WASHINGTON — Bologna—it's an American classic and childhood staple, yet is often one of the most misunderstood meats. As National Bologna Day (October 24) approaches, the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council (NHDSC) in partnership with the Beef Checkoff aims to showcase bologna's classic deliciousness with innovative new chef-developed recipes that show how trendy bologna can be.
Recent polling* commissioned by the NHDSC in partnership with the Beef Checkoff and conducted online by The Harris Poll among over 2,000 U.S. adults shows that only 35 percent of Americans know that bologna is a type of sausage. Polling also found that the classic bologna on white bread sandwich reigns supreme with 70 percent of bologna eaters saying slices on bread are one of their favorite ways to enjoy bologna. And while that's a delicious way to enjoy bologna, there are many other easy, creative ways to prepare bologna that will turn anyone into a true bologna enthusiast.
"Like any sausage, bologna is very versatile and can be used as a delicious ingredient to add flavor to many different types of dishes or as the star of a meal, as well," said NHDSC President Eric Mittenthal. "There's a delicious reason why 'you're full of bologna' is part of our American vernacular and our new recipes make bologna irresistible," Mittenthal added.
The four recipes, developed by a Culinary Institute of America trained chef, include:
- Bologna Burger Sliders: An update to the classic ground beef slider, adding in ground bologna and topped with pepperjack cheese and grilled onions for an extra flavor kick
- Bologna-Slaki with Tzatziki: A Mediterranean twist with skewers of bologna, red onion and red pepper chunks, marinated in olive oil, oregano, lemon and garlic, then grilled and served with a cool yogurt, cucumber, mint and cumin sauce.
- Crunchy Grilled Bologna and Cheese Sandwich: These indulgent, crispy-gooey sandwiches, topped and grilled with crushed potato chips are terrific for lunch, naturally, but also work fabulously as an hors d'oeuvres when cut into quarters and dipped into honey-mustard
- Grilled Bologna Salad Sandwich: Step away from the tuna melt and try this delicious bologna alternative chopped with provolone, Dijon mustard, hot relish and mayonnaise.
Celebrate Bologna Day By Biting Your Best Bologna Snowflake
Sliced bologna's thin, round shape lends itself to a particularly fun way to play with your food—bologna snowflakes. Like the paper snowflakes children make by folding pieces of paper and strategically cutting different shapes, bologna snowflakes can be made the same way. To celebrate National Bologna Day, the NHDSC and Beef Checkoff want to see people's most creative bologna snowflakes. Bologna snowflake photos can be submitted to contest@hot-dog.org by Friday, October 26 and the best one will win a gift card for bologna and a National Hot Dog and Sausage Council t-shirt.
For more bologna facts, figures, recipes, a quiz and more, check out the Guide to Bologna at www.hot-dog.org.
*Survey methodology:
This survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of NAMI, a contractor to the Beef Checkoff, from October 5-9, 2018 among 2,018 U.S. adults aged 18+. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables and subgroup sample sizes, please contact Eric Mittenthal.
About The Beef Checkoff:
The Beef Checkoff Program (www.MyBeefCheckoff.com) was established as part of the 1985 Farm Bill. The checkoff assesses $1 per head on the sale of live domestic and imported cattle, in addition to a comparable assessment on imported beef and beef products. In states with qualified beef councils, states may retain up to 50 cents of the dollar and forward the other 50 cents per head to the Cattlemen's Beef Promotion and Research Board, which administers the national checkoff program, subject to USDA approval.
About the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council:
The NHDSC is a project of the North American Meat Institute, a contractor to the Beef Checkoff. Established in 1994, the Council serves as an information resource to consumers and media on questions related to quality, safety, nutrition and preparation of hot dogs and sausages. The Council also celebrates hot dogs and sausages as iconic American foods. It is funded by contributions from hot dog and sausage manufacturers and those who supply them with equipment, ingredients and services.
"Internal links within this document are funded and maintained by the Beef Checkoff. All other outgoing links are to websites maintained by third parties."
Source: National Hot Dog and Sausage Council (NHDSC)
