I recently bought a frozen meal of Salisbury Steaks, 6 of them in brown gravy, at Aldi. They are delicious, just as I remember from many years ago when I last had one, maybe in a TV Dinner, probably 40 years ago. It got me to wondering, what exactly is a Salisbury Steak?
It is a dish made of a blend of ground beef, mixed with other ingredients, usually served with gravy or brown sauce. It got its name in 1897 when Dr. James Salisbury (1823-1905) was an advocate of a meat diet to promote health and he recommended his recipe for the treatment of digestive problems. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) standards require a minimum of 65% meat, which can consist of up to 25% pork and no more than 30% fat. Meat byproducts are not allowed except for beef heart.
The extender is bread crumbs, flour, oat flakes, limited to 12%. The seasonings are fungi or vegetables and binders like eggs, liquids like water, milk, cream, skim milk, buttermilk, brine or vinegar. To be sold, the product must be fully cooked and labeled Salisbury Steaks.
