A range of new sea-centric products gives the grilling season a nautical spin.
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This grilling season, give your barbecue a splash of sea-worthy and planet-friendly flavor.
With a bounty of ocean-inspired dishes that are perfect for any summer soirée, we invite you to shake things up and move beyond the usual hot dogs and burgers.
A Healthier Hot Dog
Kvarøy Arctic Salmon Hot Dogs are an absolute game changer that we predict will not only be the star of the grilling season, but also will turn into a go-to frozen pantry staple for the whole family.
No matter how you cook them, they behave like a true hot dog but with all the nourishing benefits of salmon that is rich in omega-3s.
Because the salmon are sustainably grown, they have a lower environmental impact than meat.
Chef Eric Gephart, the culinary director of Kvarøy Arctic, excitedly shared with us that the dogs are “everything you want in a hot dog, and everything you need in salmon. Even though they don’t have a casing, when you grill them or cook them over high heat in a pan, it gives you that textural contrast snap that you look for in a hot dog.”
And as our team has tasted them, we wholeheartedly agree with him!
Chef Gephart encourages cooks to be open-minded towards the non-traditional protein, which offers a culinary combination that can change the world — tasty, healthy and climate friendly.
The best part? “Treat the salmon hot dogs exactly like you would treat your usual hot dog,” he says.
On the grill, in the pan, under the broiler, and even in the microwave, the salmon dogs perform just like traditional hot dogs.
The salmon hot dogs are packed with a powerful nutritional punch.
Just one serving provides the recommended amount of omega-3s for a week, as well as 7 grams of protein.
They are also gluten free and non-GMO.
Chef Gephart knows very well, from experience, that children are the toughest ones to satisfy flavor-wise, and he shares excitedly that the little ones, including his own, are the biggest fans of the salmon dogs.
He says, “That’s the litmus test. Do the kids crush it? Do they ask for more? And the answer is yes! There’s fine dining, and there’s fun dining, and this lands in the fun dining category.”
The dogs, which come in original, cheese and jalapeño flavors, are fun in and of themselves, but they become even more lively with toppings.
As a starter, Gephart recommends people enjoy them with traditional hot dog toppings and condiments, such as ketchup, mustard and relish.
The next step is to explore these salmon dogs in the companionship of creative combinations or other toppings that can take the flavors to the next level.
In need of inspiration? Salmon Hot Dog Recipes for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Other Ocean Accoutrement—Kelp Burgers, Chips and Condiments
To really lean into the ocean theme, add kelp pickles from Barnacle Foods. The pickles are made from kelp harvested in Alaska, the home state of the company’s founders.
Barnacle Foods also makes chili crisp, salsa and hot sauce, all from Alaskan kelp, and each offers a new avenue for creativity when paired with the Kvarøy Arctic Salmon Hot Dogs.
Kelp is the star in the products of another brand with items made for grilling season.
Atlantic Sea Farms works with farmers on the opposite coast, harvesting kelp primarily in Maine, as well as in Narragansett Bay off the coast of Rhode Island.
It mixes the kelp with other ingredients, including chickpeas, brown rice and pea protein to form veggie burgers with a textural punch. The perfect alternative for vegetarians at the sea-themed barbecue, these burgers are sold online and arrive frozen. Their current flavor offerings are ginger sesame and basil pesto.
Complete the meal with organic kelp chips from 12tides, the main ingredient of which is also harvested in Maine. The chips are available in flavors, including sea salt, chili pepper and everything.
Another Maine-based company, Ocean’s Balance, makes chili lime seaweed seasoning that can be used to marinate veggies and proteins in before they are put on the grill.
For the pescatarians in the bunch, Kvarøy Arctic also makes salmon burgers that are meaty and substantial, available in original and cheese flavors.
Both the salmon burgers and the salmon hot dogs are made from scrape meat, a less-than-appetizing term for the intercostal (or rib) meat that is often left behind when salmon filets are removed from the fish.
Instead of disposing of the meat, Kvarøy Arctic has found a way to utilize it for these products.
Scrappy Sustainability (and Affordability)
Utilizing parts of the fish that other companies often discard is part of Kvarøy Arctic’s commitment to sustainability, accessibility and respect for the fish it raises.
Kvarøy Arctic’s chief marketing officer Jennifer Bushman explains, “We want to honor the life of the salmon by utilizing as much of the fish as we possibly can. The trim and scrape meat are perfectly suited for these hot dogs. It also means that the hot dogs are more affordable. When someone doesn’t want to spend $12.99 per pound for a center-cut salmon filet, they can pick up a four-pack of salmon hot dogs for $5.99. The price is hard to beat and helps make fish more of an everyday choice.
The health benefits of omega-3s in the salmon hot dogs — among which are improved concentration and cognitive function, boosted mood, and reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety — were particularly attractive when Kvarøy Arctic first introduced them during the height of the pandemic.
Today you can find them nationwide at Whole Foods Markets. Look for them in the refrigerated smoked seafood section or near the hot dogs.
Grab a pack of dogs, fire up the grill and put out the kelp chips. Your ocean-themed barbecue will be the party of the summer!
About Kvarøy Arctic
In addition to providing a tasty new alternative to traditional grilling favorites, Kvarøy Arctic supports an entire island community through sustainable salmon farming.
The company’s name, pronounced “kwah-ray,” refers to the island of the same name in Norway.
The salmon used to make the hot dogs are farmed off the coast of Kvarøy Island in the Arctic Ocean. Yes, in the ocean.
In the 1970s, Alf Olsen, a Kvarøy resident whose family had lived on the island for generations, began building hand-made wooden enclosures for salmon in the ocean, so that he and the others on the island could support themselves year-round.
Olsen’s efforts brought about the birth of Kvarøy Arctic. Previously, the islanders could only fish seasonally, leading to economic instability on Kvarøy.
With Olsen’s innovative salmon farming technique, the fish were able to live in their natural environment but be available throughout the year.
Kvarøy Arctic continues to use a combination of ancient and innovative techniques to raise the salmon.
The traditional ocean enclosure concept remains in place, but the company has also harnessed new technology to optimize its salmon husbandry.
Today, with Olsen’s three grandchildren leading the company, Kvarøy Arctic helps to support the island of Kvarøy, with a population of about 80 residents. The company’s employees are required to live on the island with their families, one-third of which are children!
Top image photo credit: Eric Wolfinger
Gallery photos courtesy of Atlantic Sea Farms, Barnacle Foods, Ocean’s Balance and 12Tides
