The recipe for traditional New York hot dog

Quick and easy to eat, the hot dog is everywhere in New York! Here's how to make your own homemade hot dog and taste authentic New York.

The Origin of the Hot Dog

The hot dog arrived in the United States in the early 19th century, brought by German immigrants from Frankfurt. Brooklyn’s Feltman bakery was among the first to serve heated sausages in a small bun, and the concept took off immediately. As demand grew, Feltman created mobile carts to sell hot dogs throughout New York.
Today, you’ll find hot dogs not only from street vendors but also on the menus of diners and delis. They’re also a classic companion to baseball fans.
Nathan’s, a hot dog specialist, hosts an unusual eating contest on July 4, Independence Day, at Coney Island. The current records stand at 72 hot dogs in 10 minutes for men and 45 for women.

Originally, hot dogs were made with 100% pork frankfurters. Today, in New York’s diverse food culture, the sausages are typically beef.
For homemade hot dogs, stick with a frankfurter. Don’t confuse it with a knockwurst, which is thicker and closer to a cervelat.

For an authentic New York hot dog, forget traditional baguettes and paninis. You need soft, slightly sweet hot dog buns.
You can even make your own buns. Here’s the recipe for hot dog buns.

6 hot dog buns.
6 frankfurters.
American mustard, sweeter than Dijon mustard. It gives you that authentic New York flavor.

For the optional onion sauce:

1/ Start by preparing the onion sauce. Slice the onions into rings and sauté them in a pot with oil over low heat for about 10 minutes.
2/ Once the onions are translucent, add the brown sugar, cinnamon, cayenne pepper, and Tabasco. Stir well.
3/ Add the water and simmer for about 15 minutes until the liquid has completely evaporated.
4/ While the onions simmer, prepare the sausages. Heat water in a pot, keeping it just below a boil.
5/ Place the frankfurters in the simmering water for about 10 minutes.
6/ Next, prepare the buns. If you like, warm them slightly, but don’t toast them.
7/ Split each bun lengthwise, leaving one edge intact.
8/ Spread a line of mustard on each inside surface of the bun.
9/ Place the hot frankfurter in the bun.
10/ Add some onion sauce or sauerkraut along the length of the sausage.
11/ Finish with a zigzag of mustard. This is the traditional New York hot dog. In New York, you’ll notice some vendors pile on everything—cheese, meat sauce, and more. One thing to know: true New Yorkers never put ketchup on their hot dog. That said, there’s nothing stopping you from trying it, and the result is always visually striking. Want to go further? Make your own ketchup using my ketchup recipe.

Post your creations! We’d love to see photos of your homemade hot dogs on our Destination New York Facebook group.
Feel free to contact me if you’d like to share a recipe or culinary challenge.