Hamburg steak facts for kids
A Hamburg steak
|
|
| Place of origin | Germany |
|---|---|
| Main ingredients | Beef |
A Hamburg steak is a tasty patty made from ground beef. It became popular around the world thanks to Germans who moved to different countries. This dish became well-known in the early 1800s. It is quite similar to a Salisbury steak.
Contents
The History of Hamburg Steak
The idea of a ground meat patty has been around for a long time. In Germany, a similar dish called Frikadelle existed as early as the 1600s.
In the late 1800s, Hamburg steak became popular in restaurants. Especially in the port of New York, many places served it. This early version was often ground by hand. It was lightly salted and sometimes smoked. People often ate it raw with onions and bread crumbs.
One of the oldest mentions of Hamburg steak in English is from 1873. A famous restaurant called Delmonico's had it on their menu. It cost 11 cents, which was quite expensive back then. An American chef named Charles Ranhofer helped create this dish.
By the end of the 1800s, Hamburg steak was easier to make. It also became cheaper. This made it very popular. Cookbooks from that time even included detailed recipes for it. Some restaurants and hospitals served it raw or lightly cooked. It was often served with a raw egg.
Many American restaurants in the 1800s offered Hamburg beefsteak for breakfast. A dish similar to Hamburg steak is Salisbury steak. It usually comes with a gravy that looks like brown sauce. Dr. James Salisbury invented it. The name Salisbury steak has been used in the United States since 1897.
By the 1930s, Hamburg steaks were often put inside a sandwich. This sandwich became known as a hamburger. The meat part of the sandwich is now called a patty. The word "hamburger" is often shortened to "burger." Now, "burger" is used to create names for other types of sandwiches. Examples include cheeseburger, porkburger, baconburger, and mooseburger.
How to Prepare Hamburg Steak
Hamburg steak is made from finely ground beef. You can mix the meat with different things. These include seasonings, eggs, breadcrumbs, onion, and milk. After mixing, the meat is shaped into flat, round patties. Then, you can cook them by frying, roasting, or even smoking.
Hamburg Steak Around the World
The famous chef Escoffier listed Hamburg steak as a classic dish. It is part of haute cuisine, which means "high cooking."
.jpg)
In Japan, Hamburg (ハンバーグ), or hanbāgu, is a very popular dish. It is made from ground meat mixed with finely chopped onion, egg, and breadcrumbs. It is seasoned with different spices. The mixture is shaped into a flat, round patty. These patties are usually about 4 cm thick and 10 to 15 cm wide.
Many restaurants in Japan specialize in hanbāgu. Some popular types include hanbāgu with cheese on top. This is called chīzuhanbāgu. Other kinds are hanbāgu with Japanese curry or Italian hanbāgu with tomato sauce.
Hanbāgu became popular in the 1960s. It was a cheaper way to enjoy meat, which could be expensive. Magazines often shared recipes for it. This made it a common dish in Japanese homes. The dish dates back to the Meiji period. It is thought to have first been served in Yokohama. This was one of the first ports open to visitors from other countries.
Today, you can buy hanbāgu that is already cooked and packed. It often comes with sauce. These are great for bento box lunches. Frozen hanbāgu is also popular. You can often find it in fast-food restaurants.
In Hawaii, hamburger steak is very similar to Japanese hanbāgu. It has a burger patty with brown gravy. It is usually served with macaroni salad and rice. This is often part of a plate lunch. Another version includes an egg on top. This dish is called loco moco.
In the Philippines, hamburger steaks are a favorite at the fast-food chain Jollibee. They are served with gravy, mushrooms, and a side of steamed or adobo fried rice.
In Finland, this dish is called jauhelihapihvi. This means "ground meat steak." It is cooked and served like a meatball. It is pan-fried and comes with potatoes and brown sauce.
Images for kids
-
A Hamburg steak
-
A close-up of a Hamburg steak.
-
A Japanese hanbāgu steak.
-
A Hamburg steak with cheese.
