Monday, May 03, 2010

Loosemeat Sandwich (from Sioux City, Iowa)



JS:
I first heard of loosemeat sandwiches from Roseanne, the sitcom. Yes, I did watch that show. It was quite good, quite funny. Then, Roseanne's face suddenly changed, which is when the show jumped the shark, in my opinion.

Which is why I remember the loosemeat sandwiches. It might have been the only good thing that came out of the show post-plastic surgery.

TS:
The loosemeat sandwich was introduced to Roseanne by Jackie, who was, at that time on the show, a truck driver. She told Roseanne that truckers would line up at a little diner to have one of these loosemeat sandwiches.

When they finally opened The Lunch Box (that was a pretty good name for the restaurant), I noticed that they had the meat in a steam table pan set-up, with the meat being very loose indeed.

To make a sandwich, they would scoop out some meat, letting the juices drain, before putting the loosemeat on a bun. Of course, this is all according to my memory (sketchy, I admit), plus a TV show's portrayal of the sandwich.

However, since I have never heard the loosemeat sandwich mentioned ever again in any other context besides in Roseanne, this loosemeat sandwich memory of mine has become the platonic ideal for me.



TS:
Then, not too long ago, I saw a loosemeat sandwich post on More Than Burnt Toast. My heart went pitter-patter. Apparently, there is some background story about the loosemeat sandwich. Upon further googling, we came upon this forum with a post on the "original loosemeat sandwich".

On the forum, "NebGuy" urges everybody to try making the recipe as is at least once. So, here it is!



TS:
As per the recipe, I even used lard! Good thing I had pork fat lying around from making White Pork with Garlic Sauce.



TS:
When the fat was hot, I sprinkled a layer of kosher salt onto the bottom of the pan. Then, I started browning ground beef, making sure to squish the meat so they crumble into little pieces. I also added onions at this time.

After cooking the mixture for a bit, I added yellow mustard, vinegar and sugar.



TS:
Some water went into the pan as well, barely covering the meat. I let the mixture cook over low heat until the liquid evaporated.

We even bought some hamburger buns for just this occasion! Wow, I didn't realize hamburger buns were so small! They're cute.

We microwaved ours for that "steamed" effect, then plopped some loosemeat on them.



JS:
In my fantasies, which of course are also influenced by Roseanne's representation of the loosemeat sandwich, I had imagined the loosemeat sandwiches to be a tad more "juicy." I had thought that the meat mixture would be stewed in some kind of broth and these juices would run down my arm when I bit into my sandwich.

In this version, the meat was "thicker."

TS:
I had the same thoughts. The meat held together too well. I wanted them to tumble all over the place in their looseness.

Could it be because I didn't drain the fat/liquid after cooking the ground beef-onion mixture? In my defense, there really wasn't much liquid in the pan when the beef was browned.

Since we have now made the recipe as is, I feel we are free to tinker with it as much as we want from now on! =)

JS:
I found the meat filling to be too sweet for my taste. We would probably omit the sugar altogether were we to make this again.

TS:
My priority is to make the meat loose! I will try to have the loosemeat swimming inside some liquid, just like in Roseanne.

JS:
Yes, I think we will make this again with our modifications. It was quite satisfying to eat, especially when you bite into the squished bun. Because you do have to squish the bun to eat.

TS:
One of these days you may find "Loosemeat Sandwich (from Vancouver, BC)" on eatingclub, made according to my platonic ideal. That is, if we're not too lazy to post about our modifications. =)


I forgot to squish the bun and take a picture!

On the same day, we made Sloppy Joes.


To read all about the loosemeat sandwich story, visit this forum. I have reprinted the recipe below for ease of reference.
Roadfood.com: Loosemeat, etc.

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Recipe
Loosemeat Sandwich
printed as is, without revisions;
by
"NebGuy" on the Roadfood.com forum


1 lb of real good ground chuck or ground beef round or ground sirloin

1 tablespoon fat like lard or Crisco (if meat is round or sirloin)

2 teaspoons salt, just enough to lightly cover bottom of your skillet(this seems like a lot of salt but trust me on this)

1 onion, chopped fine

1 tablespoon prepared yellow mustard

1 tablespoon vinegar

1 tablespoon sugar

water, to cover

salt and pepper, to taste

1) Get out a cast iron skillet-they are the best for loosemeats-or other kind if you have no iron skillet.

2) Melt fat over medium heat and lightly salt bottom of skillet.

3) Break ground beef up in skillet and start crumbling it with the back of a wooden spoon-this is very important-the meat must end up being cooked up into small crumbles.

4) Add chopped onion while browning meat.

5) Keep working with the back of spoon to break up meat.

6) When meat is browned, drain off any fat and return meat to skillet.

7) Add mustard, vinegar, sugar, and just enough water to barely cover meat in the pan.

