MANHATTAN- SABRETT-STYLE HOT DOG

Manhattan- Sabrett-style Hot Dog image

Provided by Baby Kato

Time 1h10m

Number Of Ingredients 18

ONION SAUCE
1/2 cup water
1 teaspoon cornstarch or arrowroot
1 tablespoon tomato paste (see note below: may sub with ketchup or kansas city bbq sauce)
1 tablespoon inexpensive balsamic vinegar (optional)
1 teaspoon dijon-style mustard
1 teaspoon brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
1 pinch of cinnamon
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 large red onions, well peeled and sliced thin
1/4 teapoon table salt
2 cloves of pressed or minced garlic
THE HOT DOG
4 all-beef frankfurters, preferably sabretts
4 buns
sauerkraut from the refrigerator section, not the can
spicy brown dijon-style mustard

Steps:

1. Combine the water and cornstarch in a bowl and whisk it until there are no more lumps. Whisk in the tomato paste, balsamic, mustard, brown sugar, hot sauce, and cinnamon.
2. Warm the oil in a large skillet, not a non-stick, over medium high heat. Add the onions and sprinkle with the salt. This helps pull the moisture out. Move them around occasionally with a wooden spoon so they don't burn. Cook until the edges start to brown. Whatever you do, do not let them burn. Add the garlic and cook for another minute.
3. Add the liquid, stir, and rub the pan with the wooden spoon to scrape up all the flavorful fond, the brown bits on the bottom. Turn the stove to low and simmer with the lid on for 1 hour. Check frequently to make sure it is not burning and the water has not evaporated. Add water if needed. The final result should be thick, not runny, but not pasty. After an hour, taste and adjust salt and other flavors as you wish.
4. While the onions are simmering, warm the kraut in a pan or for 15 seconds in the microwave, cook the franks, and prepare the buns. Once the buns are ready start piling your dog with sauerkraut, brown mustard and the onion sauce.
5. Note: 1. Red onions often have an extra layer of tough paper under the outer layer. Make sure you remove it. 2. If you want, you can substitute a 2 tablespoons of ketchup or a sweet tomato based Kansas City style barbecue sauce for the tomato paste.