Loco Moco – The best dish EVER! Here’s how to make it!

Written by Lifestyle Contributor, MJ Cimato of Cooked Buffalo 

 

Confession: My name is MJ, and I’m addicted to the Food Network. On any given day, you can find me wishing I were on a ranch like the Pioneer Woman, or in front of the judges on Chopped. I think I could kill it on Chopped. I came face to face with Geoffrey Zakarian at a wedding once and bee lined the other direction out of nervousness.

A few months ago, I went to Seabar for dinner and was convinced to sample the Loco Moco. It’s a dish that originated in Hawaii, and beyond that, I don’t know the history. I’m not a picky eater, but it just didn’t sound awesome to me, in comparison to the rest of the amazing menu. IT WAS THE BEST THING I’D EVER HAD. I’m dramatic, hence the capital letters. It was really, really good. Savory, and flavorful, and egg yolk-y. A perfect dish, in my humble opinion.

Imagine my surprise when I turn on the Food Network a few weeks ago, and I see some guy on Beat Bobby Flay making Loco Moco. And to even further my shock, it’s Mike Andrzejewski, the owner of Seabar, where I had the delicious Loco Moco. If you haven’t had it, go. You’re missing out.

I don’t shy away from a challenge, so I tried to make it at home a few weeks ago. I don’t know what I was expecting, but what I got was heaven on a plate. Don’t misunderstand, this is no Mike A. dish, but it’s pretty close.

 

 

If you can’t get out for dinner, this was quick, easy, and delicious to make. I didn’t use Spam, like he did. Canned meat makes my skin crawl, but do you. Make the recipe how you want. Here’s how I did it:

MJ’s Loco Moco Recipe (Serves 4)

4 cups rice (I used Jasmine)

1-pound ground beef

¼ cup finely chopped onion

2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

1-teaspoon low sodium soy sauce

1-teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon black pepper

1-cup beef broth

1-tablespoon flour

4 eggs

4 tablespoons butter

1-tablespoon vegetable oil

Green onion for garnish

1) Prepare rice according to packaging.

2) Mix ground beef, onion, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, salt and pepper together in a large bowl. Shape into patties.

3) On medium high heat, place oil into pan, and cook patties about 4 minutes per side, or until desired doneness. While cooking, mix flour and beef broth together.

4) When patties are done cooking, remove from the pan. Using the same pan, pour beef broth mixture and cook on medium high, until the sauce has thickened and turned dark brown.

5) In a small skillet, fry each egg, using 1 tablespoon of butter for each.

6) Assemble your plate: 1 cup of rice per plate, one hamburger patty, gravy, fried egg, green onions.

Here’s my plate, and the plate from Seabar. Not too far off, right?

Tag @CookedBuffalo on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter so I can see how yours turned out! And if you know Mike A., tell him thank you for the inspiration!!!