8) Cook, at a simmer, till water is all cooked out-between 15-20 minutes.

9) Adjust salt and pepper to taste.

10) Heat your hamburger buns-they're traditionally steamed for loosemeats-I like mine toasted lightly-do it the way you like it.

11) When buns are warm, put yellow mustard on them and add some dill pickle slices-I put on lots!

12) If you start changing this recipe and using things like olive oil for the fat and dijon or honey mustard for the yellow mustard, you will not get the traditional yummy taste of a loosemeat sandwich.

13) Likewise, don't add any liquid smoke or worcestershire sauce.

14) Make them just like this the first time so you can sample the simplicity of this famous Midwestern treat.

15) If you want to start making changes after that by all means do so but I'd like you to taste the original recipe at least once.

48 comments:

  1. Oh Roseanne. A show that ill live on in sitcom infamy. I remember watching it when I was little...my parents were none too thrilled. It seems almost like a sloppy joe...minus the tomato sauce. Very interesting.

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  2. yeah, i had the same feeling about loosemeat being juicy. strange--and i must say this is the third reference to platonic ideals in a week.

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  3. HAHA Roseanne was the shiz back in the day, my mom wouldn't let me watch it sometimes because she said Roseanne seemed "loud and rude" hahaha silly mommy.

    These sandwiches look yummy, like Joanne said, they are like sloppy joes without the sauce!

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  4. This does look like a sloppy joe; I could see myself eating meat on the days when I crave meat! I just made a lebanese-style gyro today, 'cause I was in a meat-craving mood! Next time I am making this one, it is a heck of a lot easier!
    PS: I did not like Roseanne one bit: I thought she was vulgar. Not very funny either.

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  5. I'm here licking my lips and salivating!

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  6. I have tasted something similar as a kid, can you believe it? here in Singapore! They were sold as buns (loosemeat enclosed in a bun) in a traditional old bakery. The bakery is not there anymore :(

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  7. Just as an aside, if you would like to make the meat "looser" you can cook the ground beef in the same manner that Cincinnati chili is made. Add raw ground beef to about a cup or two of water and stir. You can then add this to the sauteed onions or you can add the raw onions to the ground beef/water mixture. Either way, you'll end up with a very loose product even after the water has been cooked off. It looks pretty gross (a bit like meat gruel) but it makes a very finely cooked loose meat.

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    Replies
    1. You boil the meat and no lard in a fry pan.

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    2. Use a potato masher to break up the meat, onion.

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  8. We've been to one of the Original Maid Rites where the loose meat sandwich came from & is still served, crazy old place.

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    Replies
    1. Maidrite Sandwiches native to Iowa! Yummy 😃

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    2. One of the “originals” can be found in a small brick building located in an alley behind Main Street in Ottumwa, Iowa. It’s called “Canteen Lunch”…has been there for a long, long time. It’s truly one of the best!

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    3. I lived in Dubuque Iowa and we had a maid rite there, by the post office. Enjoyed these greasy sandwiches. Years ago.

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    4. I had a maid rite store, save the money.. I have a seasoning I created my own seasoning they can’t compete with.Dons Crumbled Beef Sandwich Shoppe ll

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    5. Maid Rite, the best!

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    6. Yes, I grew up with a Maidrite franchise in our small town in Missouri. It was our high school hang-out and still a must- stop when back in my hometown. I have found "Maidrite" copycat recipes on Pinterest. You will find that is the sandwich you are looking for I believe.

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  9. Joanne:
    Joy:
    That show was pretty funny. Hehe.

    maybelle's mom:
    It was more "sticky" than loose. Perhaps because of the fat.

    tasteofbeirut:
    Hehe, dealing w ground meat does sound a whole lot easier.

    tigerfish:
    Oooh, I wonder how that Singaporean filling was made. Very intriguing.

    Anon:
    Yes, that does sound like it';ll loosen the beef right up. Thanks for the tip!

    kat:
    Maybe one of these days we'll actually try a "real" loosemeat sandwich. =)

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    Replies
    1. One of the last maidrite marshalltown iowa. Every Iowa church cookbook has a recipe for them.

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  10. one of my recipes for loose meat states to boil the meat in water to cook it, then drain and smash to get the fine texture, then when you add the other ingredients, cover with beer and let the meat cook in the beer (so the "sauce" is beer-based) - it lends the meat an interesting flavor and the alcohol cooks off. Growing up in a small Iowa town in the 60's and 70's, this was what the moms made for the concession stand at football and baseketball games...because it kept well in a crockpot and at the end of the night, if you had left overs, the meat could be used in tater-tot hotdish!

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    Replies
    1. Yes, it seems that boiling the meat first is key! Thanks for the tip.

