Chef Johns Loco Moco Recipes

LOCO MOCO

Steps:

• For the rice: Wash the rice under cold running water until the water runs clear. In a medium saucepot over high heat, bring the chicken broth to boil. Add the rice, cover and reduce the heat to low for about 15 minutes. Remove from the heat and let stand for 5 minutes. (Alternatively, add both the rinsed rice and the chicken broth to a rice cooker and turn the machine on - it will keep the rice warm until ready to serve.) Fluff with a fork and cover. Keep warm until ready for use.
• For the burgers: Mix the ground beef, onions and some salt and pepper in a large mixing bowl. Form 4 medium patties and set aside.
• Set a large cast-iron pan over high heat. Add a drizzle of canola oil and set the patties in the pan. Cover pan with a lid (or a second pan) to seal in the moisture and ensure juicy patties. Cook until well browned on first side, 3 to 4 minutes. Then remove the lid, flip over, replace the lid and continue cooking to desired doneness, about 3 minutes for medium-rare. Remove the burgers and keep warm.
• For the gravy: Add the butter to the pan with the drippings. Saute the mushrooms and onions until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Add the beef broth and Worcestershire sauce, bring to a boil and reduce down for 2 to 3 minutes.
• In a separate bowl, mix the cornstarch with 1 tablespoons water to make a smooth paste. Slowly add into the gravy, stirring constantly until thickened. Season with salt and pepper. Cover and keep warm until ready for use.
• For the eggs: Add some canola oil to a nonstick saute pan over medium heat. Crack in the eggs and cook sunny-side up, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove and keep warm. (You can flip the eggs over-easy if you want them cooked a little more.)
• To serve: Place the cooked rice on a plate, place the burgers on top, then the eggs and finally the gravy. Garnish with parsley and tomato if desired.

CHEF JOHN'S MINESTRONE SOUP

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in large stock pot over medium-high heat. Add pancetta; cook and stir until it begins to brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in onions and celery; cook and stir until onions start to turn translucent, about 3 minutes. Stir in minced garlic and cook for another minute.
• Pour chicken broth, water, and plum tomatoes into the pancetta and onion mixture. Bring to a simmer.
• Stir cranberry beans, cabbage, garbanzo beans, red pepper flakes, Italian seasoning, and 2 teaspoons salt into broth mixture. Bring to a simmer and cook until cranberry beans are tender, adding more water as needed if the soup becomes too thick, about 45 minutes.
• Stir in Swiss chard and simmer until softened, about 15 minutes. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
• Stir in pasta and increase heat to medium-high and simmer until pasta is tender, about 15 minutes. Ladle into bowls and top with extra virgin olive oil, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, and Italian parsley.

CHEF JOHN'S LOCO MOCO

Steps:

• Season patties with salt, pepper, and cayenne.
• Whisk beef stock, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, sesame oil, ketchup, sugar, and cornstarch together in a bowl.
• Melt butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Cook patty in the hot skillet until a browned crust forms on the bottom, about 5 minutes. Flip; toss in green onions and cook the other side until both beef and onions are browned, 4 to 5 minutes more. Remove patty and most of the green onions to a plate.
• Pour beef stock mixture into the skillet. Stir, scraping up browned bits from the bottom, until thickened, about 2 minutes. Reduce heat to low and reserve gravy until needed.
• Melt remaining butter in another skillet over medium heat. Add eggs to the skillet and fry side-by-side until whites are set and yolks are still runny.
• Divide rice between 2 serving bowls. Place patties over the rice, spoon gravy on top, and add the fried eggs.

CHEF JOHN'S SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 2 1/2-quart baking dish with butter.
• Place sweet potato cubes into a large pot, cover with water, and add a large pinch of salt. Bring to a boil and cook until a knife is easily inserted into a sweet potato cube, about 10 minutes. Drain well. Return to the pot and mash 2 tablespoons butter into sweet potatoes.
• Whisk eggs, maple syrup, buttermilk, milk, vanilla extract, cayenne pepper, allspice, and 1/2 teaspoon salt together in a large bowl until smooth. Gradually mash sweet potatoes into egg mixture, starting with 2 tablespoons of sweet potato mixture, until all sweet potatoes are incorporated. Transfer sweet potatoes into prepared baking dish.
• Mix pistachios, brown sugar, flour, and 1/4 cup melted butter together until completely mixed. Crumble topping evenly over top of sweet potatoes. Use the back of a fork to gently press pistachio mixture down onto sweet potatoes.
• Bake in the preheated oven until topping is browned and casserole is set, 25 to 30 minutes. If desired, place under oven's broiler for 5 minutes to give topping a little more brown color. Let rest to cool slightly before serving, about 10 minutes.