Sunday, August 2, 2009

Hot Dog Chili Recipe


Canned hot dog chili is, how shall I say, lacking. For years my grandmother made the hot dog chili for the summer cookouts. Years ago I asked her what went in it, and she told me. But, I lost the recipe, and then Grandma got senile and couldn't remember that she'd ever even made chili. For years I've tried really hard to approximate what she'd made with varying degrees of success. Probably because I made my chili from scratch, it was always considered good at the cookouts.
Well, I finally got pretty bold with it, thinking more about the flavors going in than trying to copy something that I fully recall.
So, here goes:

Not Grandma Helen's Hot Dog Chili Recipe:

1lb ground beef, not too lean, you need the fat
2C diced tomatoes
1 large onion, finely chopped
2 cans tomato soup
2 cups beef broth
3 TBS butter
2 TBS cumin
2 TBS chili powder (not too hot, I use medium)
1TBS instant coffee

Brown the ground beef with the onion, sprinkle with parsley flakes, salt, and pepper while it cooks.
Do not drain when browned.
Transfer the mixture to a large sauce pan. Add all of the other ingredients. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until most of the liquid has been reduced, tasting often to see if anything more needs added (particularly more beef broth, chili powder, or cumin).
Once the hot dog chili has thickened enough to stay on a dog in the bun, then it's ready!
It was such a big hit at the cookout yesterday that no fights broke out!

EDIT ALERT! Add a couple of dashes of worchestershire sauce if you want an even smokier, richer taste.

3 comments:

drollgirl said...

yUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!! this sounds delicious, and we just happen to have hot dogs in the fridge!

TheWeyrd1 said...

Thanks...now I just need tomato soup and hot dogs...and buns...

*Just Jen* said...

Yumm, that sounds delish!!!

Thanks for stopping by my pad!!! :)