      Oh hey, what is this tater tot hotdish that you refer to? =)

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  11. You don't even need to boil the meat - just add some water at the browning the meat phase. Not only will it be looser, but the grains (grinds) of ground beef will get smaller. I do that with bolognese sauce for a better texture

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  12. There was a place called the frosty mug in Monticello Indiana. They made loose meat sandwiches called the jumbo cheese steam burger. Omg!! These were to die for !! All they did extra was mix in cheese whiz. Best thing ever.

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    Replies
    1. I remember the frosty mug and the sandwiches. They were very good.

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    2. OMG! Frosty Mug in Monticello IN. IT NEEDS SOMEONE FROM THE 70’s or early 80’s to invest & bring it back!

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  13. The recipe doesn't specify what type of onion to use.Big difference between a white vs yellow onion. Does anyone have a suggestion?

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    1. White. Where I live we have a maid rite restaurant called “Maid Rite”, it has been there forever and way back when everyone who visited the restaurant stuck there chewing gum to the wall and they still do today!

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  14. This is so similar to the Sloppy Joe I don’t add cheese just mustard and ketchup my family has always loved them I would never cook in lard the ground beef juice is plenty

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    Replies
    1. The lard is for cooking ground chuck or sirloin. They are both to lean to cook without it.

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  15. My cousins in Oelwein and Waterloo call these made-rights.

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  16. Iam from Sioux City Iowa..looks like Tasty Inn and Out!!!!!!

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    Replies
    1. Yes I'm. From Sioux City and their avaliable at the tastee inn and out resturant along with onion chips and dip 😋

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  17. I grew up where the original “loose meat sandwich” was invented..Greenville OH. It has nothing to do with mustard in the cooking. It’s because the meat is steamed, not fried. Good ground beef with a bit of salt, lots of pepper, and a bit of sugar. Steam it until done. Press it onto cheap buns, mustard, dill pickle, chopped onions. That’s it! They don’t offer ketchup, mayo, or anything else. You can get a Cheez-Rite with a slice of American cheese on it —not melted, the heat of the beef will do that.

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    1. Yes! My first job was working for Maidrite Cafe. The meat was steamed and you added a liquid seasoning diluted in water. Always mixing the beef as it steamed tgat left no chunks of burger. Damn good stuff. Raised in the one we had here in town. (I have always cringed at references to Rosanne)

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  18. ts of eatingclubvancouverSeptember 29, 2022 6:27 PM

    Thanks for the info! I'm liking this steaming method for sure.

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  19. Sounds so good! Whenever I go to Wichita ks I always stop at maid rites for a sandwich. Now I can make my own! Thanks!

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  20. Original was made in muscatine iowa i syill luv eating maid rite.google maid rite and see website

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  21. It was called a Tastee sandwich in Lincoln, Nebraska. The restaurant was “Tastee Inn and Out”. Onion chips with a secret recipe dip. NIRVANA

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  22. Look up Chicago Italian beef sandwiches. Sounds more up your alley. Loose wet beef in a bun. So good!

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  23. These are Maid Rites from Iowa , my recipe is different than yours. I have had them since I was little and I am 82 years old!

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  24. The canteen in Ottumwa Iowa that is the place they were copying benn open since the 1930's

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  25. I am from Sioux City and I love a great loosemeat sandwich with dill pickles and cheese. You could get these at Ye Ol Tavern, Tastee In and Out and something very similar with more pepper in it at Miles Inn, called a Charlie burger named after my dear friend Charlie Miles. Maid Rites are very similar as well and can be found in several towns in Iowa. You are making me a little homesick with all this talk.


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  26. Made it just the way the recipe said and they are Yummy🤗

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  27. I grew up having Maid Rites in Albert Lea, Minnesota. I don't live too awfully far from Greenville, Ohio and was excited to find Maid Rites there, but alas they had sugar in them. The ones I grew up on did not have sugar. They did have grease running down your arm. That is what makes them so good. The ones you can buy on the freeway in Iowa are not greasy enough.
    I haven't made them for a long time, but it's easy. Saute your hamburger and chop it small and add grease if you didn't buy a greasy mix. Salt and pepper, add finely chopped onions and cooked till they start to soften. Scoop the meat onto a bun, add mustard and dill pickles. That's it. And it's delicious!
    That is what I grew up eating on paydays when Mom and Dad took us to town.

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  28. I’ve been eating loose-meat sandwiches since I was a young adult (I am now 87)…but they were simply hamburger meat with salt & pepper, browned until nice & crumbly. After piled on a bun (or a slice of bread), top with sliced onion and a little mustard! Still THE BEST!

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  29. They are great and I followed the recipe exactly wouldn't add anything extra!

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  30. I’m from Iowa, actually born in Ottumwa, where the Canteen has been in business since, at least, FDR. Grew up with their loose meet sandwiches and LOVED them since the 1950’s. This is the closest recipe to taste like theirs that I’ve found even though I have seen them make theirs in a steam cooker. This is a new favorite and thank you for the recipe!!!

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