History

The Michigan dog made its way to Burlington in the 1940s via Plattsburgh, NY, where Greek-American hot-dog stand owners adapted the Greek-influenced coney sauce to a northern audience. Beansie's Bus has served Michigan dogs at Battery Park since 1944 and Handy's Lunch on Maple Street since 1945; both are still doing it.

Common allergens: Gluten

Make it at home

Yield Serves 6 (makes about 750ml chili sauce)Hands-on 20 minTotal 1 hr 30 minDifficulty Easy

Ingredients

  • Chili sauce: 450g ground beef (80/20)
  • 1 small yellow onion, finely diced
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 teaspoons sweet paprika
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice (the New England signature)
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 300ml beef stock
  • To serve (per dog): 1 all-beef natural-casing frankfurter
  • 1 split-top New England hot-dog bun, buttered and griddled
  • 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped raw white onion

Method

  1. Brown the ground beef in a heavy saucepan over medium-high heat, breaking it into very fine crumbles with the back of a spoon (this fine texture is signature).
  2. When the beef is no longer pink, add diced onion and garlic; cook 5 minutes until soft.
  3. Stir in tomato paste, mustard, Worcestershire, paprika, cumin, oregano, allspice, cinnamon and salt; cook 1 minute to bloom the spices.
  4. Pour in the beef stock, scrape the pan, and bring to a simmer; lower heat and cook uncovered 60-75 minutes until thick, glossy and spoonable (not soupy).
  5. Cook the frankfurter on a flat-top or grill until lightly blistered.
  6. Lay the dog in a toasted buttered bun, smear with mustard, top with 3 tablespoons of the chili sauce, and finish with a generous tablespoon of finely chopped raw onion.

Tip from the editors. Allspice is the distinguishing flavour vs Detroit-style Coney sauce; do not skip. Sauce keeps 5 days fridged and freezes well.

This is the TableJourney editorial recipe, modelled on the canonical bistro / counter version. The first place to try the dish in its city of origin is below.

Where to eat michigan hot dog

Michigan hot dog in Burlington

Handy's Lunch ★ 4.3

Old-school corner diner$6-14downtownMon-Fri 08:00-13:30, Sat-Sun 08:30-13:00Walk-in only

Burlington landmark on the corner of Maple and South Champlain since Earl Handy opened in 1945. Famous for Texas Hot Dogs (split, mustard, onions,

Order: Texas Hot Dogs and the Big Daddy breakfast plate

74 Maple St, Burlington, VT 05401

Beansie's Bus ★ 4.5

old-north-end

An $8 chili-dog-and-fries combo at Battery Park with a Lake Champlain view is cheaper than any sit-down room downtown. Seasonal April-September only;

Try: Michigan hot dog and fries combo

1 Sherman St, Burlington, VT 05401

More cities are in research. Want michigan hot dog covered somewhere specific? Tell us where you want to eat.

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