Aufschnitt Jerky – Protein Packed Flavor Filled

Jun 25, 2021 by Chef David

By Chef David

When I think kosher snack food, usually it is parve, or occasionally dairy like ice cream or cookies, well snacks just got more exciting with Aufschnitt’s designer kosher jerky.  Now there is an adult-friendly fleshing snack, something that can travel beyond the Shabbos table, which has bold seasonings across a wide variety of flavors. Meet Aufschnitt Meats! Founded by two brothers-in-law who wanted to continue a family tradition that began over 75 years ago in Europe by producing small batch artisanal jerky and meat sticks using all-natural ingredients. They are kosher certified by Star K.

Where does jerky come from? 

Jerky is cured meat. It starts with marinated meat which is cooked, and then dehydrated. The dehydration process is called curing the meat, which uses salt to draw out the moisture. The curing process is preservative, creating an environment that is not conducive for microbe growth.  Curing gives jerky a long shelf-stable, producing a portable fleshing snack that does not need refrigeration.  

In a Paleo diet culture, jerky is king. It is high in lean protein and low in fat. Jerky is considered an ideal food for exercise enthusiasts, the protein provides energy, the sodium is a source of electrolytes.

High Sodium Content

Aufschnitt’s products do not contain gluten, nuts, nitrates, artificial ingredients, or hydrolyzed soy. But, due to the curing processes, they like all jerkies are high in sodium-containing 375 mg per ounce (and an ounce is not very much). According to the American Heart Association, an ideal daily consumption of sodium is 1,500 mg, which means one ounce of jerky is a quarter of recommended intake. 

Like any food, the jerky should be eaten in moderation. 

Aufschnitt makes it easy to show restraint with attractive resealable two-serving packets. Each pack contains a two-ounce serving and each serving has one gram of fat and 11 grams of protein. The basic building blocks begin with beef (as well as chicken in the jerky bits), water, brown sugar, sea salt, spices, celery juice powder, and natural smoke flavor. 

I found the jerky to have a nice mouthfeel, releasing a pleasant and distinctive taste bite after bite. The product was soft, easy to chew (unlike the advertisements of cowboys chewing jerky), if you have not had jerky before, think smooth-salami, it has a rich meaty flavor, a mottled appearance, with a pleasant lingering after-taste. 

Flavors and Recipes

Their wide array of flavors range from sweet to savory, and from mild to strong there is something for everyone.  Some products include  Sweet Chipotle/ Teriyaki / Spicy with 70 calories per serving, BBQ with 35 calories, and the Original with 30 calories. My favorite was the Bacon flavor, although I can’t confirm if it tastes like bacon, it had a very satisfying complex sweet-savory combination.  

It’s amazing what you can learn from reading the ingredients, for example, Teriyaki gets its distinctive flavor with combinations of pineapple and tamari soy sauce. The bacon flavor comes from smoked paprika and garlic.  A word of warning, Spicy really packs some heat, with cayenne pepper which is not overpowering but makes its presence known.  

The ‘bits’ collection combines chicken with beef to produce the lighter texture and mouthfeel which I preferred.   

There is no shortage of ways to enjoy jerky, one easy meal is making jerky and eggs for a light dinner. It was delicious, I used the bits, precut small pieces which eliminated the fuss in preparation. Jerky also makes a nice complement for salads adding a spicy fleshing kick, with added protein. The other easy way is using them as “real” Bacon bits for salads.

A staple in the non-kosher world is becoming a kosher treat, and they even provide a kosher for Passover product line.  Available in many supermarkets or order online at https://www.aufschnittmeats.com/collections