For More Flavorful Hot Dogs, Make Them Indian-Style

Many of us have had our fair share of hot dogs in our lives. Not only is the salty, savory frank-in-a-bun a fun and super-flavorful handheld treat, but there are countless regional hot dog versions to sample. But the appeal of hot dogs stretches far beyond America's borders; all corners of the world enjoy the concept. For example, Norwegians have their own hot dog version that they love that's often topped with potato salad and shrimp salad. And in India — specifically, in Mumbai — locals enjoy an exciting version that is bursting with color, flavor, and texture.

The elements of this Indian-style hot dog can vary, but a good description would be a spiced lamb, chicken, or beef wiener in a toasted pav bun topped with mint chutney, tamarind chutney, onions, tomatoes, cilantro, and crispy chickpea noodles called sev. It is savory, fresh, spicy, vibrant, and tangy all at once, not to mention the fact that it's deliciously messy. Some may refer to this dish as a Bombay hot dog, as it was developed in the 1980s and early 1990s when Mumbai was called Bombay (more on that in a minute), and when Western fast food was spreading east into India. Like in the U.S., this hot dog is considered a street food in its home country, one that people from all walks of life enjoy. With a bit of sleuthing for the ingredients, it can be made in your own home, and who wouldn't want to try this?

India is the world's most populous country, with nearly 22 million people living in the city of Mumbai alone (per World Population Review). In the early '90s, there were around 12.5 million living in Bombay (per The Mumbai Pages), so there needed to be plenty of food options to feed the crowds when they got hungry. Street food vendors took the concept of the American hot dog and blended it with local and regional ingredients to make something we wish we could get closer to home. 

The buns are made with pav bread, a soft, fluffy, and slightly sweet type of bread that vendors butter and toast. If you can't find this type of bread, a brioche or Hawaiian version would be a good substitute. If you can find a hot dog or sausage that's flavored with Indian spices, that would be ideal, but if not, go ahead and use a good quality beef frank. The chutneys can be found in a number of supermarkets, and the rest of the veggie ingredients are easy to buy. Look for sev at specialty Indian or Asian markets, or online. Today, you can get any number of hot dog versions and toppings in Mumbai, but it's the original that sounds like an absolute flavor bomb to us. Some good news is that the Indian-style hot dog may be close to having its moment in the U.S.; we stumbled upon Chaat Dog in New York City, whose signature dog sounds very similar to the Bombay version abroad.