When the first representative of the Burger King fast food restaurant was opened in 1953, its menu mainly consisted of hamburgers, french fries, soft drinks, milkshakes and desserts. After the network was sold to another owner and renamed in 1954, she began to expand the menu by adding various sandwiches to it. Currently, at Burger King, the calorie content of dishes varies greatly, and among the main ingredients, in addition to beef, chicken, fish and vegetarian items, including salads and lean sandwiches , are offered . Other extras include a breakfast menu and a variety of drinks.
As the company continued to expand outside the United States, localized versions of menus began to appear in restaurants around the world that matched regional tastes and cultural or religious beliefs.
To increase sales, Burger King sometimes introduces a limited temporary offer for certain product groups or offers some completely new positions for long-term or short-term sales.
The company introduced its first breakfast menu, along with a special line of signature sandwiches in 1978. Burger King's expanded menu was then part of a plan to expand the network and enter the international market, as well as to compete with McDonald`s. This was a success - at present the restaurant chain is one of the most popular among those who trade in fast food.
The most famous menu item
The most famous product on offer at this restaurant is Wopper. It was first introduced in 1957, and after that his recipe was repeatedly improved. You can often hear that Wopper is the main competitor of the Big Mac from McDonald's. There really are similarities, but differences can be seen. So in “Wopper” from “Burger King” the calorie content is higher - 670 Kcal, while the nutritional value of “Big Mac” is 540 Kcal. Moreover, the product from Burger King does not contain cheese. That is, when it is added at the request of the client, the burger will become even more high-calorie.
The standard composition of Wopper is a sesame bun, lettuce, pickles, fresh tomatoes, onions, mayonnaise, ketchup, and, of course, a large beef cutlet. In some countries, other sauces are used to make it, and they also offer additional ingredients, including jalapenos and fried bacon. There are also double and triple Wopper, offering 2 or 3 meatballs respectively.
All this implies that in Burger King the calorie content of dishes is simply huge, especially if you order large portions. For example, if, in addition to “Wopper,” you also take french fries with sauce and dessert, you get an almost daily nutritional norm for an adult.
Are there any lighter products?
But still, fast food lovers can find lighter dishes in this trading network. Owners of the brand take into account the interests of people who follow healthy diets, therefore, on some menu items, they reduce calorie content in Burger King. Caesar salad, for example, has a total of 343 Kcal using all the ingredients.
The composition of this salad almost does not deviate from the classics - grated Parmesan cheese, fresh vegetables, crackers and pieces of fried chicken fillet with Caesar sauce. However, the serving of the dish here is noticeably different - the sauce, crackers and pieces of chicken are served separately, which allows you to independently vary the size and nutritional value of the portion.
To make such a salad at home is very simple - you need to dry small pieces of white bread (you can add a small amount of garlic), fry the chicken fillet until crisp and then mix it all with fresh vegetables in a separate appetizing dish. The sauce is sold ready-made, so cooking does not take much time.
If the burger king bothers you with the calorie content of this salad, you can change the recipe and make it easier. For example, bake chicken, not fry.
What else can be attributed to light fast food?
The restaurant menu also offers other chicken dishes. If you continue to explore the “Burger King” calorie dishes - “Caesar Roll” is quite suitable as a relatively healthy snack. Of course, its lightness is imperfect - in one serving contains 390 Kcal, but compared to the “Wopper” it wins noticeably.
In fact, it is a copy of a similar dish from McDonald's - it includes chicken, lettuce, tomato, grated cheese and Caesar sauce. All this is wrapped in a fresh cake.
Can I cook it myself?
Caesar Roll can be made with your own hands without much effort. For 6 servings, you will need the following ingredients:
- 3 cups lettuce shredded;
- 2 cups fried chicken sliced in strips;
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese;
- ½ cup of Caesar sauce;
- 6 small thin pita breads.
Combine the first 3 ingredients in a large bowl. Add Caesar sauce to them and mix very carefully. Put in the middle of each pita 2-3 tablespoons of the mixture, wrap in rolls. If desired, you can fry the finished roll in a pan with a small amount of vegetable oil.
The finished dish tastes almost the same as it is served on the Burger King network. The calorie content of the roll can be reduced by putting boiled or baked chicken in it instead of fried.
In addition, the above mixture of ingredients can be served as a salad. To do this, do not wrap it in pita bread, but sprinkle with crackers. And if you are not one of those who count calories, you can supplement the dish at your discretion - for example, add finely chopped fried bacon to it.