Meal Mimicry: Italian-Style Hot Dogs

This is our version of a Jersey Gem classic, Jimmy Buff’s Italian-Style Hot Dog. This hefty meal fills up your belly and puts a big smile on your face. While the classic Jimmy Buff’s version of the Italian-Style Hot Dog calls for potatoes, sautéed onions, and bell peppers, we’ve got something different for you cooking in the Meal Mimicry kitchen. We are proud to present to you, for the very first time a Meal Mimic! Enjoy! Be sure to check out the recipe below.

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Italian-Style Hot Dog

The Italian-style hot dog is a delectable sandwich made popular by New Jersey restaurant and certified Jersey Gem, Jimmy Buff's. This recipe calls for two hot dogs stuffed in a pizza bread bun, topped with duck-fat potatoes, blistered shishito peppers, caramelized onions, spicy brown mustard, ketchup, and hot pepper spread. The inaugural Meal Mimic, the Italian-style hot dog is now yours to enjoy!

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Prep Time 30 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Servings 2 Italian-Style Hot Dogs

Equipment

• 2 Large Skillets
• 1 Medium Skillet
• 1 Grill or Grill Pan

Ingredients

  

• 4 Hot Dogs
• 1 Loaf Pizza Bread Sliced in half. May be a local thing in New Jersey!
• 4 Medium-Sized Russet Potatoes Sliced into medallions.
• 1 Bag Shishito Peppers Stems cut off.
• 2 Medium-Sized Onions Halved and then sliced.
• 1 Jar Seasoned Duck Fat I purchased the Bowl & Basket brand.
• Salt
• 2 tsp Sugar
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 1 tbsp Balsamic Vinegar
• 1 Lemon Juiced
• Ketchup
• Spicy Brown Mustard
• Cento Diced Hot Cherry Pepper Spread

Instructions

 

Caramelize the Onions

• Add 2 teaspoons of olive oil to a large skillet over medium-high heat until hot.
• Once hot, add onions and stir frequently to avoid onions burning.
• After about 10 minutes, add 1 teaspoon of salt and 2 teaspoons of sugar and mix into the onions.
• Allow the onions to caramelize for about a total of 30 minutes, stirring frequently.
• Add 1 tablespoon of balsamic vinegar to the pan for the final 5 minutes and allow it to cook off before removing from the heat.

Fry the Duck-Fat Potatoes

• Add enough seasoned duck fat to a large skillet for shallow frying over medium-high heat.
• Once hot, add the sliced potatoes to the duck fat. Be sure to cook in batches if there are too many potatoes to cook at once.
• Allow potatoes to fry until they are golden brown in color.
• Remove the potatoes by using tongs or a metal slotted spoon. Allow the potatoes to cool off on a paper towel lined baking sheet.
• Add salt to taste

Blister the Shishito Peppers

• Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil to a medium skillet over high heat.
• Once hot, add the shishito peppers to the oil.
• Allow the peppers to cook over blister, but don't let the oil get too hot.
• Once blistered, add the juice of the lemon to the peppers in the pan.
• Remove from heat, sprinkle with some salt.

Grill the Hot Dogs

• Heat an oiled grill or grill top pan, over medium-high heat.
• Once hot, addt the hot dogs. Cook until heated throughout.

Assembling the Italian Style Hot Dogs

• Remove the dough from the pizza bread to create two buns.
• Add spicy brown mustard to one side of the bun and the hot pepper spread to the other side.
• Add a small amount of caramelized onion at the bottom of the bun.
• Place two hot dogs inside the bun stacked on top of one another.
• Add more caramelized onion and some shishito peppers on top of the hot dogs.
• Top the rest of the bun off with a heaping pile of duck-fat potatoes.
• Finish off the hot dog with some ketchup to taste.

Keyword Hot Dog, Italian, Italian-Style Hot Dog, Jimmy Buff’s