Rusk

Rusk is a kind of biscuit or light bread dough baked twice until it is hard. One key use for rusk is as the cereal ingredient utilized in manufacturing ground meat products especially the great British “banger” sausage. Rusk’s unique characteristics impart the yielding texture and subtle flavor profiles expected of this British staple. There are two types of rusk: yeastless and bread rusk, though the former is more widely used with about 80% market share.

Rusk used in sausage production started in southwest Britain in the 1920’s. Until that point, sausages were often made with stale bread crumbs obtained from the local baker. However, stale bread, though cheap, did have its shortcomings. The variability of the bread led to differences in water absorption as well as uncontrolled bacterial count, leading to accelerated sausage souring and problems with color and shelf life. Rusk solved the issues through its manufacturing process, with its consistency delivering predictable outcomes. It greatly contributes to a desirable finished product texture (without being too meaty or mealy), extended shelf life, an enhanced appearance and overall value.

The Big Bang Theory

Despite the recent surge in popularity, nose to tail eating has actually been around for a long time. The phrase “everything except the squeal” was coined many years earlier at a time when two world wars and the Depression drove consumers to grapple with limited resources.

There are stories of very unscrupulous butchers using sawdust and other nefarious materials from the floors of their shops to “pad out” the meat and make what little there was go even further. More commonly however, butchers would use whatever regional grains were in abundance and a considerable amount of water to extend the product.

Sausages that were made in this way had a tendency to pop when cooked. During World War II British soldiers would put them on shovels over an open fire, and the bursting of their casing in the trenches of northern Europe were rumored to sound like cracks of gunfire. Thus, the British “banger” was born. While this tale may be more fiction than fact, it highlights one unique aspect that defines the banger, although maybe slightly exaggerated.

Once refined, rusk became an essential part of sausage processing. It not only eliminated the exploding sausage by controlling the moisture and fat migration but also helped deliver a more rounded and desirable flavor and texture.

The rusk element doesn’t technically have a protected status, but a sausage without a certain amount of “filler” is not a British banger. Heston Blumenthal seems to agree. In his book and TV show “In Search of Perfection,” Blumenthal sets out to create the perfect banger. At first he hypothesized that a perfect banger would have very high meat content mixed with some seasonings, essentially being a filler-less sausage. However, the initial result was missing the right snap and was strangely “too meaty.” Blumenthal eventually concedes and acknowledges the necessity and importance of incorporating fillers for the perfect banger.

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Stop Playing “Ketchup” With Your Dog!

The next series of blog posts will highlight sausages and the many forms of this ever popular tube-like treat. From Hot Dogs to Brats to the British Banger and beyond, the versatile encased meat mainstay has something to offer everyone. Starting with the simple and straight forward hot dog, our chefs created a few special ways to \ elevate the experience.

Let’s “relish the thought” of eating a simple hot dog at the old ballpark or during a backyard party this summer. Now, combine the love of hot dogs with the knowledge of cooking and fun ingredients. That takes one of America’s greatest comfort foods off the kid’s side of the menu and moves it to the adult side: “Haute Dogs.”

In order to make this happen, a few changes need to take place. First, the size of the dog. No longer will a small 10 to 1 kid dog (10 hot dogs to a pound) do the trick. Start cooking with a larger wiener, either a ¼
pound or jumbo ½ pounder. Second, change the bread. Hold the buns, and search out fresh baked artisan breads like ciabatta, sourdough, Italian panini, sun-dried tomato tortillas, or crispy-crusty French bread. Third, change the cooking method from steaming or heaven forbid, boiling. The grill is the place to be. Grilling helps bring out the natural smoky flavors.

A panini press would also work wonders. If the hot dog was butterflied (split dog ¾ deep right down the middle and open sandwich style), there could be even better grill marks and a shortened cook time. Last and certainly not least, the “haute dog” toppings must be fresh and creative. Fruits, vegetables, seasonal favorites, and much much more. Keep in mind there are no rules to making it right and making it taste great.

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A Middle Eastern Presentation…Just For You

Now that you have learned about the Middle Eastern food trend in the past blog posts from the highlights about the cuisine to the flavors that enliven the meals and even seen some insight into our culinary team’s adventures, what could be next? An opportunity for Newly Weds Foods to help your company bring these flavors to life with your new product development initiatives.

Allow Newly Weds Foods to be your guide. Coming soon, Newly Weds Foods will have a deep dive presentation on Middle Eastern cuisine, which contains:

• An overview of the region
• Signature dishes from several countries
• Commonly used ingredients and examples of how these are being used in foodservice and retail products
• Recipes developed by Newly Weds Foods chefs that highlight the flavors of Middle Eastern cuisine

Contact your sales representative for more details or to schedule a presentation and tasting of these flavors. Let Newly Weds Foods help you deliver that authenticity your customers are looking for.

Read this article and more like it in our quarterly newsletter, Tasteology!

The Vibrant Flavors Of A Colorful Cuisine

What makes Middle Eastern cuisine so celebrated are some of the unique preparation methods and ingredients native to the Fertile Crescent area. Some representative tastes of the cuisine include cooling, tangy, slightly spicy, and herbal. These flavors are derived from ingredients such as yogurt, garlic, red pepper, and oregano that tantalize the taste buds with each bite. With the variety of flavors that Middle Eastern foods have to offer, it’s no wonder they are starting to gain popularity in retail and foodservice channels. They are poised for even further success when seen as a “better for you” option.

From a preparation method perspective, Middle Eastern foods, especially meats, are traditionally grilled, braised, or roasted. Roasting meat on a vertical spit is one of the more unique cooking methods that originated from the region. Grains, legumes, spices, and vegetables are typically blended, puréed or fermented to enhance the natural flavors of the ingredients, which create unusual yet delicious condiments for proteins, vegetables and breads.

One such condiment that is growing in prominence in the western hemisphere is harissa. This chili paste is made from a blend of smoked Tunisian baklouti and serrano peppers, garlic, coriander, and tomatoes. Another notable item is tahini, which is a paste of sesame seeds often used in falafel wraps. Both of these have seen growth on menus over the last four years, harissa (+78.8%) while tahini went up (+53.3%). A few emerging condiments from the region include muhammara and Yemeni green z’hug. Muhammara is a mixture of puréed roasted red peppers, walnuts, garlic, and lemon juice blended with the tangy sweetness of pomegranate molasses. Yemeni green z’hug has been described as the Arabic version of pesto, only spicier. Z’hug is typically made with green hot peppers, cilantro, coriander, garlic, parsley and various other spices such as caraway seeds. Both muhammara and Yemeni green z’hug are relatively new to American menus and grocery shelves, but as consumers with adventurous palates continue seeking new flavors, these interesting, bright, bold and tangy offerings just might be what they are craving.

Read this article and more like it in our quarterly newsletter, Tasteology!