I stole this recipe for Joe’s Special from a cookbook called Big American Cookbook. This quick and easy to make breakfast dish starts with sautéing onions and garlic. Ground beef is added and cooked until browned. After fresh spinach is added, an egg mixture is added and cooked until the eggs are scrambled. Grated cheese is scatter on top and this egg scramble is served with toast.
Did you know? Joe’s Special is a dish that originated in San Francisco, named after a 1920s jazz musician. It always included eggs, spinach and ground beef. Other common ingredients in this breakfast scramble include onions, garlic and sometimes mushrooms.³ (see more trivia in the Trivia tab)
In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat 1 tbsp olive oil and sauté 1 small chopped onion and 2 thinly sliced garlic cloves until the onion softens, about 5 minutes.
Add 8 oz ground beef and season with salt and pepper. Sauté until beef browns, about 8 minutes.
Chop 1 lb baby spinach and add to skillet, stir until wilted.
In a bowl combine 6 eggs, 2 tbsp milk and a few dashes of hot sauce. (I used 8 eggs and 4 tbsp milk and season with salt and pepper – don’t mind the spinach the was left in the bowl after chopping it.)
Reduce the heat under pan to medium and add the egg mixture.
Cook, stirring constantly until the eggs are set, 2 to 3 minutes. Scatter ¼ cup grated Parmesan-Reggiano cheese over top.
Serve with toasted sourdough.
Joe's Special
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 small onion finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic thinly sliced
- 8 oz ground beef
- Salt / Pepper
- 1 lb baby spinach chopped
- 6 large eggs lightly beaten
- 2 tbsp milk
- Hot sauce a few dashes (Sriracha)
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan-Reggiano
- Sourdough toasted
Instructions
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In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat the oil and sauté the onion and garlic until the onion softens, about 5 minutes. Add the ground beef and season with salt and pepper. Sauté until beef browns, about 8 minutes. Add spinach and stir until wilted.
-
In a bowl combine eggs, milk and hot sauce. Reduce the heat under pan to medium and add the egg mixture. Cook, stirring constantly until the eggs are set, 2 to 3 minutes. Scatter cheese over top and serve with toast.
Recipe Notes
You can use less spinach, I only used an 8oz bag of spinach, and it was plenty. I used 8 eggs and 4 tbsp milk and season the beaten eggs with salt and pepper before adding to the pan.