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burgoo

/ˈbʌrˌgu/
IPA guide

Other forms: burgoos

Burgoo is a hearty stew, made with various meats and vegetables, that originated in Kentucky. Traditionally, burgoo was cooked in large amounts to feed a lot of people at social gatherings.

Burgoo is a regional specialty that often shows up at Kentucky Derby parties and barbecue restaurants in the Upper South. Just about every part of the United States has a similar type of dish, from gumbo to mulligan stew to Brunswick stew, that's made with a variety of available ingredients. Tomatoes, corn, okra, lima beans, beef, mutton, chicken, rabbit, and squirrel are all traditionally found in burgoo. The exact origin of this stew, including its name, remains a mystery.

Definitions of burgoo
  1. noun
    thick spicy stew of whatever meat and whatever vegetables are available; southern United States
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    type of:
    stew
    food prepared by stewing especially meat or fish with vegetables
  2. noun
    a gathering at which burgoo stew is served
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    type of:
    cookout
    an informal meal cooked and eaten outdoors
  3. noun
    porridge made of rolled oats
    synonyms: oatmeal
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    type of:
    porridge
    soft food made by boiling oatmeal or other meal or legumes in water or milk until thick
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