Cheeseburger Mac Bowl

• 1 liter, for boiling Water (about 4 cups, for boiling)
• 1 g Salt (⅛ tsp)
• 60 g dry Elbow macaroni or small pasta (2.1 oz dry)
• 140 g raw Lean ground beef (90%) (4.9 oz raw)
• 5 g Olive oil (1 tsp)
• 35 g raw Red onion (1.2 oz raw)
• 0.3 g Black pepper (⅛ tsp)
• 120 g 2% cottage cheese (4.2 oz)
• 8 g Yellow mustard (½ tbsp)
• 30 g drained Dill pickles (1.1 oz drained)
• 20 g Reduced-fat cheddar, grated (0.7 oz)
• 70 g raw Romaine lettuce (2.5 oz raw)
• 70 g raw Cabbage (2.5 oz raw)
• 70 g raw Tomato (2.5 oz raw)

You'll need: Large saucepan, Colander, Frying pan, Blender, Spatula, Cutting board and knife.

Method

1. Boil the pasta

   Bring the water to a boil with half the salt. Add the pasta and cook for the time on the package, until tender with a slight bite. Drain well.

   Drain thoroughly. Water clinging to the pasta thins out the sauce.

2. Brown the beef and onion

   While the pasta cooks, dice the onion. Heat the oil in the pan over medium-high heat and add the beef, onion, pepper and the rest of the salt. Break the beef into small pieces and cook for 7–9 minutes, until browned with no pink left, 71°C (160°F).

   Break the beef up small. Burger bowls need small crumbles, not chunks.

3. Blend the special sauce

   Blend the cottage cheese and mustard for 30–45 seconds, until smooth and creamy. Finely chop the pickles and stir them in.

   Chop the pickles fine. A few tiny pieces give the sauce its tang without bite.

4. Toss pasta, beef and sauce

   Turn the heat to low. Add the pasta, the special sauce and the cheddar to the beef and stir for about 2 minutes, until the cheese melts and everything is hot and creamy.

   Keep the heat low. Boiling splits the cottage cheese and makes the sauce grainy.

5. Serve over the salad

   Shred the romaine, slice the cabbage and dice the tomato into a bowl. Spoon the hot burger pasta over the top.

   Add the hot pasta last. The warmth wilts the lettuce slightly, like a burger bun does.

Swaps

• Lean ground beef → Lean ground turkey (93%)Slightly leaner. Cook it to 74°C (165°F).
• Pasta → Cooked rice, 150 gSofter and milder. Skip the boiling step if you have it ready.