Hot Dog Soup

In my opinion, nothing is more delicious than a steaming bowl of hot dog soup on a raw, rainy east coast day in April.

And that is why, after this especially trying work day, I stopped by the store to pick up the ingredients necessary to create this comfort in a bowl.

What is this concoction, you may wonder?  (I say this because people are usually simultaneously fascinated and repulsed when I mention this family recipe.  One time I mentioned it during an acting class in college and rather than dissect my performance, the students (and teacher) continued to ask numerous questions about this soup.  "Did you say hot dog soup?  What is that, exactly?  What does it taste like?" 

Hot dog soup, or HDS, as my family lovingly refers to it, is a family tradition.  Recently my Auntie Kim passed it off as "hot dog stew" to people outside the family and it was a big hit.  Ma suggested I refer to it as a stew today, but somehow I cannot bring myself to do that.

Nanny, my Portuguese Grandmother, used to make HDS with linguisa, but somewhere along the line she converted to hot dogs.  All the women in my family love it, while most (all?) of the men do not.  Although I must say my husband enjoys a nice bowl of HDS on occasion.  (His reply when he heard I was making it tonight?  "Oh good, it's a perfect night to eat that."  See?  He's breaking the cycle, one bowl at a time.) 

If you're partial to tomato based, onion-y (is that a word?) flavored soups, please give this recipe a whirl.  You may just thank me.

Heat a large pot over medium heat.  Add to the pot 1 large diced onion, and 2 packages of hot dogs, cut into about one inch pieces.  Cook until the hot dogs start to brown and the onions are translucent.  Now, fill the pot with water until everything is covered.  (Make sure to do all this in the same pot- it really enhances the flavor)  Add one can of tomato paste, a little salt, pepper, 1 package of frozen green beans and two to three potatoes, peeled and diced.  Bring to a boil and then simmer until the potatoes are tender and your home is filled with a warmie, pleasing aroma. 

My Mom would say to simmer the soup for 45 minutes, while my Auntie Ding would ridicule her and say to simmer for no less than two hours.  Either way, it's salty, soothing, and reminds me of home.

Here, I'll show you:

Please allow me to introduce to you my lime green dutch oven, whom I love very dearly.  She was given to me by my Mother in law for Christmas.  I also received an orange Rachael Ray one from Santa (woops, I mean my Mom) this year, too.  If you don't have one of these babies you really must get one, she goes from stove top to oven and does so with a smile.  Sometimes she evens sings a little Streisand while she's simmering.  (The early stuff, though, none of that Bryan Adams duet shit)

And here is my HDS:

Warmth in a bowl, my friends, warmth in a bowl.  I forgot to buy potatoes today at the store, and it was so cold and I felt so exhausted and my ten pound shoulder bag was so heavy and my umbrella I got from work was so obscenely over sized (really, it comes up past my navel) that I decided to just go without.  This will explain the lack of starch in the picture to your left.  There really should be potatoes in there.  Nevertheless, my bowl was still bursting with oniony, green beanery, hot diggety doggedly goodness.

Now I've gone and done it.  I think I need another bowl. 

Comments

[felicity]

I might just have to try this sometime, sounds like good comfort food. And I'm totally jealous of your green Dutch oven, I want one and am hoping someone will buy me one off my registry!

[The Odd Broad]

Dutch ovens are the best- you can do so much with them. I'll keep my fingers crossed that you get one! I remember after my shower having so much fun with all of my new cooking toys!

[Kathleen]

Hmmm...this sounds good but I do not like regular hot dogs. Maybe I could substitute them for turkey or veggie dogs. Do you think that would still be as good???

[The Odd Broad]

I wonder...I may have to perform a turkey dog soup experiment!! :)

[Amy]

ahhh, hot dog soup. I can still smell the onions filling our tiny apartment on Hemenway St. Then becoming a potpourri for days, and days in the trash. :)

[The Odd Broad]

I may just Fedex you up a tupperware of HDS...if you promise to mail me some fusilli with basil and tomatoes...

[WeinerDog]

I tried to get Paulie to eat hot dog soup, but he thinks it's gross!
Some people wouldn't know a good thing if it came up and bit them!
Viva Le Hot Dog Soup!