Garbage Plate

Where This Goes Wrong

Cook the meat sauce until the mince is very fine. Breaking it up with a potato masher in the pan gives the smooth, sauce-like texture the dish needs.

Boil the potatoes first, then fry them. It cooks the insides through and gives crisp edges, so they stay crunchy under the sauce.

Serve the plate at once. Everything is at its best when the fries are still hot and the macaroni salad is cold.

Making Garbage Plate

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1. For the sauce, heat the tablespoon of oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the 250 g of mince and the finely chopped onion and cook for 8 minutes, breaking up the meat, until browned and very fine. Stir in the garlic, tomato paste and spices and cook for 1 minute.

   Mark done Start 8 min timer

2. Add the stock, vinegar and half the salt. Simmer for 30 minutes, stirring often, until the sauce is thick but still pourable. Keep it warm.

   Mark done Start 30 min timer

3. Cook the macaroni in salted boiling water for 9 minutes, drain and rinse under cold water. Mix the mayonnaise, mustard, vinegar, sugar and remaining salt in a bowl, fold in the macaroni and celery and chill.

   Mark done Start 9 min timer

4. Boil the potatoes in salted water for 6 minutes and drain well. Heat the 2 tablespoons of oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat, add the potatoes and sliced onion and fry for 15 minutes, turning, until crisp and golden. Sprinkle with the paprika and salt.

   Mark done Start 6 min timer

5. Grill or pan-fry the hot dogs for 5 minutes, and the patties for 4 minutes on each side, until cooked through.

   Mark done Start 5 min timer

6. For each plate, spoon a portion of macaroni salad next to a pile of home fries. Add a hot dog and a patty and ladle the hot sauce over everything. Top with chopped onion and a squiggle of mustard and serve with buttered bread.

   Mark done

Storage and Reheating

The meat sauce keeps in the fridge for 4 days and freezes for 3 months. The macaroni salad keeps for 2 days. Cook the fries and meats fresh.

If You're Missing Something

• An eighth of a teaspoon of garlic powder per clove is the usual stand-in when you are out of fresh garlic — it will not caramelise the same way, but it carries the flavour.

What to Serve Alongside

• Buttered white bread
• Cold beer
• Dill pickles

Still Wondering?

Garbage Plate Nutrition Facts

Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.