Chicago-style hot dog
A Chicago-style hot dog, Chicago Dog, or Chicago Red Hot is an all-beef frankfurter on a poppy seed bun, originating from the city of Chicago, Illinois. The hot dog is topped with yellow mustard, chopped white onions, bright green sweet pickle relish, a dill pickle spear, tomato slices or wedges, pickled sport peppers (a variety of Capsicum annuum), and a dash of celery salt. The complete assembly of a Chicago hot dog is said to be "dragged through the garden" due to the many toppings. The method for cooking the hot dog itself varies depending on the vendor's preference. Most often they are steamed, water-simmered, or less often grilled over charcoal (in which case they are referred to as "char-dogs").
Alternative names | Red Hot |
---|---|
Course | Main course |
Place of origin | United States |
Region or state | Chicago, Illinois |
Serving temperature | Hot |
Main ingredients | Sausage, poppy seed bun, yellow mustard, white onion, sweet "neon green" pickle relish, pickled sport peppers (a variety of Capsicum annuum), tomatoes, kosher dill pickle spear, celery salt |
The canonical recipe does not include ketchup, and there is a widely shared, strong opinion among many Chicagoans and aficionados that ketchup is unacceptable. A number of Chicago hot dog vendors do not offer ketchup as a condiment.