Big Mac Salad
I apologize for my absence. My family took advantage of the fact that Kyle is studying in Ghana to take a trip to Africa. We got to see an incredible country through the friendships and routines that Kyle has established over the past two months. We tried so many delicious new foods that I will try to recreate so that I may share, met too many incredible people to count and visited sites both breathtaking and heartbreaking. Most of all, I came to the true realization that no matter how far you travel and how different your life may seem, people share the same heart and an emotional connection is the most powerful bond.
Since I am not prepared to share a recipe for Red-Red, Banku or Fufu, I’ll just go full on American with the Big Mac Salad. This is one of those “mother knows best conversations” that I always seem to have with my mom long after I should know what I’m making for dinner and don’t have a plan. My mother tells me that she’s making Big Mac Salad, a recipe that is apparently all over Pinterest. I ask, “Are the ingredients: two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun?” You got it! Well, since I happened to have all of the ingredients on hand, I pulled up a few recipes for reference and took it from there.
This entree salad was a huge hit with Gary and Reed. “It really tastes like a Big Mac!” The recipe below is how I pulled it together but there is plenty of wiggle room. Have fun with it and enjoy!
And by the way, Ramadan Mubarak, to all those who are observing.
Big Mac Salad
Ingredients
For the "Burger"
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
For the Sauce
- 1/2 c mayonnaise may substitute Greek yogurt
- 1 Tbls red wine vinegar
- 2 tsp yellow mustard
- 2 tsp ketchup
- 1/2 tsp paprika
For the Salad
- 2 heads romaine lettuce, chopped
- 1 c grape tomatoes halved
- 1/2-1 c dill pickle spears, sliced or chips, quartered
- 1/4 red onion thinly sliced
- 1 c shredded cheddar
- 1 tsp sesame seeds for garnish
Instructions
For the "Burger"
- In a medium skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef, breaking into small chunks until no pink remains, 8 to 10 minutes. Season with garlic powder, Worcestershire, salt and pepper.
Prepare the Sauce
- In a medium bowl, combine the mayo (or yogurt), vinegar, mustard, ketchup and paprika. Set aside.
Assemble the Salad
- In a large serving bowl, layer the shredded lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, ground beef (removing as much fat as possible), onions, cheese and sesame seeds. Drizzle with sauce and/or serve on the side. Enjoy.