Amish Haystacks and Where to Get them in Shipshewana
Most people know that the Amish in our Northern Indiana community are known for helping those in need. One way they do that is by hosting benefit suppers. These suppers love to feature a dish called the "haystack." Ever heard of it?
Haystacks are frugal meals such that can be as simple or as massive as you want them to be - which makes them great for feeding lots of people at once (like at a benefit supper event). I tend to think of haystacks as a "use up the odds and ends in your fridge" kind of meal.
If you're a fan of piling your plate high with lots of different toppings, then you'll love the Amish haystack.
Here are two ways to make a haystack (breakfast or supper), and where to get them in Shipshewana:
Breakfast Haystack
The breakfast haystack is unusual, but it is one of the most popular breakfast dishes here in Shipshewana. Most recipes start with a biscuit and adding on toppings from there.
If you love biscuits and gravy - you'll probably also love the haystack which is loaded with gravy. Mixed with the cripsy texture of the hash browns plus the the green pepper and onion, you'll be in breakfast heaven! After eating this dish at the Auction Restaurant, you'll be full until dinner time.
Breakfast Haystack Recipe
If you'd like to duplicate the breakfast haystack at home, then you can use the same ingredients our team includes when making them at the Shipshewana Auction Restaurant.
Ingredients:
- Half biscuit
- Hashbrowns
- Ham
- Green peppers
- Onions
- Scrambled eggs
- Homemade gravy
- Shredded cheese
Instructions:
Top biscuit with hashbrowns, ham, green peppers, onions, scrambled eggs, then homemade gravy and last, but not least, shredded cheese and enjoy! Of course you can omit or add anything you like to make it your own. And for one of our favorite seasonings, you have got to try the Shipshewana Spice "Happy Salt"! It adds so much flavor to all kinds of foods.
Photo courtesy of: Shipshewana Auction Restaurant
Popular restaurants in Shipshewana to get a breakfast haystack:
Lunch or Supper Haystack
The lunch or supper haystack is kind of like a version of a taco salad, but with white cracker crumbs, rice and even Doritos as the base. Once again, haystack lunches or suppers are often served at fundraising benefits because they can feed large groups of people very easily and frugally.
Photo courtesy of: Hoosier Banquets, Amish dining
Dinner Haystack Recipe
There are many different ways to make a haystack (you can really go all out and add whatever you want), but here's a sample recipe, courtesy of Wilma, one of our Amish waitresses at the Auction Restaurant:
Ingredients
- White cracker crumbs, Doritos, or rice.
- Hamburger
- Taco Seasoning
- Chopped veggies (green peppers, onions, lettuce, etc.)
- Bacon bits
- Sunflower seeds
- Chips
- Cheese sauce
Instructions
- Start with a base - Start your haystack bowl with a base of white cracker crumbs, crushed Doritos, rice, or all 3!
- Make your meat sauce - Brown some hamburger. Add some taco seasoning to it or combine it with a spaghetti sauce.
- Add the starch - Most use white rice.
- Pile on the toppings - Add chopped veggies (green peppers, onions, lettuce, etc), bacon bits, sunflower seeds, chips...whatever you want!
- Finish with cheese sauce - Finally, add some warm, creamy cheese sauce to your haystack creation.
It's always good to finish your haystack supper with a slice of fresh homemade pie.
Where to get a lunch haystack in Shipshewana:
Although I am not sure of any sit-down restaurants that serve a dinner-style haystack, you can get a haystack dinner by visiting one of the Amish in-home dining locations like Yoder's Homstyle Cooking or even catch one of the benefit suppers in the area as they are plentiful.
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