Hawaiian Fusion Rice Bowl: Loco Moco Recipe
Loco Moco: Hawaii’s Iconic Comfort Food
A delightful fusion of Eastern and Western culinary cultures, Loco Moco is a famous Hawaiian rice bowl topped with a hamburger steak, rich gravy sauce, and a fried egg. This recipe provides a detailed guide to creating this beloved dish at home, offering a perfect balance of flavors and textures.
For the Hamburger Steak
- 1 pack ground beef (approx. 200-250g)
- 1 onion
- 2 Tbsp minced garlic
- Mushrooms, as needed (e.g., button, shiitake)
- 1 egg (for frying)
Hamburger Steak Seasoning & Binder
- 2 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp oyster sauce
- 0.5 Tbsp sugar
- Pinch of salt
- Pinch of black pepper
- 1 egg (for mixing)
- 2 Tbsp tempura flour (or breadcrumbs)
- 1 tsp mayonnaise
For the Gravy Sauce
- 1 Tbsp butter
- 1 cup water (200ml)
- 4 Tbsp store-bought tonkatsu sauce
- 0.5 piece chicken stock cube (or beef stock cube)
- Pinch of black pepper
- 1 Tbsp sugar
- 2 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp oyster sauce
- 0.5 Tbsp sugar
- Pinch of salt
- Pinch of black pepper
- 1 egg (for mixing)
- 2 Tbsp tempura flour (or breadcrumbs)
- 1 tsp mayonnaise
For the Gravy Sauce
- 1 Tbsp butter
- 1 cup water (200ml)
- 4 Tbsp store-bought tonkatsu sauce
- 0.5 piece chicken stock cube (or beef stock cube)
- Pinch of black pepper
- 1 Tbsp sugar
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, prepare your vegetables. Slice the mushrooms into bite-sized pieces. Finely slice half of the onion and set aside. Mince the garlic. The other half of the sliced onion will be used for the gravy sauce.
Step 2
In a mixing bowl, combine the ground beef. Add the reserved half of the sliced onion and 2 tablespoons of minced garlic.
Step 3
Season the beef mixture. Add 2 tablespoons of soy sauce, 1 tablespoon of oyster sauce, and 0.5 tablespoon of sugar. Sprinkle in a pinch of salt and black pepper.
Step 4
Crack 1 egg into the bowl and add 2 tablespoons of tempura flour (or breadcrumbs). Wearing disposable gloves, mix the ingredients thoroughly by kneading and gently squeezing them together until well combined.
Step 5
Add 1 teaspoon of mayonnaise to the mixture and mix once more. The mayonnaise will help create a tender texture. Then, divide the mixture into portions and shape them into flattened hamburger patties.
Step 6
Your homemade hamburger patties are now ready to be cooked. (If making hamburger patties from scratch seems too time-consuming, feel free to substitute with store-bought hamburger steaks.)
Step 7
Lightly oil a frying pan or melt a knob of butter over medium heat. Place the shaped hamburger patties in the pan and cook until golden brown on both sides. Ensure they are cooked through to the center by maintaining a medium-low heat. Once cooked, transfer the hamburger steaks to a separate plate.
Step 8
Now, let’s make the gravy sauce. Utilizing the flavorful drippings left in the pan from cooking the hamburger steaks will add depth to your sauce. Add the sliced onion (for the sauce), mushrooms, and 1 tablespoon of butter to the pan. Sauté until the onion becomes translucent and the mushrooms soften.
Step 9
Add all the gravy sauce ingredients to the pan with the sautéed vegetables. Pour in 1 cup of water, 4 tablespoons of tonkatsu sauce, a pinch of black pepper, half a chicken stock cube (or beef stock cube), and 1 tablespoon of sugar. Stir everything together and bring to a simmer. Cook over medium-low heat until the sauce thickens slightly.
Step 10
Meanwhile, in a separate small frying pan, lightly oil the surface and cook a fried egg over low heat for about 3 minutes. Aim for a sunny-side-up style with a set white and a runny yolk. Be careful not to break the yolk.
Step 11
All components are ready! Spoon a generous portion of warm rice onto a plate. Place the cooked hamburger steak on top of the rice. Ladle the delicious gravy sauce generously over the hamburger steak. Finally, crown your Loco Moco creation with the sunny-side-up fried egg. Serve immediately and enjoy this taste of Hawaii!
