hot-pot

A family shares a hot-pot meal at the dining table.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A dish of meat and vegetables cooked slowly in a pot: "hot-pot" refers to a stew-like dish, typically consisting of meat (such as lamb or beef) and vegetables (like potatoes or onions) cooked together in a covered pot, often in an oven or over a fire. The name comes from the pot being heated directly, as opposed to a slow cooker or other indirect heat source.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • We had a delicious hot-pot for dinner last night, with lamb, potatoes, and carrots. (A stew of meat and vegetables cooked in a pot.)
  • The traditional Lancashire hot-pot is made with mutton and onions, topped with sliced potatoes. (A specific regional version of this stew.)

Advanced Usage

• "hot-pot" as a compound noun: The term is often used in British English to describe a specific type of stew. It can also refer to a communal meal where diners cook their own food in a shared pot of broth (similar to Chinese hot pot, though this is a different culinary tradition).
  • For a winter party, we set up a hot-pot station with broth, meat, and vegetables for guests to cook themselves. (A communal cooking experience.)

Variants and Related Words

• Hot-pot (n): the same dish, sometimes hyphenated as "hot pot" (without a hyphen) in modern usage.
  • The restaurant serves a spicy hot pot with seafood and tofu. (A different style, often East Asian, with a simmering broth.)

Synonyms

• Stew: a dish of meat and vegetables cooked slowly in liquid.
• Casserole: a dish cooked in an oven in a covered container, similar to a hot-pot.

Phrasal Verbs

• None directly related to "hot-pot" as a noun. However, as a verb phrase, "to hot-pot" (rare) can mean to cook in a hot pot.
  • We decided to hot-pot the leftovers for a quick meal. (To cook in a hot pot or stew.)

Related Idioms

• "A hot potato": a controversial or difficult issue (not directly related to "hot-pot" but sharing the word "hot").

  • The tax reform became a hot potato in the election. (A contentious topic.)

• "To be in a hot spot": to be in a difficult or dangerous situation.

  • After the scandal, he found himself in a hot spot. (A tricky position.)