Banh Mi Hot Dog

Hot Dogs: Upgraded

One thing we love about hot dogs is that they’re pretty much universally adored. And if someone doesn’t adore them—your vegan friend, perhaps—that’s OK! If you serve hot dogs with a generous toppings bar—loaded with these banh mi-inspired toppings, in particular—literally everyone will be happy because they can load up a bun and skip the dog! No seriously, they will happily do that if the toppings are this good. We know, we’ve seen it. We’ve even done it! Plus, offering banh mi ingredients as a hot dog topping doesn’t preclude the usual, classic hot dog toppers. You can put out mayo and mustard and ketchup right alongside sriracha mayo and pickled veggies—you’ll please kiddos and foodies alike!

Banh Mi Must #1: Sriracha Mayo!

What is it that’s so good about sriracha? Is it the slow-burn chili heat? The unique tang? That hint of sweetness? The unique just-enough funk? It’s so hard to say! But we know that it’s become as ubiquitous in our homes as ketchup and that’s a good thing! While you can take the shortcut and just make that sriracha creamy by mixing it with mayo, if you go a little further and make this yummy sriracha mayo sauce, you’ll be glad you did. Plus, this hot dog sauce keeps in the fridge for up to a week, so you can make it days before you plan to grill your hot dogs. To make it, you’ll simply mix together:

• Mayonnaise

• Garlic (hot tip: use a microplane grater to get the garlic superfine!)

• Fish sauce

• Scallions

• Sriracha

• Sugar

The Best Ever Banh Mi Hot Dog Toppings

The best hot dog toppings in the world can only go so far on a sub-par hot dog, so the best thing you can do to ensure that everyone loves your grilled hot dogs is to buy good quality hot dogs! It’s not rocket science, but perhaps it’s worth repeating? Buy good hot dogs! We love all-beef hot dogs, and the ones in the butcher case are always better than the pre-packed ones. These ones really rock, if you are planning ahead and have time to order online. Banh mi hot dogs are so very delicious because the grilled hot dogs are all meaty and hearty and hefty, and then the banh mi toppings come into the mix with their pickle-y, fresh, herbal brightness and liven the whole party up! They’re almost—dare we say?—refreshing? Or as crisp and bright and fresh as a hot dog has any right to be! Here’s what you’ll need to make our yummy grilled banh mi hot dogs:

• Hot dog buns (brioche buns are the best!)

• A batch of our quick-pickled veggies.

• Cilantro. Remember—this grilled hot dog recipe is easily adaptable. If you’ve got the cilantro-tastes-like-soap gene, skip it!

• Fresh basil leaves

• Persian cucumbers

• Jalapeños. Optional, but also really not (as far as we’re concerned!)

Tools You’ll Need

• A grill

• Some mixing bowls

• Tongs

More Awesome Hot Dog Topping Ideas

So we’ve got a whole round up of other hot dog topping ideas, but the sky is really the limit with what you can put on a grilled hot dog, right?

• Hot Dog Toppings. So many ideas to get you started!

• Guacamole. A modern hot dog classic, basically!

• White Cheddar Beer Cheese Dip. Are we crazy to think this would be delicious on a hot dog?

• Vegan Chipotle Cream Sauce! The ideal topping for veggie dogs (and you know it!)

Happy Hot Dog Season!

Cook outs to camp outs and everything in between, when it’s warm out, we’re grilling hot dogs! We hope you love this fresh and fun riff on the classic grilled hot dog as much as we do! When you try it, let us know how you like it, OK? Share a photo and tag us on Instagram using @themodernproper and #themodernproper so that we can see your stuff! Happy eating!