Hot dogs are a staple of summer barbecues, but there's a simple way to make them even tastier. Ditch the ketchup and add a sweet ingredient to your sausages instead.
The Secret Ingredient
According to Mimi Morley, Senior Recipe Development Manager at HelloFresh, the key is to drizzle honey or sweet chilli sauce over your sausages once they're off the barbecue. This creates a delicious contrast to the salty meat.
"Adding a drizzle of honey or sweet chilli sauce over your sausages once they're off the barbecue and on a serving platter gives a great flavour contrast to the salty meat," Morley said.
Why Honey Works
Honey balances the savoury, salty, and fatty profile of sausages with a touch of sweetness. The natural sugars in honey cut through the heavy, salty notes, creating an irresistible sweet-and-savoury combination. It pairs particularly well with spices or tangy ingredients like mustard, soy sauce, or chilli.
When heated, honey caramelises on the sausage skin, forming a crispy, sticky, and visually appealing glaze.
How to Use It
- Quick drizzle: For an instant flavour boost, simply drizzle honey or sweet chilli sauce over freshly cooked sausages straight off the barbecue.
- Glaze method: If you have more time, mix honey with wholegrain mustard, a dash of soy sauce, garlic, or hot sauce. Toss the sausages in the mixture during the last five to ten minutes of cooking to avoid burning the sugars.
Honey is versatile and works wonderfully with pork, beef, and spicy sausages like Italian links or bratwurst.
This simple trick can elevate your summer hot dogs to a whole new level. Give it a try at your next barbecue.
