Big Mac Fried Rice — the shortlists

In the poetic realm of the culinary canvas, let us compose a symphony of flavors—a culinary ode that transcends borders and traditions. Enter the stage with me as we explore the world of Big Mac Fried Rice, a fusion masterpiece that marries the iconic allure of a Big Mac with the timeless charm of fried rice. Join me on this gastronomic journey, where ingredients from different culinary landscapes dance together in perfect harmony.

Ingredients: For the Burger-Inspired Ballet:

• 2 cups cooked white rice, the canvas of simplicity
• 1 pound ground beef, the savory maestro
• 1 onion, finely diced, the aromatic refrain
• 2 cloves garlic, minced, the pungent cadence
• 1 cup lettuce, shredded, the crisp undertone
• 1 cup pickles, chopped, the briny cadence
• 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded, the golden overture
• 3 tablespoons sesame oil, the silky interlude
• 3 tablespoons soy sauce, the umami crescendo
• Salt and pepper to taste, the nuanced seasoning

For the Special Sauce Sonata:

• 1/2 cup mayonnaise, the creamy canvas
• 2 tablespoons ketchup, the tangy interlude
• 1 tablespoon yellow mustard, the zesty refrain
• 1 tablespoon sweet pickle relish, the sweetened dance
• 1 teaspoon white vinegar, the acidic melody
• 1 teaspoon sugar substitute (optional for keto/low-carb), the sweet symphony

Instructions:

1. Canvas of Simplicity: Begin by cooking the white rice—the canvas of simplicity. Allow it to cool, creating the foundation for our culinary masterpiece.
2. Savory Maestro’s Performance: In a wok or large skillet, conduct the ground beef—the savory maestro—with finely diced onion—the aromatic refrain and minced garlic—the pungent cadence. Let them sizzle together in a harmonious duet until the beef is browned and the aromas fill the air.
3. Crisp Undertone of Lettuce: Introduce shredded lettuce—the crisp undertone—into the wok, allowing it to wilt slightly and infuse a fresh, green cadence to our fried rice ballet.
4. Briny Cadence of Pickles: Add chopped pickles—the briny cadence—to the wok, their sharpness cutting through the richness and adding a pickled serenade to the dish.
5. Golden Overture of Cheddar Cheese: Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese—the golden overture—over the wok, creating a melodic layer that binds the ingredients together in a harmonious dance of textures.
6. Silky Interlude of Sesame Oil: Drizzle sesame oil—the silky interlude—over the ingredients, allowing its nutty notes to permeate and elevate the overall flavor profile of our fusion creation.
7. Umami Crescendo of Soy Sauce: Pour soy sauce—the umami crescendo—into the wok, coating the ingredients with its savory embrace. Toss and stir, ensuring every grain of rice absorbs the rich umami symphony.
8. Nuanced Seasoning: Season the ensemble with salt and pepper to taste—the nuanced seasoning—allowing each bite to be a perfectly balanced note in our culinary composition.

For the Special Sauce Sonata:

1. Creamy Canvas of Mayonnaise: In a separate bowl, craft the creamy canvas by combining mayonnaise with ketchup—the tangy interlude, yellow mustard—the zesty refrain, sweet pickle relish—the sweetened dance, white vinegar—the acidic melody, and optional sugar substitute for a keto/low-carb sweet symphony. Whisk until the ingredients harmonize into a luscious sauce.
2. Symphonic Fusion: Pour the special sauce over the fried rice ensemble, letting it weave through the ingredients and infuse each bite with the essence of a Big Mac. Toss gently, ensuring an even distribution of the sauce.

Cook Notes:

• Ensure the rice is cooled before adding it to the wok to prevent clumping.
• Play with the proportions of special sauce ingredients to tailor the flavor to your liking.
• Experiment with different types of cheese for a personalized twist.

Variations:

1. Bacon Crescendo: Integrate crispy bacon bits into the fried rice—a variation that adds a savory bacon crescendo to the symphony.
2. Egg Interlude: Scramble eggs and fold them into the fried rice—a variation that introduces a velvety and protein-rich interlude to the dish.
3. Mushroom Serenade: Sautéed mushrooms can be added for an earthy and umami-rich serenade—a variation that deepens the flavor profile.

Keto Version: Ingredients: For the Keto Burger-Inspired Ballet:

• 2 cups cauliflower rice, the keto canvas of simplicity
• 1 pound ground beef, the keto savory maestro
• 1 onion, finely diced, the keto aromatic refrain
• 2 cloves garlic, minced, the keto pungent cadence
• 1 cup lettuce, shredded, the keto crisp undertone
• 1 cup pickles, chopped, the keto briny cadence
• 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded, the keto golden overture
• 3 tablespoons sesame oil, the keto silky interlude
• 3 tablespoons soy sauce (low-sodium for keto), the keto umami crescendo
• Salt and pepper to taste, the keto nuanced seasoning

For the Keto Special Sauce Sonata:

• 1/2 cup mayonnaise, the keto creamy canvas
• 2 tablespoons sugar-free ketchup, the keto tangy interlude
• 1 tablespoon yellow mustard, the keto zesty refrain
• 1 tablespoon dill pickle relish (sugar-free for keto), the keto sweetened dance
• 1 teaspoon white vinegar, the keto acidic melody
• 1 teaspoon sugar substitute (optional), the keto sweet symphony

Instructions: In the keto ballet, follow the same steps, substituting ingredients with their keto-friendly counterparts. Let the keto version be a dance of flavors without the carb crescendo.

Low-Carb Version: Ingredients: For the Low-Carb Burger-Inspired Ballet:

• 2 cups cauliflower rice, the low-carb canvas of simplicity
• 1 pound ground beef, the low-carb savory maestro
• 1 onion, finely diced, the low-carb aromatic refrain
• 2 cloves garlic, minced, the low-carb pungent cadence
• 1 cup lettuce, shredded, the low-carb crisp undertone
• 1 cup pickles, chopped, the low-carb briny cadence
• 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded, the low-carb golden overture
• 3 tablespoons sesame oil, the low-carb silky interlude
• 3 tablespoons soy sauce (low-sodium for low-carb), the low-carb umami crescendo
• Salt and pepper to taste, the low-carb nuanced seasoning

For the Low-Carb Special Sauce Sonata:

• 1/2 cup mayonnaise, the low-carb creamy canvas
• 2 tablespoons sugar-free ketchup, the low-carb tangy interlude
• 1 tablespoon yellow mustard, the low-carb zesty refrain
• 1 tablespoon dill pickle relish (sugar-free for low-carb), the low-carb sweetened dance
• 1 teaspoon white vinegar, the low-carb acidic melody
• 1 teaspoon sugar substitute (optional), the low-carb sweet symphony

Instructions: In the gentle ballet of low-carb, follow the traditional recipe, replacing high-carb ingredients with their low-carb companions. Let the low-carb version be a nuanced dance, light on carbs but rich in flavor.

As you savor each spoonful of Big Mac Fried Rice, relish in the symphony of flavors—a culinary verse that seamlessly blends the nostalgic allure of a Big Mac with the comforting embrace of fried rice. This dish is more than a fusion; it’s a gastronomic ode, an exquisite dance of diverse ingredients coming together in perfect harmony. Whether you indulge in the classic rendition or explore the keto and low-carb variations, each bite is a stanza in the lyrical celebration of culinary fusion. May your kitchen be a stage for poetic experimentation, and may Big Mac Fried Rice be the celebrated aria—a dish that invites you to revel in the fusion of flavors, the notes of innovation, and the pure joy of poetic indulgence.