It's summertime the time is right for Hot Dogs. My Hot Dog Series covers all the greatest hits including Kraut Dog, Mustard & Relish Dog, Chili Dog, plus the killer combos of Kraut & Chili Dog, and Slaw & Chili Dog. Now that's a mouthful and they are all cheap of course. So click on highlighted recipe names above to see the tasty photos and yummy prose from my original blogposts.
Okay let's be frank, anyone can make these cheaply, and maybe this Series is just a celebration of America's favorite frankfurter or a reminder of the joys of dining simply.
My last Hot Dog of Summer was a simple Relish Dog with Mustard, well move over there's a new dog in town and it's a meaty Chili & Relish Dog!
I've made Hot Dogs with all kinds of canned chili, from name-brand Hormel to brands I've never heard of like Hartford House...and they are all just fine by me. In the South, my Mom tops her Tex-Mex Enchiladas with Wolf Brand Chili.
The main spice in homemade chili and canned chili is chili powder. These days the meat is usually a mix of pork, chicken, and beef. I've grown used to canned chili and actually like the flavor.
The main problem is the texture which is often crumbly from ground meat, not stringy like a saucy shredded beef pot roast which I prefer - hey, you get what you pay for!
I've started making my own Homemade Beef Chili and you can check it out below. It freezes well so you can make Chili & Relish Dogs all summer!
I use the cheapest cut of beef called a shank. It's one tough steak but after 2 or 3 hours of simmering in spices and tomato sauce, it becomes fall-apart tender and extra flavorful. Try slow-cooking with beef shank sometimes, as it's even cheaper than hamburger these days.
Can you top your Hot Dog with Chili with Beans? Sure, I have in desperate times.
I build my Chili & Relish Dog with mustard. I also add pickle relish if I have it in the fridge. A jolt of sour keeps the taste buds dancing and provides a delicious yin and yang contrast.
I can always find Pickle Relish for a buck at my local 99c only Store and Dollar Tree. The only work is opening a tight pickle relish lid. I often have to use a bottle opener to break the seal -- as it's often too hard to just twist off.
Now, do you like sweet or unsweetened Dill Pickle Relish? I lean to the sweetened version as a contrast to sour mustard.
They're all kinds of mustard, from classic yellow to Grey Poupon Dijon, and spicy to extra-sour seed popping stoneground. I feel lucky to have all these types at my local 99c only Store and Dollar Tree. And what's great about mustard is it lasts almost forever stored in the fridge.
Here is the whole shebang, from bun to weenie to toppings. Just watch my Chili & Relish Dog video below.
Chili & Relish Dog - Video Play it here. The video runs for 3 minutes and 45 seconds.
To view or embed from YouTube, click here.
These days it's easy to make vegan versions using tofu dogs and vegan chili, so everyone can join in summertime patio Hot Dog partying.
And the main ingredients of a Hot Dog are cheap of course, but that's not the only reason to like them. They are just a satisfying combination of flavors that you can build any way you like.
A package of Hot Dog Buns for about a buck? Check. I prefer regular white flour buns, but I often find whole wheat buns on sale, too -- it's all good.
Meaty tube steak for a buck? If you don't mind a mix of chicken, pork, and beef. Again, I always find them on sale at my local 99c only Store and Dollar Tree.
I mean, there is a texture taste difference - I find the typically mixed meat wieners a bit softer when you bite into them and with a milder meaty taste, while an all-beef wiener has more snap and thicker texture and an intense beef flavor.
Depending on how my pocketbook is feeling I can work with any type of Hot Dog wieners.
Do you like your weenies steamed, sauteed, or grilled? I find it easiest to just steam mine in a pot with a basket and cover until they are hot and plump. This way you can walk away and get all the fixing ready while they cook - when you steam them you don't have to worry about burnt weenies.
How about the Hot Dog Buns? Well, at the last minute I will throw in a couple of buns on top of my steaming wieners, cover, and give them a minute to soften. This works especially well if the buns are old and hard.
You do have to watch steaming buns as they can become soggy, although you can always let a soggy bun dry out for a couple of minutes if necessary.
If I am barbequing then I will grill the wieners and add the buns at the finish line - same with sauteing in a frying pan on a stovetop.
So, how do you like to make your Hot Dog? Leave a comment and let's compare wiener...recipes. Ha, ha, I couldn't resist. And check back for more simply delicious and cheap Hot Dogs. So load up the steamer basket or fire up the grill and get to cooking one of my yummy Hot Dog recipes.
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