The Definitive Chicago Style Hot Dog Recipe

Chicago Journal ^ | 8/1/21 | Chicago Journal

[DallasBiff]

Here is what you need to know to make this Chicago classic.

Vienna Beef All-Beef Frank

S. Rosen's Mary Ann Brand Poppyseed Buns

Yellow Mustard

Sweet Green Pickle Relish

Chopped White Onions

Tomato Wedges/Slices

Pickle Spear

Sport Peppers

Dash of Celery Salt

[Dr. Sivana]

About to commit heresy here

Nothing heretical about it. Sounds like an over-the-top chili dog. If we accept chili dogs as an established, legitimate variation, there is no issue.

[bleach]

Most outside of the Queen City don’t consider it chili to begin with.

[mairdie]

Thanks for the very enjoyable memories. Off to bed at last. Take care. Mary

[Political Junkie Too]

I don't boil them, I don't think they get hot enough.

I will either steam them from the start, or I will put them on a wired rack in an oven at 375 degrees for 15 minutes. The oven method crisps up the skin.

I you don't have a steamer, you can cook the hot dogs in a pan that is filled with water half-way up the side of the hot dog, leaving the other half exposed to the steam. Cover and cook, rotating the hot dogs to expose the underwater side to the steam.

-PJ

[Lurker]

“ Get rid of the relish and mustard, then it would be ok, maybe add some sauerkraut.”

Heresy.

L

[telescope115]

Had two at Bill Murray’s restaurant by O’Hare a couple years ago. Tasty.

[who_would_fardels_bear]

Add pineapple.

Just sayin'.

(Gotta get the purists riled up)

[wardaddy]

Nathan’s
Hebrew National
Sabretts

My top three large dog producers far and away

I too prefer poppy seed bun

I like yellow mustard and mayo and chopped onion and sweet relish and salt and pepper

Or a chili dog loaded

And sausage dogs are great especially andouille with just mustard

It’s all good

Yankees have Portillos and I’m a fan

Always stop at one but in Chicago they are better

I hear Texas and Florida have em now

Nashville someday please !

Malaria and Giordano’s pizzas too while we’re wishing

In and Out under construction here!

HQ for southeast region three miles away

[Jeff Chandler]

I’ll take a Kirkland.

[enumerated]

Looks awful.

I eat them all beef with just mustard.

[enumerated]

Same - usually just mustard - but if there happens to be sweet relish handy all the better.

[Jane Long]

We have a nifty little hot dog machine that has steel rollers that steam/grill the hot dogs. The top of the little gadget steams the buns.

Sort of like a mini version of Gray’s Papaya.

The oven method you mentioned sounds interesting.

[bert]

Any thing Chicago is anti American and therefore bad.

A Chicago hot dog is celebration of anti Ameerica

[Jane Long]

Had to look up where Portillo is, in Texas.

It’s near Dallas. Booooo.

Was hoping it was in the Hill Country.

[TennTuxedo]

Campiones in Gallatin.

[Dr. Sivana]

Most outside of the Queen City don’t consider it chili to begin with.

Though the first Chili Dogs seem to come from Detroit, the Cincinnati variation came early enough, and sounds like one of those great American stories.

The Perplexity.ai answer on the topic was fascinating:

In October 1922, Macedonian brothers began serving a "stew with traditional Mediterranean spices" as a topping for hot dogs in Cincinnati, which is believed to be the origin of Cincinnati chili.

The seasonings used in chili dog chili closely align with sauces found in Greece and Macedonia. This suggests that Macedonian immigrants brought their traditional flavors and adapted them to American tastes.

Many Greek and Balkan immigrants, including Macedonians, opened "coney" restaurants in the Midwest. The term "coney" comes from Coney Island, though it's thought that few of these immigrants had actually seen Brooklyn's Coney Island. They used the American name to seem less foreign.

The first recipes for coney sauce often called for beef hearts, indicating that these immigrants were using offal and seasonings from their homelands but adapting them to American preferences by serving them over hot dogs.

[TennTuxedo]

For Chicago DeepDish Pizza in Nashville, try 312 Pizza. It is owned and run by Chicagoans. As good as Lou Malnatti’s.

[daku]

It’s still there and I’ll eat there 2-3 times a month

[FoxInSocks]

A hot dog is NOT a sandwich! It’s a hot dog.

[mosaicwolf]

The best hot dogs are all beef with melted peanut butter.