Japanese Hamburg Steak with Napolitan Spaghetti

This Japanese Hamburg Steak with Napolitan Spaghetti is more than just a meal; it's a flavorful blend of cultures and history on a plate. Known as yoshoku—Western-inspired Japanese dishes. This comfort food became a staple in Japan after the influence of German, French, Italian, and American cuisines. 
 
The hamburg steak, first introduced by German chefs, is smothered in a rich demi-glace sauce —a nod to classic French flavors. Napolitan spaghetti, a Japanese twist on Italian pasta, brings an unexpected combination of ingredients like soy sauce, bell peppers, and a ketchup-based sauce—a creative adaptation from foreign occupation, when fresh tomatoes were scarce, but ketchup was widely available from the nearby military bases. 
 
Perfect for a hearty meal at home, or in the mountains, this dish brings a melting pot of flavors and cultures to your table. Grab your ingredients, fire up the grill, and enjoy a little taste of history—no matter where the road takes you. 

The Ingredients 

Hamburg Steak 

• 1/2 lb ground beef 
• 1/2 lb ground pork 
• 1/4 cup breadcrumbs 
• 1/2 a small onion, finely diced 
• 2 tbsp of ketchup 
• 1 tsp of Worcestershire sauce  
• 1 egg 
• Salt and pepper, to taste 
• 2 tbsp oil (for cooking) 

Demi-Glace Sauce 

• 1/2 cup of ketchup 
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce 
• 1 tsp soy sauce 

Napolitan Spaghetti 

• 8 oz spaghetti 
• 2 tbsp oil (for cooking)  
• 1/2 small onion, thinly sliced 
• 1/2 green bell pepper, sliced 
• 1/2 red bell pepper, sliced 
• 1 clove garlic, sliced 
• 4 Japanese-style sausages (or hot dogs), sliced 
• 3 tbsp ketchup 
• 1 tbsp soy sauce 
• 1 tbsp grated parmesan  
• Salt and pepper, to taste 

The Recipe

Hamburg Steak 

1. In a large bowl, mix together the ground beef, ground pork, diced onion, egg, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper to the bowl. 
2. Form the mixture into ~4 oval-shaped patties. 
3. Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the patties and cook for about 4-5 minutes on each side, place lid over on the skillet to let the patties cook through. 
4. Remove the patties and set aside. 
5. In a small bowl, add the ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, and soy sauce. Stir to incorporate the ingredients. Taste to finalize flavors.
6. The sauce should be ketchup forward in flavor with the Worcestershire sauce adding zing with its vinegar and a touch of saltiness from the soy sauce. Add in a little sugar (or agave) if a bit of sweetness is desired. 

Napolitan Spaghetti 

1. Cook the spaghetti according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
2. In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium heat. Sauté sliced garlic in the oil until the edges of start turning brown.
3. Add the sliced sausages to the skillet and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes until browned.
4. Then add the onion, bell peppers. Sauté for about 3-4 minutes, until vegetables are tender.
5. Stir in the cooked spaghetti, ketchup, soy sauce, salt, and pepper. The grated parmesan gets added last. Toss everything together until the noodles are well coated and heated through.

To Serve 

1. Plate the Napolitan spaghetti on one side of each plate.
2. Place a hamburg steak next to the spaghetti and spoon the sauce over the steak to serve!