Description
Loco Moco is a classic Hawaiian plate lunch featuring a hearty combination of seasoned beef patties served over fluffy white rice, topped with a rich homemade brown gravy and a perfectly cooked fried egg. This comforting dish balances savory flavors and textures, making it a beloved staple in Hawaiian cuisine.
Ingredients
For the Rice
- 2 cups white medium grain rice
- 2 cups water
For the Brown Gravy
- 2 cups beef stock
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon shoyu (soy sauce)
- 1 teaspoon beef bouillon paste
- 1 tablespoon heavy cream
For the Burger Patties
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 1 egg
- ¼ cup diced onion
- ¼ cup panko breadcrumbs
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- Salt and pepper to taste
For the Eggs
- Cooking oil of choice (such as vegetable or canola oil)
- 6 large eggs
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook the Rice: Rinse the rice under cool running water until the water runs clear to remove excess starch. Place the rinsed rice and 2 cups of fresh water into a rice cooker and cook according to the rice cooker’s instructions until fluffy and fully cooked.
- Prepare the Brown Gravy: In a small pot, combine 2 cups of beef stock, 3 tablespoons cornstarch, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon shoyu, and 1 teaspoon beef bouillon paste. Whisk continuously over medium heat until the mixture thickens into a smooth gravy. Once thickened, remove from heat and stir in 1 tablespoon of heavy cream. Set aside and keep warm.
- Make the Burger Patties: In a large bowl, mix together the 2 pounds ground beef, 1 egg, ¼ cup diced onion, ¼ cup panko breadcrumbs, 2 tablespoons ketchup, 2 tablespoons mayonnaise, and salt and pepper to taste until well combined. Form the mixture into evenly sized patties.
- Cook the Patties: Heat a large pan over medium-high heat. Add the burger patties and cook until browned on one side, then flip and cook the other side until fully cooked through and nicely browned. Remove from the pan and keep warm.
- Fry the Eggs: Using a small pan, heat a small amount of cooking oil over medium heat. Carefully crack one egg into the pan and season with salt and pepper. Cook until the edges begin to brown and crisp, then carefully flip the egg to cook the other side, being cautious not to break the yolk. Remove from the pan and repeat for the remaining eggs.
- Assemble the Loco Moco: On each serving plate, place a bed of cooked rice, top with a beef patty, spoon generous amounts of the brown gravy over the patty and rice, and finish by placing a fried egg on top. Serve immediately while hot.
Notes
- Rinsing the rice thoroughly helps achieve fluffy and non-sticky rice.
- Adjust seasoning of the gravy with shoyu and bouillon paste according to taste preference.
- Use medium-high heat when cooking patties to get a good sear without drying them out.
- For best results, serve loco moco immediately after assembling as the egg yolk adds a rich sauce-like texture to the dish.
- Panko breadcrumbs help keep the patties tender and moist.
- You can substitute ground beef with ground turkey or other meats as desired.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Hawaiian
