The best hot dog toppings

The ultimate snack food; try my favourite take on the Detroit hot dog.

For me, the best hot dog topping is chilli beef.

So, I’ve included a quick Gordon Ramsay recipe to make your hot dog building quick and tasty.

SERVES: 8
PREP/COOK TIME: 10 mins
DIFFICULTY: easy
IDEAL FOR: crowd-pleaser, family, snack, Bonfire Night, Halloween
BUDGET: £

The best hot dog toppings

I think it would be a bit controversial to say there are any.

Because depending on what country, continent, county or state you’re in…

It could be argued that their topping is the ‘classic’ hot dog topping.

And therefore the best.

Which is why I’m pushing the chilli beef topping, it’s my fave.

But I’ve included a bunch of toppings from American hot dog toppings, to some fairly unusual European toppings.

And then you can be inspired to freestyle your own hot dog toppings.

Who invented the hot dog?

And don’t say America.

Frankfurt and Vienna both lay claim to the creation of the hot dog.

So, why is it so big in America?

It came to the US via the many German immigrants that journeyed to the New World in the 1800s.

They say the first hot dogs, called “dachshund sausages”, were sold by a German immigrant out of a food cart in New York in the 1860s.

In approx. 1870 Charles Feltman, a German immigrant, opened the first hot dog stand on Coney Island.

And in 1880, a sausage stand in St Louis apparently gave white gloves to his customers to help them hold their hot sausages.

But he ran out of gloves, so started handing them out inside a white bun instead.

Then hot dogs become famous during baseball games.

And if you’ve ever been to Coney Island, NYC, or seen a film with it as a backdrop.

You’re bound to have noticed ‘Nathan’s World Famous Hot Dogs’

(which always amused me because I don’t think anyone outside of the States has ever heard of Nathan’s hot dogs).

But it was in 1916, Nathan Handwerker – a Polish immigrant and employee of Feltman’s – opened a hot dog stand of his own.

He undercut Feltman who eventually went under and so Nathan’s hot dogs became ‘famous’.

Hot dog toppings

Hot dog toppings are endless.

And so are the different takes on the hot dog itself.

And how it’s presented.

If you have an imagination, then you can create epic hot dogs.

Here are some classics from around the world… and some pretty unusual ones too.

European hot dogs

 German Frankfurter – the most famous!

• The origin of the frankfurter is obviously, Frankfurt.
• It’s a smoky, mildly seasoned sausage and is long and narrow.
• Made with pork in natural sheep casing (this casing is usually missing in the American version)

Bratwurst and Rostbratwurst

• Made from finely minced pork and beef
• Usually grilled and served with sweet German mustard and a piece of bread or hard roll.
• If sliced it can be made into Currywurst.

Icelandic Hot Dog or Pylsur

• A combo of a sausage made from free-range lamb, a warm, steamed bun, and toppings such as fried and raw onions, ketchup, sweet brown mustard, and remoulade.

Swedish Halv special

• It’s the usual hot dog we know but they cover it with mashed potatoes. 

(I’m not convinced about that one)

Finnish Kuuma koira

• Made with sausages placed into split sugary doughnuts, then topped with homemade mustard.

Czech Párek v rohlíku

• Small parek sausages served inside bread rolls.

United States of America hot dogs

It’s undeniable that the American’s took the hot dog.

And really ran with it.

Here are some favourites from different States.

New York

• Traditionally topped with a spicy brown mustard and either sauerkraut or onions sautéed with tomato paste.
• Coney Island Corn dog (Nathan’s) are honey batter wrapped pork & beef hot dogs on a stick.

Atlanta

• Toppings are creamy, crunchy slaw.

Chicago

• Chicago goes made for toppings some of which include; fresh tomato, pickle, hot peppers, sweet onion, and relish.

Detroit

This is my favourite and one ‘dawg’ topping I’d highly recommend.

I had this hot dog at Detroit airport after a long, hard conference we ran… and it made me very happy.

• This famous dog from Detroit is named the “Coney Dog”
• They are smothered in beef chilli (see recipe), grated Cheddar cheese, and raw onion.

The best hot dog topping – chilli beef

Gordon Ramsay’s quick chilli hot dog

 Ingredients

• 1 onion, diced
• 1 garlic clove, thinly sliced or minced
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• 1 heaped tsp chilli powder
• 500 g beef mince
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 1-2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 x 400g tinned chopped tomatoes
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• Pinch of sugar
• Ground black pepper
• Salt

Method

1. Peel and finely chop the garlic and onion.
2. Heat oil in a frying pan and add the onion, cook until soft over medium heat.
3. Next, add the garlic, cumin seeds and cook for 1-2 mins (until the cumin seeds are fragrant). Then add the chilli powder and stir in.
4. Add the ground beef, breaking it up into the pan and brown the meat.
5. Season with salt and pepper. Add tomato paste to the fried minced meat and mix, then pour in the chopped tinned tomatoes.
6. Add 1-2 tbsp of Worcestershire sauce, dried oregano and a pinch of sugar and cook for another 1-2 mins.
7. This is your topping ready for the Detroit hot dog!

10 ‘must-have‘ toppings

1. Mustard
2. Ketchup
3. Onions – fresh, grilled, or dried and crunchy
4. Mayo
5. Relish
6. Sauerkraut
7. Coleslaw
8. Jalapeño
9. Cheese
10. Chilli (obvs)

Enjoy your hot dogs and (in my opinion) the best hot dog toppings, beef chilli.

And if you want another awesome topping, try sticky cider onion hot dogs.

References:

Gordon Ramsey