10 of the Most Popular Foods You Must Try in Minnesota

Every day is a gift. Life is an adventure. The world is your oyster. All of those are sayings that I have heard for years. I've even said those to my kids a time or two. And I thought that I was actually pretty adventurous when it comes to trying new things until...I found a list of foods in Minnesota you must try at least once.

10 Foods You Must Try At Least Once If You Live in Minnesota

I have been part of the Minnesotan community for 24 years. I have some flannel attire. I have winter boots, gloves, have seen a few ice sculptures in the frigid temperatures we call "February", and have even been on an ice-covered lake. It seems that I forgot to do some taste testing in all of my years living in Minnesota though and because of that, I am feeling a bit inadequate on the whole "Minnesotan" title right now thanks to a list published by AFAR titled "Required Eating: 10 Foods Not to Miss in Minnesota".

Let's see how Minnesotan you are. Look through the list below of the 10 Minnesotan foods and send me a message on my Facebook page - Jessica On The Radio - and let me know your number.

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#10 - Porketta Sandwich

Pork roast seasoned with fennel and other secret spices are sliced thin and piled onto bread. Some places serve au jus, grated Parmesan, marinara, or other similar red sauces to help compliment the taste.

#9 - Hmong Sausage

Our state is more than just lefse! With the Twin Cities having the largest population of Hmong people in the United States, we also have an opportunity to not just learn about this culture but also have a taste of it, including Hmong sausage. This is a spicy sausage that is flavored with lemongrass or you can taste what is called sai krok, which is a fermented pork sausage.

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#8 - Aquavit

I know, this isn't a food, but it was on the list so that is why I included it. If you've never had a taste of Aquavit before, this is distilled from grain or potatoes and then flavored with a selection of herbs and other aromatics.

#7 - Lefse

Made with potatoes, flour, butter, and milk, lefse is created by using special tools to flatten it out before it is cooked on a large, flat griddle. It is thin, similar to a pancake, and is normally devoured with butter, sugar, or cinnamon. If you want a real experience, check out the lefse drive-thru that pops up in western Minnesota or grab a bag of lefse chips from this new business in Southeast Minnesota.

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#6 - Spam

Back in 1937, Hormel Foods in Austin, Minnesota created what is now known worldwide as SPAM. If you want to sample it for free, go visit the SPAM museum. It is a great little attraction to check out in the Land of 10,00 Lakes.

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#5 - Jucy Lucy

There is a bit of an argument with this burger, mostly about who invented it first, but wherever you go in Minnesota to grab one, you'll love it. A Jucy Lucy is two burgers with cheese in the middle of it.

#4 - Dessert Bars

Basically, in Minnesota, a dessert bar is any type of dessert that is in a 9x13 pan and cut into squares. The only thing it can not be is brownies. For some reason, those don't count.

Andrea Skjold

#3 - Hotdish

Everyone else in the world calls this dish a "casserole". If you say that in Minnesota for an entree of meat, canned veggies, and a cream of mushroom soup concoction of some sort, you will be wrong. Our world up north calls this a hotdish. Psst...if you've never made it, it is one of the easiest things to whip up and bake. Here's a recipe in case you want to give it a try and make it for your family tonight: Minnesotan Hotdish Recipe.

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#2 - Walleye

The state fish of Minnesota, aka, freshwater walleye, is a must to try if you live here. Catch it yourself when you are out fishing or stop by one of the local restaurants to try it.

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#1 - Wild Rice