A hearty Loco Moco recipe with a kangaroo mince patty, fluffy rice, the perfect runny egg, and smothered with a savoury gravy. A twist on a Hawaiian comfort food favourite, the Loco Moco, with lean and nutritious Kangaroo meat. Delicious, juicy and filling!
When I moved to Australia, I often passed Kangaroo meat in the meat section of the supermarkets and my curiosity got me, and I’m so glad that I did! I love experimenting with new foods and that is how I created this tasty Kangaroo Loco Moco Recipe.
What is a Loco Moco
The Loco Moco is a beloved Hawaiian comfort food known for its hearty and satisfying nature. It typically consists of four main components:
- Steamed White Rice: A generous mound of hot, fluffy rice serves as the base of the dish.
- Hamburger Patty: On top of the rice sits a juicy, well-seasoned hamburger patty, cooked to perfection.
- Fried Egg: The patty is then topped with a perfectly fried egg, often sunny-side-up, with a golden, runny yolk.
- Rich Gravy: The entire dish is smothered in a thick, savory gravy that ties all the elements together.
While traditionally a Loco Moco is made from a beef mince patty, this recipe adds a unique flavour of incorporating Kangaroo mince. I also have a delicious Kalua pig loco moco recipe that you can check out for another mouth watering option.
Let’s Talk About Kangaroo Meat
So what is kangaroo meat like? It is an extremely lean meat very low in fat (about 2%) and high in protein. Additionally, it is a rich source of essential nutrients such as iron, zinc, and B vitamins, including B12 and niacin.
Wild kangaroo meat is a traditional food source for indigenous Australians and is sold commercially throughout Australia and exported overseas.
It is common for me to find Kangaroos in my front yard and grazing in the open bush near our home. Kangaroos can be quite aggressive, so I do not recommend trying to walk up to one unless you are in a Zoo.
Now back to Kangaroo meat, the flavour is stronger then beef, not quite sure how to compare it as I feel it has a distinctive unique flavour of its own. In this Kangaroo Loco Moco recipe I use the mince, which is much leaner then beef mince so it can get a bit drier depending on your cooking methods.
I have also used kangaroo steak meat in a slow cooked casserole that turns out sooo good. Since it is such a lean meat it can tend to be a bit chewier, so preparation and cooking can make the world of difference.
Why you will love this Kangaroo Loco Moco Recipe
- It’s easy and only takes 30 minutes to make!
- It uses lean and nutritious meat.
- It is a warm and delicious savoury comfort food perfect for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
Ingredients you will need for this recipe
- Kangaroo minced meat
- Herbs and seasonings – I used paprika, salt, garlic powder, dried thyme, dried onion flakes, and Worcestershire sauce. Feel free to try out some of your favourite seasonings. Cheyenne pepper would go very nicely but I left it out as I was cooking for the family.
- Gravy – butter, beef stock, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, ketchup or tomato sauce, cornstarch and dried onion flakes.
- Rice – I used white medium grain rice for this recipe
- Eggs
How to make the Kangaroo Loco Moco
First make sure that you have your rice cooked and ready. I use a medium grain white rice, which is the standard rice that I grew up eating in Hawaii. I find the medium grain rice soaks in the gravy and egg yolk so well. Keep it warm in the rice cooker if you have one.
- Mix together the kangaroo mince patty ingredients and form into six patties.
- Cook the kangaroo patties in a frying pan on medium high heat until cooked through. It should take about 12-15 minutes. Remove from heat and keep warm while you make the rest of the recipe.
- Mix the gravy ingredients together and using the same pan that you used to cook the meat patties heat up 1 tablespoon of butter on medium-high heat. Add in the gravy and cook until the gravy begins to thicken up. Reduce heat to low.
- Fry your eggs on medium to medium-high heat with a dab of butter. Cook your egg sunny side up (so no flipping your egg) until the egg white firms up and the yolk is still runny.
- Assemble your Kangaroo Loco Moco. First place a scoop of hot cooked rice on your plate. Top with your kangaroo mince patty, smoother with gravy and your egg. Enjoy while hot for breakfast, lunch or dinner!
Hearty Kangaroo Loco Moco
Ingredients
- 6 eggs
- 5 cups cooked rice medium grain white rice works best for this recipe
Kangaroo Patties
- 1 kg kangaroo mince
- 1 tsp ground paprika
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp white pepper black pepper would work great as well
- 1/2 tsp dried thyme
- 1/2 tbsp dried onion flakes
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1/4 cup bread crumbs
Gravy
- 1 tbsp butter
- 2 cups beef stock
- 5 tsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tsp ketchup or tomato sauce
- 5 tsp cornstarch
- 1/2 tsp dried onion flakes
Instructions
Kangaroo Meat Patties
- In a large bowl mix together the kangaroo patty ingredients: 1 kg kangaroo mince, 1 tsp paprika, 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1/2 tsp white pepper, 1/2 tsp dried thyme, 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce, 1/2 tbsp dried onion flakes, 1/4 cup bread crumbs. Mix together with your hands until all ingredients are well mixed in.
- Form into six patties (approximately 3/4 cup in size).
- In a frying pan, melt 1 tbsp of butter on medium-high heat. Cook the patties for 6-7 minutes on each side (total cooking time of about 12-15 minutes). Move cooked patties to a plate and keep covered.
Gravy
- In a medium bowl whisk together the 2 cups beef stock, 5 tsp soy sauce, 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce, 2 tsp ketchup, 5 tsp cornstarch, and 1/2 tsp dried onion flakes.
- In your same frying pan over medium-high heat, add in 1 tbsp of butter and pour in the gravy ingredients. Cook until the gravy begins to thicken (approximately 2 minutes) stirring frequently. Reduce heat to low.
Egg and Assembly
- In a small frying pan on medium-high heat add in a dab of butter to your pan. Break egg into the pan and cook until the whites of the egg have firmed up but the yoke is still runny.
- In your serving bowls, add in 3/4 cup of cooked rice and top with your cooked kangaroo patty. Next add on a generous amount of gravy and top with your egg. Enjoy hot!
