.[3]

• Baked ziti is another popular pasta and ground meat–based casserole.
• An ad hoc American casserole with ground beef, onions, peppers, mushrooms, herbs, spices, and bread

American-style casserole

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In the United States, a casserole or hot dish is typically a baked food with three main components: pieces of meat (such as chicken or ground meat) or fish (such as tuna) or other protein (such as beans or tofu), various chopped or canned vegetables (such as green beans or peas), and a starchy binder (such as flour, potato, rice or pasta); sometimes, there is also a crunchy or cheesy topping.[4][5][6] Liquids are released from the meat and vegetables during cooking, and further liquid in the form of stock, wine, beer, gin, cider, vegetable juice, or even water may be added when the dish is assembled. Casseroles are usually cooked slowly in the oven, often uncovered. They may be served as a main course or side dish, and, conveniently, may be served in the vessel in which they were cooked.[citation needed]

Other cuisines

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Many baked dishes served in the baking dish can be classed as casseroles. Examples include Lancashire hotpot (English), cassoulet (French), moussaka (Greek), and timballo (Italian).[citation needed]

In English-speaking Commonwealth countries like the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand, the term casserole is most commonly used to refer to a dish of meat with vegetables (especially root vegetables) and a gravy-style sauce; dishes containing a large proportion of starchy ingredients, e.g., pasta or those cooked in creamy sauces are not generally referred to as casseroles, and might be called "bakes" or "gratins". In the UK they can be distinguished by saying stews are cooked on a stovetop while casseroles are cooked in an oven.[7]

See also

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• Dutch oven
• Güveç
• Jugging
• List of baked goods
• List of casserole dishes
• List of cooking vessels

References

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1. ^ Harper, Douglas. "casserole". Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
2. ^ Ayto, John (2002). An A–Z of Food & Drink. Oxford University Press. pp. 60–61. ISBN 9780192803511.
3. ^ Mariani, John F. (1999). The Encyclopedia of American Food and Drink. Lebhar-Friedman. p. 59. ISBN 9780756786809.
4. ^ Yoon, Howard (4 March 2009). "Nouveau Casseroles". Kitchen Window. National Public Radio. Retrieved 4 December 2009.
5. ^ Ramsey, Sarah (25 September 2018). "What Is a Casserole?". Wide Open Eats. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
6. ^ Dosti, Rose (2 March 1989). "Casseroles - Main courses for baby boomers in the 50's, these classic American dishes are easy to prepare, low cost and nutritious". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
7. ^ Smith, Delia (15 November 2018). "Slow Progress: Delia on Casseroles". Delia Online. Retrieved 30 April 2020.

Further reading

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• Wright, C. A. (2011). Bake Until Bubbly: The Ultimate Casserole Cookbook. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. ISBN 978-0-544-17748-2. History of the casserole.

External links

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• The dictionary definition of casserole at Wiktionary

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