Joe’s Special Scramble (Whole30, Keto)

I’ve got another new and nomtastic recipe for you: Whole30-friendly Joe’s Special Scramble! This dish is perfect for breakfast, lunch, or dinner because it’s simple, inexpensive and delicious!

This 1920s Italian-American classic originated in a restaurant on Broadway Street in San Francisco called New Joe’s. But over the the past century, this hearty, comforting scramble has made its way onto the breakfast—and dinner!—tables of families throughout the West Coast. It’s not hard to see why: Joe’s Special is easy to prepare, using pantry and fridge staples found in just about every home. My Whole30-friendly version kicks up the umami with a bit of fish sauce (don’t worry—it doesn’t make this taste fishy!), but otherwise, it’s true to the original.

I like to flavor it up even further with cayenne pepper sauce at the table, like Frank’s Red Hot Original Sauce. And don’t worry, Whole30ers—Frank’s is Whole30-friendly, according to Melissa Hartwig herself!

Time to Make Joe’s Special Scramble!

Makes 4 servings

Ingredients:

• 10 large eggs
• 2 tablespoons water
• 1 teaspoon Red Boat fish sauce
• Diamond Crystal brand kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons ghee, avocado oil, or favorite high temperature cooking fat
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• ½ pound cremini mushrooms, trimmed and thinly sliced
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• ½ pound ground beef
• 5 ounces baby spinach
• 2 tablespoons chopped chives
• Cayenne pepper sauce (like Frank’s Red Hot Original Sauce) (optional)

Equipment:

• Chef’s knife
• Cutting board
• 12-inch cast iron skillet
• Medium bowl
• Measuring spoons
• Garlic press
• Silicone spatula

Method:

Heat a 12-inch cast-iron or nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. While the pan is heating up, crack the eggs in a medium bowl.

Whisk the eggs with the water, 1 teaspoon fish sauce, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, and ¼ teaspoon black pepper. Set aside.

When the skillet is nice and hot, add the ghee. Once it’s shimmering, toss in the onions and mushrooms…

…and ½ teaspoon kosher salt. Cook, uncovered, until mushrooms release their liquid.

Stir-fry for another 5 minutes, or until the mushroom liquid has evaporated and the ’shrooms are browned.

Add the minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds or until fragrant.

Toss the ground beef in the pan and use a spatula to break up the meat.

Add ½ teaspoon kosher salt, and cook until the meat is no longer pink.

Add the spinach and cook for 1 minute or until the spinach is just wilted. Taste the filling to check that it’s seasoned enough and adjust if needed.

Pour the egg mixture into the pan. Stir and scrape the pan ’til the eggs are fully set, about 3 to 5 minutes.

Transfer the scramble to a serving dish and top with chopped chives.

Serve with hot sauce if desired.

Joe’s Special Scramble is as tasty and hearty as it is easy to make—making it perfect for breakfast, lunch, or dinner!

You can watch the replay of my Facebook Live where I showed folks how to cook this dish on January 24, 2018 here:

A note to my Nomsters: This is one of a series of daily blog posts I’m writing in the month of January 2018 to help those doing a Whole30 to kick off the New Year. Not sure what the Whole30 is, or want info on how to get started? Read my Whole30 prep post—and then come back to Nom Nom Paleo every single day for recipes to inspire, delight, and sustain you on your Whole30!

And remember: Throughout January 2018, I’m partnering with Whole Foods Market nationwide! In all Whole Foods Market stores, you’ll find my personally curated Nom Nom Paleo Picks on the shelves, a rotating menu of ready-to-eat Nom Nom Paleo dishes in the hot bar, and even my famous Magic Mushroom Powder available for sale!

Looking for more recipe ideas? Head on over to my Recipe Index. You’ll also find exclusive recipes on my iPhone and iPad app, and in my cookbooks, Nom Nom Paleo: Food for Humans (Andrews McMeel Publishing 2013), Ready or Not! (Andrews McMeel Publishing 2017), and Nom Nom Paleo: Let’s Go! (Andrews McMeel Publishing 2021).

PRINTER-FRIENDLY RECIPE CARD

Joe’s Special Scramble

4.75 from 4 votes

Prep Time15 minutes mins

Cook Time15 minutes mins

Total Time30 minutes mins

Servings 4 servings

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This Whole30-friendly Joe's Special Scramble recipe is perfect for breakfast, lunch, or dinner because it's simple, inexpensive and delicious! This classic scramble with spinach, mushrooms, and ground beef is something you can whip up on a moment's notice!

Ingredients  

1x2x3x

• ▢ 10 large eggs
• ▢ 2 tablespoons water
• ▢ 1 teaspoon  Red Boat fish sauce 
• ▢ Diamond Crystal brand kosher salt
• ▢ Freshly ground black pepper
• ▢ 2 tablespoons ghee  avocado oil, or favorite high temperature cooking fat
• ▢ 1 small onion finely chopped
• ▢ ½ pound cremini mushrooms trimmed and thinly sliced
• ▢ 3 garlic cloves minced
• ▢ ½ pound ground beef
• ▢ 5 ounces baby spinach
• ▢ 2 tablespoons chopped chives
• ▢ Cayenne pepper sauce like Frank’s Red Hot Original Sauce (optional)

Instructions 

• Heat a 12-inch cast-iron or nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. While the pan is heating up, crack the eggs in a medium bowl.
• Whisk the eggs with the water, 1 teaspoon fish sauce, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, and ¼ teaspoon black pepper. Set aside.
• When the skillet is nice and hot, add the ghee. Once it’s shimmering, toss in the onions and mushrooms, and ½ teaspoon kosher salt. Cook, uncovered, until mushrooms release their liquid.
• Stir-fry for another 5 minutes, or until the mushroom liquid has evaporated and the ’shrooms are browned. Add the minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds or until fragrant.
• Toss the ground beef in the pan and use a spatula to break up the meat. 
• Add ½ teaspoon kosher salt and cook until the meat is no longer pink.
• Add the spinach and cook for 1 minute or until the spinach is just wilted. Taste the filling to check that it’s seasoned enough and adjust if needed.
• Pour the egg mixture into the pan. Stir and scrape the pan ’til the eggs are fully set, about 3 to 5 minutes.
• Transfer the scramble to a serving dish and top with chopped chives. Serve with hot sauce if desired.

Notes

• You can use ground chicken or turkey in place of the beef!
• Joe’s Special Scramble is as tasty and hearty as it is easy to make—making it perfect for breakfast, lunch, or dinner!

Nutrition

Calories: 403kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 30g | Fiber: 2g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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