Nell's Meat Hot Sauce

I am sorry that it has been so long since I have posted, I keep saying that I need to post, yet I have not gotten around to it.

Every region or city is known (or at least should be) for a local dish or delicacy.  In our area one of the most popular is the Garbage Plate, invented by Nick Tahou's or Nick Tahou's wiki in 1918. This dish is a hodgepodge of starches and meats with the only hint of a fruit or veggie being the ketchup squirted on top or the slight chance of celery in the macaroni salad. There are such a wide range of combinations that include potatoes (either french fries or home-fries) mac salad and/or beans, then topped with a meat (hamburgers, cheeseburgers, hot dogs, fish or a combination of both.  Then the hole concoction is topped with meat hot sauce, ketchup, mustard and diced onions (and then sometimes topped with a fried egg).  Does it surprise you that it has been listed as the the most unhealthy food in New York State?  It may look or sound atrocious to any non native of the area, but is loved by locals, and is wildly copied by many restaurants (trash plate, sloppy plate, etc).

I enjoy making plates at home with a variety of basics. I either use home-fries, tater tots or french fries with macaroni salad and typically cheeseburgers.  For years I have been trying and trying to come up with a meat hot sauce to top it with (I prefer them smothered) that is comparable to the Nick Tahou's secret recipe.  After many disappointing and failed attempts, I have finally come up with something that I am thrilled with.

1 pound ground beef
1 onion chopped
3 cloves garlic minced
1/2 cup ketchup
1/4 cup bbq sauce
1 Tbs chili powder
2 Tbs ground mustard
1/2 tsp pepper
1 tsp salt
2 tsp cumin
1 Tbs worcestershire sauce
pinch of red pepper flakes
1 cup water

Saute beef and onions in pan over medium high heat continually mashing with a potato masher.  Just before it is completely done add the garlic, cook for another 30 seconds or so.  Drain fat and then pulse in food processor for only 2-3 times, then return mixture to pan.  Add remaining ingredients and bring to simmer, simmer for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally….