Cheeseburger Rice Bake

Ingredients:

‘Burger patty’ mince:

2 tbsp olive oil, plus extra for greasing

1 large onion, thinly sliced

2 garlic cloves, finely chopped

1 tbsp tomato paste

500g beef mince

1 tsp paprika powder

1 tsp dried oregano

Salt & pepper to taste

550g-600g/3 cups cooked jasmine or long grain rice (about 1 cup uncooked rice, cook ahead)

100g/1 cup shredded cheese, a pizza mix or mozzarella - something melty works best

Burger sauce:

¼ cup whole egg mayonnaise

2 tbsp tomato sauce 

1 tbsp yellow mustard

1-2 tsp pickle/gherkin juice (from the jar)

1 tbsp finely chopped pickles/gherkins

½ tsp garlic powder
½ tsp onion powder
Salt & pepper to taste

Shredded lettuce, to serve

Cherry tomatoes, chopped, to serve

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 200°C fan forced/180°C convectional heat. Grease a 28cm x 23cm (1.5 L capacity) baking dish with olive oil and set aside.

2. Make the ‘burger patty’ mince: in a large deep sided fry pan on medium/high heat. Fry the onions in olive oil for 5-7minutes until slightly golden. Add in the garlic and tomato paste and cook out for a further 1-2 minutes till fragrant.

3. Add in the beef mince and cook until browned. Add in the paprika, dried oregano, salt and pepper as it cooks.

4. Time to layer: place the rice in the bottom of your baking dish and spread the ‘burger patty’ mince on top. Sprinkle generously with shredded cheese and bake for 10-15 minutes until golden brown (you can also turn the oven on to the grill setting for the last 2 minutes to get a yummy cheesy gratinated top).

5. While the cheeseburger rice bakes, make the burger sauce.

6. To make the sauce: place all the ingredients in a small bowl and mix. Season to taste, adding a little more mustard, mayo or pickle liquid to suit your flavour preferences. I like mine a bit more tangy so I go heavy on the pickle juice.

7. Serve: drizzle the burger sauce on top and serve with shredded lettuce and chopped tomatoes.

Notes:

• You can use 1-2 days old rice if you already have it on hand. Microwave rice works well too.

• Swap the beef for plant-based mince, chicken or turkey if that suits your vibe.

• Want a bit of extra crunch or heat? Top it off with jalapeños, chili flakes, or crispy fried onions just before serving.

• Leftovers reheat well the next day, just store the sauce and toppings separately so everything stays fresh.