It’s hard not to focus on the Hamburger this summer, with all the announcements from the Fast Food sphere about vendors adopting those intriguing new Veggie Protein Burger Patties. I say it’s time for Dog lovers to fight back with new implementations of their fave treat…
I always keep a package of Chicken-based Hot Dogs in the fridge. They’re great in a lot of plate-worthy applications, though I’m using them for different dishes now than I did when I first acquired this habit.
Years ago, I often cooked up a pot of Beans and Wieners when I couldn’t think of anything else to eat after a long, exhausting day when my creative juices had completely dried up. It made sense: I served up the Beanie Wienie over Rice garnished with Grated Cheddar and Topped with Lettuce, and told myself I was having not only a Protein and Legumes and Grain, but also a fresh, leafy green Veggie. Then I realized I didn’t need the Wienie. My cheap, easy culinary indulgence already featured a complete Protein in the Beans and Rice combo. It was even better without ready-made canned Baked Beans but with my own from the last big batch I’d made for the freezer. But I was also aware that there was much more to repurposed Hot Dogs than plain old Beanie Wienie (see photo, top of page)…
I knew I was headed in the right direction
Removing the ‘Wienies’ from my Beanie Wienie was just the right way to go. That was about the time healthy eating advocates were starting to raise alarms about foods that seemed healthy by really weren’t. One of their favourite targets was Processed/Cured Meats which, though based on Chicken or Turkey ( Chicken Wienies, Turkey Bacon, etc.), contained all the same bad stuff as their conventional Red-Meat counterparts: Sulphites, Salt, Fat, etc.
But it just didn’t feel right, not having a package of ‘old faithfuls’ in the fridge to fallback on. So, what to do with the Wienies, Franks, Dogs, Tube Steaks – whatever you like to call them?
I started looking for new ways to use them that might still be indulgent, but might not be served as often as before. The idea was to turn them into occasional treats, rather than weekly last resorts.
Summer a great time to experiment with Dogs
I like to add flavour to Wienies by grilling them, and summer is a great time to play, because there are so many opportunities to toss as few on the grill with whatever else you’re flamin’.
One of the first new dishes I came up with was what I call my ‘Instant Wienie Burrito’ (see photo, above left). I just dig out a couple of pre-grilled Dogs from the fridge, place them on a flat Flour Tortilla, give them a blessing of Grated Cheese and a spoonful or two of leftover Refried Beans or Spiced / Fried Rice, and stick them in the microwave just long enough to heat the Dogs through and Melt the Cheese. Then, I top that all with Shredded Lettuce, roll Up the Little Burro, and serve. It’s mildly spicy and just dripping with gooey goodness. You can also make this as a Wrap, by changing out the Tortilla for a Pita, substituting diced Tomato and Cucumber for the Beans and Rice, adding Salsa before topping with the Lettuce, and not heating it before giving it the old ‘tuck and roll’.
Another thing I do is what I call a Wienie Chalupa. This starts with a piece of flatbread (your choice) though Naan is good because it comes ready-made in an oval shape. I brush on a light coating of BBQ sauce, sprinkle with Ancho Chili Power and Cumin, score the bread across its middle, side to side for folding later, top the half that will be the bottom with medium-diced Hot Dogs, sprinkle with Kernel Corn (right out the bag in the freezer), and top with grated Jack Cheese. Then I place it in the Breville counter top oven or a regular oven and broil for 2-3 minutes – until the Cheese is bubbly and the Wienies are just getting slightly charred around the edges. Hot out o the oven, fold the ‘top’ crust over the stuffed bottom and serve immediately. I usually cut the thing in half for easier handling. It’s best enjoyed as hand-eaten ‘street food’-style fare.
I sometimes turn leftover Queso / Cheese Sauce into a quick, no-dishes main by adding 0.5 in. / 1 cm diced Dogs, my own (or store-bought) chopped Pickled Jalapeño Peppers and my own Pickled Sweet Peppers, cut about the same size as the Dogs. This gets microwaved until bubbly. Then , I give it a good stir before topping with Corn Tortilla Chip Crumbs and shredded Lettuce, and serving with whole Corn Chips for Dipping, and Margaritas or ice-cold Beer.
Getting the idea?
As I always say, let your imagination roam freely through your fridge and pantry. Imagine substituting one or two Hot Dogs in place of other Sausages or other Cold or Hot Spiced Meats in your fave Casseroles, Soups (Minestrone, anyone?) and Breakfast Bakes. You’ll be glad to tried it!
~ Maggie J.