Joe’s Special
This easy scramble of ground beef, spinach, and eggs makes a comforting meal any time of day.
- Serves
4
- Time
30 minutes
“Joe’s Special is one of the most odd and divine scrambles known to man. Consisting of egg, garlic, spinach, and ground beef, the dish originated in San Francisco in the 1920s at a long-gone Italian-American restaurant, New Joe’s. Later, it was the signature dish of a Bay Area chain called Original Joe’s—and a standby for countless home cooks in Northern California, including my mom. At least once a month, we ate it for dinner, and I still make it, as there are few dishes so appealing and comforting to eat.” —James Oseland, author and former SAVEUR editor-in-chief
Featured in “101 Classic Recipes” in the October 2012 issue.
Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp. olive oil
- 5 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 8 oz. ground beef chuck
- One 10-oz. package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
- 8 large eggs, lightly beaten
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- ¼ cup finely grated parmesan
- Crusty bread, for serving
Instructions
Step 1
Step 2
- To a large skillet over medium-high heat, add the oil. When it’s hot and shimmering, add the garlic and onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the chuck and cook, stirring occasionally and breaking it up into pieces, until the meat is browned and the moisture evaporates, about 10 minutes.
- Stir in the spinach and cook until heated through, about 2 minutes. Add the eggs and cook, stirring occasionally, until they are cooked and the mixture is slightly dry, about 4 minutes. Season to taste with salt and black pepper. Sprinkle with parmesan and serve with crusty bread.
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