Here at The Nosher, we absolutely love a good hot dog. As Memorial Day approaches, we’re taking a moment to praise this surprisingly Jewish food — because yes, hot dogs aren’t just ballpark fare, they’re Jewish culinary staples.
We’ve written plenty about the magic of Jewish sausages — hot dogs perhaps being the most popular of them all (read more about that here) — and we’ve spelled out the history of kosher hot dogs here. TL;DR: Kosher hot dogs started in the late 1800s when Jewish butchers in NYC put a kosher spin on German/Austrian sausages, with Hebrew National kicking off in 1905. They caught on fast among both Jews and the general public, thanks to great taste, its kosher status and higher food safety standards.
Nosher writers never get tired of singing hotdogs’ praises. In fact, some say kosher hot dogs are the greatest American Jewish food of all time (have you read this ode to hot dogs?). Another writer shared that they think about a chicken-cilantro hotdog garnished with Caesar salad every single day.
Naturally, we had to poll our colleagues — highly trained hot dog connoisseurs — on their favorite kosher brands. The top picks? Hebrew National (always reliable), Abeles & Heymann (a summer must-buy at Trader Joe’s, offering the best prices on the market), and Jack’s Gourmet (especially their Italian variety, which makes a killer choripán).
Check out our roundup of Nosher recipe favorites to try out all of the different ways you can dress up your next dog:
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Pretzel Bagel Dog Hamantaschen
What could be bad about fresh dough and hot dogs? Nothing. We won’t judge you for making these year-round.
5 Ways to Make Hot Dogs Even More Jewish
Hot dogs are already pretty Jewish, but we’re here to help you take them to the next level.
Homemade Hot Dog Buns
What makes these hot dog buns fluffy, light and the perfect vehicle for hot dogs is this super light dough made with mashed potatoes!
Fried Hot Dogs and Potatoes
The only thing better than hot dogs is hot dogs and potatoes, and this Russian comfort dish takes us back to babushka’s kitchen.
Challah Hot Dogs
A fun appetizer for summer parties, Shabbat dinners, game-nights or kids’ birthday parties.
