Many people (young and old) enjoy a good hot dog, have had one sometime in their lives or at least know about them. Of course we are more health conscious now but we know the significance of the “Dachschund Sausages” brought over to America in the late 1800’s by German immigrants.
Think sports events, Labor Day picnics, family reunions, Coney Island, grilling or any occasion to have a hot dog. Chicago-Style Hot Dogs are not your typical hot dogs as there are some unusual ingredients that give them such great flavor.
I was first drawn to this recipe because of two ingredients – pickled sport peppers and “neon green” sweet pickle relish. I never tried one of these hot dogs even with all of my trips to Chicago (I only live 4 hours away from the “windy city”).
So, what are pickled sport peppers? They are tangy, medium heat – can be 9 times hotter than jalapenos. There are a lot of questions surrounding the origin of sport peppers but most likely they cover a wide variety of pickled Mexican peppers within Capsicum Annuum such as pickled serrano peppers or as distinct chilies of their own. For that total authentic Chicago experience these small peppers are a must. They were tangy from the vinegar and added a touch of heat to a really, really good hot dog!
I have always used Vlasic green relish but the Chicago relish is “neon green”. This color is created by adding blue dye to regular pickle relish. So, obviously you could use regular relish as the taste is not different just the color.
See the little honey bee towards the bottom on the right looking at the picture below… He probably smells the sweet relish 🙂
The honey bees love edible flowers too like basil… this is one reason I have not cut the flowers back!
There are a million ways to dress a hot dog and this Chicago-Style Hot Dog is only one version. My lips tingled a little but the sport peppers were surprisingly good and not very hot when combined with the rest of the ingredients. This is a thumbs up and a definite keeper!
A fellow blogger recently posted a Jersey hot dog. Check out Gail’s recipe @ https://snapshotsincursive.com/2019/09/02/jersey-hot-dogs/ I need to try this one too!
For another delicious and favorite way to dress a hot dog, see my Chili Cheese Hot Dogs (picture below).
Chicago-Style Hot Dogs
- tomato slices, each about 1/4-inch thick (I used small campari tomatoes cut in half)
- best-quality all-beef hot dogs with natural casings, slightly longer than the buns (I like to use Dearborn brand which comes from Michigan)
- poppy seed hot dog buns, split (I found them at Busch’s)
- pickled sport peppers (Amazon)
- dill pickles, each cut lengthwise into 4 spears
- white onion, finely chopped, rinsed in a fine-mesh strainer under cold water (I have read to use either cold or hot water to take the edge off of onions)
- neon green sweet pickle relish (Amazon)
- yellow mustard (Nathan’s Deli Style – Cantoro’s Market)
- celery salt
Prepare your grill for direct cooking over medium heat. You can also steam them in some water or pan fry in a little butter.
Cut four well-spaced diagonal shallow slashes crosswise along one side of each hot dog.
Grill the hot dogs over direct medium heat, with the lid closed, until slightly marked on the outside and hot all the way to the center, about 5 minutes, turning occasionally. I also like to grill the buns for a minute or two!
Place a hot dog in each bun and add 2 tomato half-moons, 2 sport peppers, 1 pickle spear, some onion and a spoonful of relish. Add mustard to taste and finish with a pinch of celery salt.
Serve with some chips, potato salad, baked beans or any typical picnic fare.
Recipe by cookingwithauntjuju.com
There it is! Good ‘ole Chi-Town fav. 🌭
Very different from what I’m used to but oh so good. Fun to make too! I love the combination of flavors and can’t wait to have another one 🙂
True. It’s fun trying foods that others crave often. 🌭
This is very really unique helpful information. keep it up. Thank you so much!
You’re quite welcome 🙂
Looks delicious! Never heard of sport peppers, but will definitely look for them.
To be honest I didn’t look for them or the relish – I’m sure I could have found both. Just easier to order… These peppers would be good on pizza, salads… 🙂
Very true. I have Prime and order a lot online, but with such small items I also like to hunt and see what’s available. 🙂
I have prime as well and sometimes I want an ingredient right away and don’t have the time to look at the various stores. You can’t beat “next day delivery” 🙂
Indeed they spoiled us rotten! 🙂
That’s for sure Ronit 🙂
oh yes our native bees love basil flowers! we have sweet little native stingless bees and ones with a blue stripe on their bottoms – so cute. i love the sound of those sport peppers. i love a good hot one! cheers sherry
It’s good to see so many honey bees flying around as their numbers have gone way down. These peppers are hot Sherry with a “tang” 🙂
Being over in the UK, hot dogs aren’t really a thing like back home. I’ve always wanted to try a Chicago dog, now just need to source the ingredients!
They are certainly worth making Matt! A great taste experience with the sport peppers and dill pickle – a good mustard is important too. As you can see I found the ingredients from different places – now if I just made a trip to Chicago I’m sure I would have no trouble finding every thing I needed 🙂
Wow! You are not kidding. That is neon green relish! I have never seen such a thing, or heard of sports peppers. But I do love a good dog!
I wonder why blue dye is added to the relish – it sure looks prettier than regular relish 🙂 This is the first time? I’ve had sport peppers and they are quite good – tangy and not so hot (at least for me).