By Cathy Pollak
www.oneforthetable.com
A "hot dog bar" is the perfect solution to not feeling guilty about serving "hot dogs" at your next gathering. Let's face it, we all love outdoor grilling (especially for a crowd), however, if Ribeye Steaks for 20 are not in your budget, this is a great, creative alternative. Have your guests contribute the side dishes and you will have a great interactive, food-friendly party. Of course, you can also scale it up or down by the quality and types of hot dogs and buns you serve.
There will obviously be some pre-prep work, but that's better than slaving over a stove during the party. I would set a large table with cute bowls for the ingredients of each hot dog combination. Then I would print instructions on how to assemble each one. Your job will be to have lots of buns and hot dogs coming off the grill.
There is something here for everyone's taste and the kids can still have their plain ketchup and mustard dog... no need to make something different.
Hot Dog Bar ~ Hot Dog 5 Ways
Serves: Each recipe makes approx four hot dogs
INGREDIENTS:
Mexican Charred-Corn Dog
2 cups corn
2 teaspoons vegetable oil
2 sliced scallion whites
salt & pepper to taste
2 Tablespoons mayonnaise
2 teaspoons lime juice
Cotija or Feta cheese
Sliced scallion greens
Chile Powder
Banh Mi Dog
2 Tablespoons white vinegar
1 teaspoon sugar
2 shredded carrots
1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
mayonnaise
cucumber, thinly sliced
2 jalapenos, sliced
cilantro leaves
Frank & Beans
4 slices cooked bacon
1 cup baked beans, warm
white onion, diced
yellow mustard
Hawaiian Dog
pineapple wedges, fresh
red onion, cut in rounds
sugar
salt
cayenne pepper
Reuben Dog
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 Tablespoon ketchup
1 Tablespoon sweet pickle relish
1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire
salt & pepper
1 cup Swiss cheese, shredded
1 cup sauerkraut, drained
DIRECTIONS:
Mexican Charred-Corn Dog ~ Assembly
In a skillet, cook 2 cups corn until browned. Add 2 teaspoons vegetable oil and sliced scallion whites, cooking until scallions are tender. Season with salt and pepper. Combine mayonnaise and lime juice. Top hot dogs with corn mixture, lime mayonnaise, crumbled Cotija or feta and sliced scallion greens. Sprinkle with chili powder.
Banh Mi Dog ~ Assembly
Stir together vinegar and sugar until sugar is dissolved. Stir in carrots and coarse salt; let sit 10 minutes. Top hot dogs with mayonnaise, cucumber, carrots, jalapeno and cilantro leaves.
Frank & Beans ~ Assembly
Place cooked hot dogs in buns with a slice of bacon. Top with baked beans, white onion and yellow mustard.
Hawaiian Dog ~ Assembly
Lightly oil pineapple and red onion; grill until tender. Chop and season with sugar, salt and cayenne pepper. Top hot dogs with pineapple mixture.
Reuben Dog ~ Assembly
Combine mayonnaise, ketchup, relish and Worcestershire; season with salt and pepper. Top hot dogs with Swiss cheese and sauerkraut and sauce.