What do hot dogs have to do with 4th of July? A lot! According to the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council, on Independence Day, Americans devour 150 million hot dogs—enough to stretch from Washington D.C. to Los Angeles more than five times.
Get creative with your hot dog toppings! Photo courtesy of SaltPepperSkillet.com
Most of us associate 4th of July with fireworks, BBQ’s, and time off work to enjoy being with family and friends. But, for hot dogs, this is their day to shine. While mustard reigns supreme, being America’s favorite hot dog condiment, why not jazz them up a bit? We’ve found some unique & adventurous recipes. Your foodie friends will be impressed, but to be safe, keep a bottle of plain mustard & ketchup on hand—just for those condiment loyalists who like to keep it simple.
Recipe found at SaltPepperSkillet.com
Bacon lovers rejoice! This sweet and salty recipe calls for bacon hot dogs, but you could just add bacon to your favorite brand.
“If you can’t find the bacon hot dogs, you can definitely add some cooked bacon slices to get that bacon flavor. Heck, you could do that in addition to the bacon dogs. Never enough bacon.” ~Justin, founder of Salt Pepper Skillet
Fresh avocado, cilantro, & tomato taste so good together!
This spicy, loaded recipe even comes with a video tutorial from Rachel Ray. It may take a little longer to make than the others—you’ll need a food processor—but you’ll also learn how to make this delicious looking avocado based cream sauce!
For the Avocado Crema: 1 Haas avocado, pitted and scooped, 1 cup Mexican crema or sour cream, Juice of 1 lime, 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin, & a Fat pinch of salt.
“That’s a Mexican dog you can get down with.” ~Rachel Ray
These braised carrots surprisingly do not taste like carrots after the brine.
Carrots? As hot dogs? Hey, don’t knock it until you try it. We all have vegan friends and family members. While you can purchase a soy-based, manufactured brand, why not go all out & make one from scratch? They’re a lighter, healthier option, and you can add any toppings you’d like.
“And let’s be honest here, the toppings are what really counts when it comes to hot dogs.” ~Leite’s Culinaria
Similar to a chili dog, but with fresh cabbage & red onion.
If the thought of eating that carrot dog turned you into a ravenous canine, this Bulldog recipe from Martha Stewart might be one to try. With mustard, creamy coleslaw, and chili, it’s more of a slightly updated classic.
In fact, the ingredients list for the footlong frank would make a Michelin-starred chef blush: the Juuni Ban contains smoked cheese bratwurst, butter Teriyaki grilled onions, Maitake mushrooms, Wagyu beef, foie gras, shaved black truffles, caviar and Japanese mayonnaise, all served up in a brioche bun. ~Guinness World Records
Whether you try to recreate the world’s most expensive frankfurter, or stick with simple mustard or ketchup, we hope your 4th of July holiday is a safe and happy one! We’ll be closed on the 4th, but will be back at 8:00a.m. on the 5th. Let us know if you try one of the recipes or have one of your own to share!
