Loco Moco - have you ever tried it?! Well, if you haven't, now is your chance. This popular Hawaiian breakfast plate is something my Dad would make for us all the time when we were growing up. He grew up on the North Shore of Oahu, so this comfort food dish was a staple in his childhood, and I'm so happy he shared his love for it with me! So...what is it?! Loco Moco is traditionally made with a bed of white rice, topped with Spam or a hamburger patty, a thick, rich gravy and a fried egg. YUM. Don't knock it 'till you try it! Now, in an effort to lighten this dish up a little bit, I have created a Whole30 compliant loco moco recipe! This dish, of course, must be served on cauliflower rice to be "officially" Whole30 compliant, but feel free to serve it over white or brown rice. Whichever method you prefer, it will be delicious! I can't wait to see you all try this one out.
Ingredients:
4 C cauliflower rice for Whole30 version OR 2 C white rice for non-Whole30 version
2 tbsp ghee or olive oil, separated
1 lb ground beef
½ tsp salt + more to taste
½ tsp pepper, separated
½ tsp garlic powder
½ yellow onion, thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 C beef broth
½ C coconut aminos
1 tbsp arrowroot powder + 3 tbsp room temp water
2-3 green onions, diced (optional for garnish)
Additional Supplies:
2 large skillets and 1 medium size skillet
1 skillet lid
Directions:
If you are cooking regular white rice (NON-WHOLE30 VERSION), follow instructions on the packaging to cook 2 C of rice.
Heat a large skillet on med/high heat. In a bowl, place ground beef, ½ tsp salt, ¼ tsp pepper and ½ tsp garlic powder. Mix with your hands until evenly combined. Divide the beef into 4 portions, and form into 1-1 ½ inch thick round hamburger patties.
Once hot, melt 1 tbsp ghee in the skillet. Once the ghee is melted, place your hamburger patties into the skillet and sear for 2 min/side until evenly browned. Remove patties from the skillet, cover with foil and set aside to rest.
NOTE: This should get your patties cooked to medium. If you like to cook your ground beef further, keep them cooking in the skillet longer.
Once the patties are removed, in the same skillet add sliced onion and minced garlic (do not remove the fat from the burgers!). Cook for 4-5 minutes over medium heat until softened.
If you are preparing the Whole30 version, now it’s time to cook your cauliflower rice. While the onions cook, heat another large skillet on the stovetop on med/high heat with 1 tbsp ghee. Add raw cauliflower rice to the skillet, and saute for 4-5 minutes until soft but not soggy. Add salt and pepper to taste. Cover and set aside.
To the sauteed onions and garlic, add beef broth, coconut aminos and the remaining ¼ tsp black pepper. Stir and let simmer for 2-3 min.
While the sauce simmers, in a small bowl, whisk together arrowroot powder and 3 tbsp water until fully combined. This is called a slurry. Slowly whisk the slurry into the sauce until evenly combined. Let the sauce simmer for 3-4 minutes as it thickens up, continuing to stir, then turn off the heat. Taste and add salt if needed.
While the sauce simmers, it’s time to cook your eggs. Heat a medium sized skillet on medium heat. Once hot, crack all 4 eggs into the skillet and season with salt and pepper. As the egg whites start to turn from translucent to white, put 2 tbsp of water into your skillet lid. Pour the water into the skillet with the eggs, and cover with the lid to steam the eggs. After 1 minute, remove the lid and turn off the heat. Your eggs should have fully cooked whites and a perfect runny yolk.
Time to assemble your loco moco! Place a scoop of cauliflower rice or white rice onto a plate. Top with 1 hamburger patty, a few spoonfuls of gravy, 1 fried egg and a sprinkle of green onions. Serve!
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4
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