A Real San Francisco Treat: Joe's Special

Joe's Special is comfort food, plain and simple, made of onion, spinach, ground sirloin and eggs. It's an old recipe that makes the type of food we like to cook today -- hearty and healthful, quick and easy. It was introduced in San Francisco in the 1920s. There are many versions of this recipe but none on this site just like this one. Serve Joe's Special as a lunch or dinner meal, but it can also be a protein-filled breakfast dish, often with hash browns and toast on the side. Recipe is from our local food writer, Jan D'Atri.

• Ready In: 30 mins
• Serves: 2-3

Ingredients

• 2  tablespoons olive oil
• 1  medium yellow onion, diced
• 2  garlic cloves, minced
• 1  lb  ground sirloin
• 1⁄2 lb  mixed mushrooms, sliced
• 1⁄4 cup sherry wine (optional)
• 2  cups fresh spinach, roughly chopped
• 2  green chilies, roasted, peeled, and diced (fresh, medium sized, 0pt., may substitute canned if you wish)
• 4 -6  eggs, beaten
• 1⁄2 cup parmesan cheese, grated
• 1⁄4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1⁄2 teaspoon oregano
•  salt and pepper

Directions

1. In a heavy skillet over medium heat, cook onions and garlic in olive oil until tender and translucent.
2. Add crumbled ground sirloin and cook until the beef is almost browned.
3. Stir in sliced mushrooms. Add sherry, if desired, and cook about one minute. Mix in spinach and seasonings and stir well.
4. Mix in green chilies, if desired. Add the beaten eggs stirring constantly to completely blend eggs into the mixture.
5. Remove from the heat and stir in the Parmesan cheese and serve immediately. Serve with French bread.