The original Salisbury steak, according to the talk show host, was simply
well-cooked plain hamburger "invented" in 1888 by Dr. James H. Salisbury,
an
English physician.

Dr. Salisbury believed well-cooked hamburger three times a day, with large
glasses of very hot water, would cure almost any disease.

Salisbury steak, or a pounded, tough steak blended with seasonings and
usually broiled, was named after Dr. J. H. Salisbury. Dr. Salisbury
advocated eating beef three times per day for health benefits. This was in
agreement with the Government Health Food Pyramid of the time.



There was a Dr. Salisbury, but he was an American. He invented it well before
1888, but his recipe (below) was published in that year. The first reference to
it in a cookboko (that I've found) is Gesine Lemcke, European and American
Cuisine (1895). As far as I know, all recipes for Salisbury steak are ground,
but I'm sure there is an exception somewhere.

Andy Smith

Salisbury's recipe:

"Eat the muscle pulp of lean beef made into cakes and broiled. This pulp should
be as free as possible from connective or glue tissue, fat and cartilage. The
"American Chopper" answers very well for separating the connective tissue...
The muscle should be scraped off with a spoon at intervals during chopping.
/97/

"Simply press it sufficiently to hold together. Make the cakes from half an
inch to an inch thick. Broil slowly and moderately well over a fire free from
blaze and smoke. When cooked, put it on a hot plate and season to taste with
butter, pepper and salt; also use either Worcestershire or Holford sauce,
mustard, horseradish or lemon juice on the meat if desired. /98/

Source: James H. Salisbury. The Relation of Alimentation and Disease. New York:
J. H. Vail and Company, 1888.