Iowa Loose Meat Sandwiches

By DreiFromBK

People from central Iowa know this sandwich (a simple affair of steamed ground beef topped with mustard, pickles, and onions, served on a soft hamburger bun) as a Maid-Rite, after the Maid-Rite chain that made it famous. To achieve the sandwich’s trademark loose, pebbled texture, we gently simmer 85 percent lean ground beef with water in a skillet until the beef is thoroughly cooked but not browned. We keep the flavors simple: just salt, pepper, mustard, and some sugar to enhance the beef’s subtle sweetness. Adding the onions to the beef just before serving allows them to soften slightly but still retain a crisp texture.

Ingredients

• Serves 4
• Do not substitute leaner ground beef in this recipe or the sandwich will be dry.
• Ingredients
• 1pound1 pound 85 percent lean ground beef
• 1/4cup1/4 cup water
• 1tablespoon1 tablespoon yellow mustard, plus extra for serving
• 1teaspoon1 teaspoon sugar
• 1teaspoon1 teaspoon salt
• 1teaspoon1 teaspoon pepper
• 1/2cup1/2 cup finely chopped onion
• 44 hamburger buns
• Sliced dill pickles

Details

Adapted from cookscountry.com

Preparation

Step 1

1. Combine beef, water, mustard, sugar, salt, and pepper in 10-inch skillet. Bring to simmer over medium heat, breaking up meat with spoon. Reduce heat to medium-low to maintain gentle simmer and cook, stirring frequently, until meat is no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Stir in onion, cover, and remove from heat; keep warm while preparing buns.

2. Spread extra mustard on bun bottoms then, using slotted spoon, mound beef mixture over top. Cap with pickles and bun tops. Serve.