Steve Pokin|SPOKIN@NEWS-LEADER.COM
First, I like Salisbury steaks. As does Jackie Rehwald, a co-worker who lives in Battlefield. She just wanted to know what the contents are.
Q: What's a Salisbury steak made of?
My preference is to field questions from readers. But sometimes co-workers come up with queries that I just find irresistible.
First, according to dictionary.com: Salisbury steak is a fancy hamburger. It is named after James Henry Salisbury (1823-1905), a doctor known for his comments on diets and nutrition.
As always, I try to talk to a real person when answering questions. I left messages for the media relations department for Pinnacle Foods, which owns Hungry-Man frozen meals. Pinnacle is based in Cherry Hill, N.J. I left my question. I received no response.
The Answer Man was not deterred. I did my own research. (OK, I basically went to the grocery store and bought four Salisbury steak frozen dinners and took a photo of the ingredients for a fifth.)
I discovered that the patty is more than just beef; it also contains pork and might have some chicken in it. It also contains food preservatives and additives with names that don't exactly inspire an appetite.
• Banquet: "Mechanically separated chicken, pork, beef, water, rehydrated onions, textured soy flour (soy flour, caramel color) bread crumbs (bleached wheat flour enriched with niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid ..."
• Hungry-Man: Beef, water, pork, textured soy protein concentrate with caramel color, bread crumbs (enriched bleached wheat flour enriched with niacin, ferrous sulfate, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin. folic acid) dextrose ..."
• Healthy Choice: Beef, water, pork, textured soy protein (soy protein, soy carbohydrate, caramel color) contains 2 percent or less of: rolled oats, flavoring, rochester sauce (distilled vinegar, corn syrup, water, salt, garlic powder, spices, tamarind, natural flavor..."
• Smart Ones (weightwatchers): Beef, water, pork, onion, textured vegetable protein product (soy protein concentrate, caramel color, seasoning, maltodextrine, hydrolyzed soy and corn protein, dry onion, dry garlic flavoring, yeast extract, spice ...)"
• Marie Callender's: Beef, water, pork, soy protein color, salt, flavoring, beef flavor (beef flavor contains autolyzed yeast extract, disodium inosinate, disodium guanylate ..."
But you can also make your own Salisbury steak or buy one at a restaurant.
The Village Inn at 4222 S. Campbell Ave. offers a chopped steak/Salisbury steak dinner for $10.19. The patty is made of ground beef, according to the manager, who did not want to give his name. It is "topped with savory brown gravy and sauteed mushrooms and is served with mashed potatoes and gravy, vegetables and Texas toast."
Shirley Gilmore, of Willard, has her own recipe.
"I make homemade passed down from my mother," she says. "Round steak, peppers, onions and ketchup. Bake it with some potatoes and it practically melts in your mouth."
Now you know, Jackie. Bon appétit!
Keep those questions coming. Send them to The Answer Man at 836-1253, spokin@gannett.com, on Twitter @stevepokinNL or by mail at 651 N. Boonville, Springfield, MO 65806. These are the views of Steve Pokin, the News-Leader's columnist.
