16 Delicious Casserole Recipes from Around the World (2024)

FAQs

What is the oldest known casserole? ›

Macaroni and cheese is the oldest written casserole recipe found in 1250.

Generally, casseroles with grains, rice or pasta that will cook during the baking process are usually covered, for at least part of the time. Casseroles made of cooked ingredients are usually baked uncovered. If you like a crisper, browner top, be sure the casserole is uncovered for at least part of the bake time.

Learn why the meal-in-one is making a comeback, and why you should probably be cooking one right now. For every set of tastebuds, there's a casserole to match. For every assortment of leftovers in the fridge and standbys in the pantry, there's likely a casserole you can pull together. Don't like cilantro?

Nettle Pudding

Originating in 6000 BCE, England; it is the oldest dish of the world that's rich in nutrients. Nettle pudding is made with stinging nettles (wild leafy plant), breadcrumbs, suet, onions, and other herbs and spices. This dish is steam cooked until it attains a mousse-like consistency.

Always Cook Meat Before Adding

Don't add raw meat to a casserole.

A 9-inch by 13-inch rectangular casserole dish is the most versatile. Recipes that serve six to eight people will likely call for a casserole or baking dish of this size.

Eggs are an egg-sential part of breakfast casseroles, forming the foundation of the dish, and binding all of the other ingredients together. Whether you are making a hearty cheesy bacon egg bake or a spicy chile relleno egg casserole, there's one ingredient you shouldn't forget: dairy.

The hot water helps keep the temperature surrounding the food more consistent. This is particularly useful for recipes containing eggs, which can be quite temperamental in unmoderated temperatures. Delicate bakes using a custard or something similar (like cheesecake) will benefit greatly from the use of a water bath.

Can I freeze raw eggs in a casserole? ›

To be on the safe side, you might want to let the cooked ingredients cool, before you mix in the egg. Since you can freeze raw eggs, I see no reason you couldn't freeze a casserole that contains them. Make sure all your ingredients are cold before putting in the freezer, or adding the eggs.

It's not necessary in every case. There's a couple slow cooker stew recipes I've used where I think they just boost the aromatics and soy sauce to make up for any lost flavor from the skipped maillard process. Browning meat adds flavor. There is very rarely a recipe where you wouldn't want it.

Casserole history

Apparently, casseroles originated as communal pots that people shared for meals. The oldest recipe for a casserole, around 1250, consisted of pasta sheets cooked in water, layered with grated cheese and spices.

Putting a casserole together a day or so before baking ensures that everything is ready to go when dinner time rolls around. That means no rushing at the last minute. Along with greater convenience, making a casserole ahead of time also results in a richer, deeper taste.

The Mid-20th Century Boom

In the post-World War II era, with the rise of convenience foods and streamlined kitchen appliances, casseroles became a symbol of modernity. Canned soups, frozen vegetables, and pre-packaged ingredients made it easier than ever for home cooks to assemble a hearty, flavorful meal in one dish.

And a piece by Langdon Reid in a Staunton, Virginia, newspaper says: “History tells us that a French Canadian immigrant Elmire Jolicour is credited with inventing the casserole, this wonderful dish of culinary breakthrough, in Berlin, New Hampshire, in 1866.”

The earliest known written recipes date to 1730 BC and were recorded on cuneiform tablets found in Mesopotamia. Other early written recipes date from approximately 1600 BC and come from an Akkadian tablet from southern Babylonia. There are also works in ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs depicting the preparation of food.

In her pitch, she asked the stars to provide the recipe for their favorite dish. Wayne offered a simple concoction of egg souffle, cheese, green chiles, and tomatoes. His basic recipe became known as John Wayne Casserole, and it's now adored as a breakfast classic in many households.

Baked dishes have existed for thousands of years. Early casserole recipes consisted of rice that was pounded, pressed, and filled with a savoury mixture of meats such as chicken or sweetbread. Sometime around the 1870s the casserole seems to have taken on its current definition.