"Hamburger Helper" is the commercial name of a very popular product in the US market and is part of the "Betty Crocker" line distributed by the General Mills company. In practice, it is a canned pasta that also contains powdered sauce and flavorings to facilitate and speed up the preparation of flans using only a few basic ingredients. It is a precious ally in the kitchen to prepare meals when work or family commitments do not leave much space to dedicate to the stove. With a little knowledge you can make your favorite Hamburger Helper from scratch and unleash your culinary creativity. This product is not present on the Italian market, but this article can be useful if you travel to the United States or want to replicate the dish at home.
Ingrediants
Using the Commercial Product (on the Stove or in the Microwave)
- One 180g pack of Hamburger Helper (contains pasta and sauce mix)
- 800 g ground beef (at least 80% lean)
- 550 ml of milk
- 700 ml of very hot water
Prepare it from scratch
- 500 g ground beef (at least 80% lean)
- 650 ml of milk
- 380 ml of very hot water
- 400 g of pipe rigate
- 230 g grated cheddar cheese
- 15 g of corn starch
- 15 g of chili powder
- 15 g of garlic powder
- 5 g of sugar
- 5 g of salt
- 3 g of paprika
- A pinch of cayenne pepper
- A pinch of red pepper flakes
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Commercial Product on the Stove
Step 1. Brown the meat
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat for five minutes. Add a small dose of olive oil and immediately incorporate the minced meat; break up the lumps with a spoon or spatula.
You have to cook the meat until it is well browned and there are no more traces of pink color; usually, 5-7 minutes over medium-high heat is enough, but if you prefer, cook it even longer
Step 2. Remove the fat from the pan
Depending on the fat content of the ground coffee, there may be some liquid grease on the bottom or perhaps a more consistent dose; to drain it you can proceed in a few different ways, here are some suggestions:
- A simple solution is to place a metal colander over a large bowl and pour the contents of the pan into it; the fat drips into the bowl where you can let it cool and then throw in the trash.
- Alternatively, you can place the lid on top of the pan leaving a small gap open on one side. Tilt the pan and let the grease drain into a heat-resistant container; later throw it in the garbage.
- Do not pour the grease into the sink drain because it solidifies, blocking the pipes.
Step 3. Add the milk, water, pasta and pasta mix
Mix all the ingredients to blend them with the meat.
Step 4. Bring the mixture to a boil
Return the pan to the stove over medium-high heat. Let the ingredients warm up, stirring occasionally to prevent them from sticking to the bottom; pay attention to the bubbles.
Step 5. Reduce the heat and let it simmer
When the contents of the pan begin to boil, turn the heat down to medium-low; the bubbles should form more slowly and become constant.
Step 6. Simmer for 10-20 minutes while covering the pan
Add the lid, stirring every few minutes to make sure the pasta cooks evenly and to prevent it from sticking to the bottom; meanwhile, the sauce should gradually thicken and the pasta should become soft.
In general, 13 minutes of cooking are sufficient, but depending on the heat the times may vary; therefore, check the pasta often
Step 7. Remove the pan from the heat when the pasta is al dente
The dish is ready as soon as the macaroni reaches a soft and pleasant but still firm consistency, called in jargon "al dente".
Wait for the dish to cool for at least 2-3 minutes before serving it; meanwhile the sauce continues to thicken
Method 2 of 3: Commercial Product in the Microwave
Step 1. Microwave the beef on full power until perfectly cooked
If you are in a hurry, you can prepare all Hamburger Helper in the microwave using a similar technique to the one described above. First, crumble the ground into a large bowl suitable for use in the microwave; heat it at maximum power for about 5-7 minutes or until you no longer notice traces of pink color, then break it up by mixing it after three minutes of cooking.
Don't forget to break up the lumps of ground coffee when you put it back in the bowl and do it again halfway through the cooking process; if you leave the meat in one solid block, the core remains raw
Step 2. Drain the excess fat
Any of the techniques described in the first part of the article is fine; However, remember to throw the liquid in the trash and not down the drain, as it can clog the pipes.
Step 3. Add pasta, milk, hot water and sauce mixture
Thoroughly mix the ingredients with the meat.
Step 4. Heat everything in the microwave on maximum power for 14-19 minutes
Stop the process and mix the contents of the bowl every 5 minutes or so. Do not completely cover the container during cooking; you can use a microwave safe lid to prevent splashing, but leave it slightly ajar so that pressure and steam cannot build up.
Use oven mitts or a tea towel to protect your hands when mixing the ingredients; after a few minutes of cooking, the bowl is very hot
Step 5. Take the container out of the oven when the pasta is al dente and let the dish cool down a bit
Every time you turn off the microwave to mix the dish, test the macaroni to make sure they are cooked; the dish is ready to serve when the pasta has a semi-soft consistency, but still offers some resistance (precisely "al dente"). Remove the hot container and place it on a surface resistant to high temperatures (such as an off burner on the stove).
As previously described, the cooling period is important and allows the sauce to continue to thicken
Method 3 of 3: Prepare it from scratch
Step 1. Brown the meat and discard the fat as usual
If you don't have a pack of Hamburger Helper, you can prepare a very similar dish with normal kitchen ingredients. Start just as described in the previous sections by browning the ground; heat a pan on the stove, add the olive oil and then the meat. Use a spoon or spatula to break up the lumps as they cook.
- You can move on to the next step when the beef is well browned and there are no traces of pink color.
- Drain the excess fat from the pan when the meat is ready, following one of the techniques already mentioned.
Step 2. Add pasta, milk and water
Mix these three ingredients to combine them well and let them come to a boil, stirring occasionally to prevent them from sticking to the bottom of the pan.
It is advisable to use pipe rigate, but in truth you can choose any type of short pasta; however, do not use formats that are too small or too large, otherwise the cooking times will vary
Step 3. Incorporate the aromas
When the mixture boils, add the cornstarch, chili powder, garlic powder, sugar, salt, paprika, cayenne pepper, and red pepper flakes; mix until the mixture is uniform and homogeneous.
Step 4. Simmer
Reduce the heat to medium or low, so that small, constant bubbles form; cover the pan during cooking and wait about 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent the contents from sticking to the bottom.
Step 5. Remove the pot from the heat and add the cheese
When the pasta is al dente (soft but still quite firm), turn off the heat and sprinkle it with the cheddar cheese, stirring to combine the ingredients.
Step 6. Wait for the dish to cool down a bit and serve it
As in the other recipes described, the liquid continues to thicken even as the pasta cools; let it rest for at least 2-3 minutes before bringing it to the table.
Advice
- The interesting feature of Hamburger Helper products is that they are simple to customize with ingredients that pair well according to your tastes. For example, in the "from scratch" recipe it is recommended to use cheddar, but you can also opt for other types of cheese; you can use those flavored with pepper or with other spices to make the dish tastier.
- Try adding chopped onions and / or peppers while browning the meat to give the dish the flavor of these vegetables.
- Copper pans and heavy Dutch ovens are perfect for browning and frying meat, they retain heat well, favoring even cooking; however, pans made of aluminum or those made of modern non-stick materials are also fine.
