Maid-Rite's

Submitted by Sean and Janel

"Traditional Maid-Rites from Marshalltown Iowa were served with only yellow mustard, pickle and onion. Ketchup was taken off the counters because the 'hobos' would take the ketchup to make tomato soup back when the restaurant first started. (A history lesson, who knew.) Here's the copycat version of maid-rites."

 

• Ready In: 1hr 30mins
• Ingredients: 8
• Serves: 4

ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef (at least 15% fat) or 1 lb ground chuck (at least 15% fat)
• 1 cup water
• 1⁄4 cup beef broth
• 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
• 4 plain hamburger buns
• yellow mustard
• onion, minced
• dill pickle, sliced

directions

1. Brown beef; use potato masher to help get beef into small pieces.
2. Drain excess fat as soon as pink is gone.
3. Add 1 cup water and 1/4 cup beef broth.
4. Simmer the meat uncovered for 1 hour or until liquid is gone, stirring every 10 minutes or so.
5. When liquid is gone, put meat on a bun and top with mustard, onion and dill pickle.
6. Enjoy.

Reviews

[Mara in Iowa]

I've tried several Maid-Rite recipes and to me this is the closest to the real thing. My first Maid-Rite sandwich was in Marshalltown, Iowa when I was a young girl 30 years ago and this is exactly how I eat them still today (mustard, onion, pickles and no ketchup) whenever I order them from our local Maid-Rite restuarant. I've always been disappointed when I make them myself, until now! Thanks so much for sharing this recipe.

 

[Dine Dish]

Delicious! These were so simple and really were delicious. I followed the recipe, except I added a bit of dry mustard to the beef mixture and used garlic salt instead of regular salt. I didn't think my husband, who is from Iowa, would be too excited about dinner but he raved! The meat was very tender, thanks to the simmering for an hour. Tasty, simple and a family pleaser. My favorite kind of recipe!

 

[Valleyr]

Thank You! Your recipe is very good and the one I will use going forward. I get a kick out of people like Chef #751866 from Feb 2008 who claim the secret recipe is Coca Cola. My Aunt owned a Maid Rite in the Quad Cities and I ASSURE you there was NO Coca Cola in that bottle you saw them pouring in. It is a very gaurded recipe and I've tasted the contents from that bottle you refer to. It tastes NOTHING like Coke or Cola. There is no mined onion or black pepper in the original recipe either. Since she no longer owns the franchise, even she is not able to duplicate the exact taste.

 

[bayleaves]

Wonderful. Not exactly like original, but pretty close. And I agree with Valleyr - definitely no minced onion or black pepper in the original recipe. This is excellent - thank you so much for sharing it.

 

[Chef Mad Doc]

Being an Iowa Hawkeye residing in Gator Country the past 13 years I have learned there are 2 things you can't get here in the South. 1) Maid Rites (M.R.) & 2) Fried Pork Tenderloins. Having lived in Marshalltown, IA the place to get a M.R. is Taylor's Maid Rite. Taylor's was highlighted on the Rick Sebak PBS special 'Sandwiches You Will Like'. My two other hometowns Waterloo & Newton also have great M.R. joints. In regards to the delicious Fried Pork Tenderloin Sandwich in Waterloo my 2 favorite joints are Steamboat Gardens & The Wishbone. Both make their tenderloins the size of your head! Guaranteed to make you Fat & Happy! LOL Now if Food Network can get a good recipe for the Fried Pork Tenderloin Sandwich many Hawkeyes living in Florida would be happy!