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Does Size Really Matter?
With these sliders, its taste that counts

Heather Travis-Beef Information Centre

One bite, two bites, three bites, gone! Celebrate this summer with little beef bites that pack big flavour! You see them in restaurants and high-class eateries all across Canada, little bite-sized beefy sensations taking over the menu. These ‘sliders’ or mini-burgers are easy to make, even easier to eat (think cocktail party fare) and full of good-for-you vitamins and minerals.

As blogger Nick Solares of Beef Aficionado said in his March 16th 2008 post, “Of all of the infinite varieties of hamburger I think that sliders are my favorite. There is just something about the little bombers that perfectly captures the happy confluence of beef, bun and cheese.”

For the ideal burger, start with great Canadian ground beef. For an added flavour twist, try your mini-burgers with lean ground round, sirloin or chuck. All of these lean options offer minimal flare ups on the grill, while offering the most in flavour and nutrition.

For parties, try making a variety of flavour profiles for guests to enjoy. By serving a crowd Spicy Saigon, International and California sliders – or the So-Trendy Slider each guest can sample each little bite of goodness. Follow basic burger recipes and decrease patty by half to two thirds – a flattened meatball in essence.

Got the burgers made but stuck looking for itty-bitty buns? Try store bought dinner rolls, thin slices of toasted baguette, a quarter of a whole wheat wrap or use a cookie cutter to cut out rounds from pita bread. You can even just take a hot dog bun and cut it into thirds.

For all the running around you and your family do this summer, serving power-packed Canadian beef means everyone is getting 14 essential nutrients including all five B-complex vitamins – thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, B6 and B12. Thiamin, riboflavin, niacin and vitamin B6 assist the body to turn food into energy. They also help grow and maintain healthy skin, eyes and central nervous system. Vitamin B12 is essential for good health and is especially important for building healthy red blood cells, creating a healthy nervous system and making genetic material. The only reliable source of vitamin B12 is animal products like meat, fish, poultry, eggs and milk.

Amazing, all that taste and nutrition in one little beef slider! And who said size mattered?

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