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Iowa loose meat sandwich
Steamed, crumbly seasoned beef on a soft bun
The loose meat sandwich, sometimes called a Maid-Rite after the Iowa chain that started it in Muscatine in 1926, is beef mince simmered until finely crumbled and tender, then piled loose on a soft bun with mustard, pickles and onion. It falls apart as you eat it, so it comes with a spoon. Small-town Iowa cafés have served it at lunch counters for generations. Chef's tip: break the meat up constantly with a potato masher as it cooks; you want fine, even crumbs, not lumps.
- Total time
- 25 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 1 ⅛ lb beef mince (15% fat)
- ½ onionvery finely chopped
- ¾ cup beef stock
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp yellow mustard
- 1 tsp sugar
- ¾ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 4 tsp yellow mustardto serve
- ¼ white onionfinely chopped, to serve
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What you'll need
Fresh ingredients (4)
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Method
0/3 doneStep 1: Put the 1 ⅛ lb beef mince (15% fat) and ½ onion in a cold frying pan over a medium heat and cook, mashing with a potato masher, for 6–8 minutes until no pink remains.
8 minStep 2: Add the ¾ cup beef stock, 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce, 1 tsp yellow mustard, 1 tsp sugar, ¾ tsp salt and ½ tsp black pepper and simmer for 10–12 minutes, mashing now and then, until the liquid has almost gone and the meat reaches 160°F. A common mistake is draining it dry; a little juice keeps it tender.
12 minStep 3: Warm the 4 soft burger buns in a steamer or a low oven. Pile on the meat with a slotted spoon and top with 4 tsp yellow mustard, 12 dill pickle slices and ¼ white onion.
3 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 420 kcal
- Protein
- 27 g
- Carbs
- 30 g
- Fat
- 21 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does iowa loose meat sandwich take?
- About 25 minutes in total: 5 minutes to prepare and 20 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- What can I use instead of onion?
- 2 shallots per onion.
- What can I use instead of sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
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