The Minnesota State Fair’s new foods list set off a small earthquake of email alerts in the Twin Cities early this morning, and with good reason. In addition to the welcome news of new vendors such as Soul Bowl, Rick’s Pizza, the Herbivorous Butcher, and Union Hmong Kitchen, the new foods go deeper than year’s past on international fare. 

Here are some foods that one should plan for when at the Great Minnesota Get-Together — which will take place from August 25 through September 5 (Labor Day).

Kulfi

Hot Indian Foods has been wowing audiences with their take on South Asian fare, and Kulfi, the dense and creamy ice cream made with copious amounts of sweetened condensed milk as its base is an excellent answer to the unicorn burritos and sundaes being offered in different styles at the Minnesota State Fair. Hot Indian Foods will be offering Kulfi in three flavors: Almond/Cashew Pistachio, Mango, and Saffron/Almond/Pistachio.

Arepas

Made with ground maize dough, this Venezuelan specialty can be the base of many different foods, from empanadas to arepas. Midtown Global Market’s Arepa Bar is offering three different arepas between August 31st-September 5th. The pulled pork arepa boasts a slow roasted pork shoulder in red wine and vegetables, served shredded cheddar cheese, cabbage, carrots, green onions, and parsley. The Queen (La Reina) consists of pulled chicken and avocado puree salad topped with mozzarella and fresh arugula, and not to be left out, the vegan arepa has black beans and fried sweet plantains, cabbage, carrots, green onions, and parsley.

Hummus Bowls

Making their debut last year at the State Fair, Baba’s hummus bowls were a huge hit with patrons who visited their colorful and lively trailer. In addition to the standard hummus bowls they offer, they are serving up two new daring and bold hummus bowls. Beauty and the Buffalo features Baba’s take on Ranch hummus, topped with buffalo chicken, bleu cheese crumbles, and buffalo dust, while the sweeter Coco-Nuts bowl features a hazelnut chocolate hummus with shredded coconuts and bananas. Both come with different styles of their deep fried pita crusts to accompany both the savory and the sweet hummus bowls Baba’s offers.

Chilaquiles

To accompany the early bird patron at the State Fair, there’s a plethora of breakfast options being offered, and Chilaquiles at Tejas Express is perfect to satiate the appetite of said early bird. Tejas Express’ Chilaquiles consist of fried corn tortilla strips sauteed with guajillo chile salsa, and topped with scrambled eggs, pico de gallo, cotija cheese, avocado, and crema. It’s a breakfast sure to fuel the long hours of wandering the state fairgrounds.

Molotes

Andy’s Garage is serving up two different styled empanadas for this years fairgoers: a chipotle styled empanada filled with chipotle chicken, and topped with chipotle sour cream, cotija cheese, and fresh cilantro, and an elote-styled empanada, filled with roasted corn, and topped with mayonnaise, cotija cheese, and Tajin seasoning. Act quickly, as they will be available between August 25-August 30.

Mov + Nqaji (Rice & Meat)

Yia Vang’s Union Hmong Kitchen makes its debut as a new vendor at the state fair, and their Rice & Meat baskets are versatile, fresh, and flavorful. Both come with purple sticky rice and a side of their housemade krunchy chili oil, lemongrass scallion dressing, and tiger bite condiments. Also comes with choices of Hmong sausage (housemade coarse ground pork sausage), Hilltribe chicken thigh marinated in ginger lemongrass, or turmeric tofu, which is marinated in lemongrass and turmeric blend. Want something to wash it down with? Union Hmong Kitchen is also offering a sweet refreshment known as Dej Qab Zib, a coconut lychee colada with a blend of coconut milk, lychee syrup, lime, and mint, served over ice.

Sweet Potato Poutine

The Blue Barn is always known for intricate, yet decadent twists on farm favorites, and the vegetarian twist on their Sweet Potato Poutine consists of sweet potato waffle fries topped with cheese curds, Beyond chorizo sausage, turmeric gravy, and fresh cilantro. Enough to satiate the appetite of vegetarians who seek refuge from the deluge of endless meat offerings.

Poultrygeist and Steak-Xorcist

Making their debut this year at the State Fair is the Herbivorous Butcher. For their grand and welcome entrance, they are offering two dishes guaranteed to throw off the staunchest carnivore, and make them salivate. Poultrygeist consists of their fried chicken topped with sausage gravy and fried onions on buttery Texas toast, while Steak-Xorcist is chicken fried steak topped the same way. 

Tandoori Fired Jerk Mini’zza

Located at the south wall of the International Bazaar, West Indies Soul Food is going fusion style with their Tandoori Fired Jerk Mini’zza. The mini pizza consists of white chicken meat, bell peppers, onions, mozzarella, and West Indies Soul Food’s signature Jamaican Jerk Sauce on a buttermilk naan crust baked in a tandoor oven. For something to wash it down with, West Indies offers a turmeric ginger surprise, which has fresh ginger, turmeric syrup, and a dash of bitters mixed with West Indies’ original Caribbean lemonade.

Buzz’n Hot Honey Chicken Sausage Kebob

On the east wall of the food building, Sausage Sister & Me has a tremendously gaudy marquee to stand out. But, don’t get it twisted: It doesn’t mask the serious flavor in their sausages. Alongside their standard and international twist on sausages served inside puff pastry such as the Puff Daddy and Twisted Sister, their Hot Honey Chicken Sausage Kebob consists of chicken sausage with hot honey drizzled atop it, and then skewered with cornmeal biscuit chunks, and served atop a bed of coleslaw.

Check out the MPR News take on the new foods here, and see the complete list of new foods at the Minnesota State Fair’s website.

This feature is part of The Current’s 89 Days of Summer series, helping you enjoy the best of the season with weekly guides to events, entertainment, and recreation in the Twin Cities.