Name: Chicago Hot Dog
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 4 hot dogs
Ingredients: 4 pcs frankfurters; 4 pcs bread roll; 4 teaspoons mustard; 4 teaspoons sweet green relish; 1 pc onion; 2 pcs tomatoes; 2 pcs pickled cucumbers; 4 pcs peperoncini peppers; 1 teaspoon celery salt; 1.5 l water

Step by step process

Preparing the Vegetables

1
Peel the onion and dice it into small 3 mm pieces. A fine dice spreads evenly along the whole hot dog.
2
Wash the tomatoes. Cut them into thin lengthwise wedges or slices about 5 mm thick. Two slices are enough for one hot dog.
3
Cut the dill pickle lengthwise into quarters, a classic pickle spear. It forms a long element next to the sausage in the bun.
4
Leave the pepperoncini peppers whole, with the stems on. They go on top as the final accent and a pop of color.

Cooking the Sausages

5
Bring the water in a pot to just below boiling. Do not let it bubble hard. Chicago-style franks are never cooked at a rolling boil, or they split and lose their juices.
6
Place the beef frankfurters in the hot water. Let them warm through for about 5-7 minutes, until hot and plump. Never grill the franks over high heat. The authentic Chicago version is boiled or gently steamed.
7
Meanwhile, steam the buns over the pot in a colander or steamer insert for 1-2 minutes. They should soften into the classic tender texture.

Assembling the Hot Dog

8
Open the sliced bun. Place the hot sausage inside so it runs the full length of the bun.
9
Tuck the pickle spear along one side of the sausage. Lean 1-2 tomato slices against the other side, between the bread and the frank.
10
Drizzle a thin stripe of yellow mustard across the sausage. Add a teaspoon of sweet pickle relish alongside. The authentic relish is neon-green.
11
Top the whole hot dog with a handful of diced onion. Set a pepperoncini pepper on top.
12
Finally, dust the hot dog with a pinch of celery salt. Never skip this step, it is the flavor signature of Chicago.

Serving

13
Serve immediately, while the sausage is hot and the bun steamed and soft. French fries or pickles on the side are ideal.
14
Never add ketchup to a Chicago hot dog. Locals take this seriously, and ketchup is considered an offense against tradition.

More tips:

If you cannot find genuine neon-green Chicago relish, use regular sweet pickle relish, the taste will be almost identical, just the color won't be as vivid green.

Pepperoncini can be replaced with a pickled sport pepper, which is the traditional Chicago choice. It has milder heat and a tangy vinegar finish.

Share on:

Beer Pairing Recipes Comfort Food Recipes Finger Food Recipes Traditional National Dishes Street Food Recipes Recipes Under 30 Minutes