 It is similar to Salisbury steak.Prior to the disputed introduction of the hamburger in the United States, similar foods already existed in the culinary tradition of Europe.The Apicius cookbook, a collection of ancient Roman recipes that may date to the early fourth century, details a preparation of beef called "isicia omentata"; served as a baked patty in which beef is mixed with pine kernels, black and green peppercorns, and white wine, "isicia omentata" may be the earliest precursor to the hamburger.