Slugburgers - a Rare Mississippi Treat to Get when You Travel in the South

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If you have not been to Northern Mississippi or Western Tennessee, the term Slugburger probably does not bring up the most appealing of images. Whether you agree with the fact that an actual Slugburger is not as revolting as it sounds, the fact is at least it is not actually made out of slugs.

A Slugburger is considered a local delicacy of just a few cities in the northern Mississippi and western Tennessee regions, but especially concentrated in the city of Corinth, MS, which is thought to be the birthplace of this oddly named edible creation.

A Slugburger is actually made up of a mixture of beef and an extender, such as breading, cornmeal, cheaper meat, flour, or, nowadays, even soybean meal. The mixture is then shaped into patties and deep-fat fried. Do not be surprised if they ask you regular or well done when ordering one up. A Slugburger can be cooked soft or it can be fried until crispy on the outside. After that, it is eaten just like a regular hamburger, on a bun with mustard, pickle, and onion, or fix it up how you like it. But do not be fooled into thinking this will look like a full size burger, in fact it is closer in size to the mini burgers you can get at White Castle or Krystal.

Though there is some debate as to the origin of the name, people of the region agree that Slugburgers came about as a result of the Great Depression. Ground beef was a rationed food item, and instead of using it up and having to make due without it once it was gone, people used some common Great Depression-era resourcefulness and learned to make it last.

As for the name, no one seems to know for absolute sure from where the term came. In the beginning of the Slugburger, they were sold for a nickel, and a slang expression for the nickel at that time was a slug. This is the most widely accepted explanation.

Though they no longer go for five cents a pop, Slugburgers can still be found in Corinth, Mississippi for less than an all-beef burger, usually a dollar or less.

The Slugburger is such a popular historical highlight of Corinth history that they hold a festival every July to commemorate the fascinating food item. Even if the thought of a deep-fried, beef and breading concoction is your idea of gastrointestinal, or diet-busting, excess, try to appreciate these regional delights as a legacy of a bygone generation. We have an incredible amount of everything we want in this country, but even if it were gone tomorrow, this kind of history reminds us that Americans no how to make do. And if you are just traveling through the South, make sure you make a stop in Mississippi so you can try a Slugburger for yourself.

Article from: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/224534/slugburgers_a_rare_mississippi_treat.html