Detroit Style Loose Meat Coney Food

COPYCAT LAFAYETTE CONEY ISLAND HOT DOG CHILI SAUCE DETROIT STYLE

Steps:

• In a large preheated pot, add lard (shortening), ground round, and cow heart (hotdogs), and simmer on medium heat until it seperates and browns. This mixture must be stirred regularly and mashed with a potato masher during process to create a kind of rough paste. Drain, but reserve the rendered fat and set aside for next step (yes, authentic Detroit style is kinda greasy).
• In a cast iron skillet on medium-high heat, add the rendered fat. Slowly, add cracker crumbs 1 spoonful at a time, stirring contstantly to make a roux. It should be a paste consistency but still able to flow, so add additional fat (butter or shortening) or more crackers, if needed, and continue stirring until it turns a nice woody brown.
• Add the roux to the meat pot along with chicken stock and simmer for 20 minutes at a slight boil, then add all remaining ingredients, and stir until mixed. Cover the pot and simmer for at least 3-hours (longer the better) stirring occassionally so it doesn't burn on bottom, adding water as necessary for proper consistency.
• Take out 1/3 of the mixture and put it in a blender and puree until smooth, then pour it back into the pot. Continue simmering, uncovered, for another hour, stirring occassionally so it doesn't burn on bottom, adding water if too thick or more roux if too thin, as necessary for proper consistency.
• When putting the sauce on your hot dog, the dogs must be grilled on a griddle or a cast iron skillet on medium low with a small amount of butter and vegetable oil. Constant turning of dogs is a must and they must never split open. You will be looking for a consistant light brown color with a darker line of brown on 2 sides. If dogs are straight they can be rolled back and forth regularily to insure even cooking with a large hamburger flipper. If curved use kitchen tongs and adjust next to the other dogs. NEVER BOIL A HOTDOG!
• Steaming buns is the best way in a home enviorment a chinese steamer basket works well or you can wrap them in paper towells and microwave 3 at a time on high for about 20 seconds. Open bun place dog spread slightly thinned yellow mustard over dog. Cover with Coney sauce then top with onions. Additional mustard may be added, however, cheese or KETCHUP is never allowed; lets leave that to the people in ohio, ok?

DETROIT STYLE LOOSE MEAT CONEY

Steps:

• 1. Brown the ground beef and onion in a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat.
• 2. Drain off the grease and return to the stove.
• 3. Add the beef broth, salt, pepper, paprika, onion powder and garlic powder. Bring to a boil, then set the heat to low and simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally for about 40 minutes or until nearly all of liquid is cooked off. Remove from the heat, cover, and let rest for 10 minutes before serving.
• 4. To serve: Spoon onto steamed hot dog buns, Top with favorite chili sauce, mustard and diced onions.

DETROIT'S CONEY DOG

Steps:

• Saute' ground beef, onion, and garlic in a large pot until meat is cooked. Drain off half the fat. Add salt and black pepper. Add tomato sauce (optional).
• In a small bowl mix the cracker meal with the rest of the spices. Add to the meat and cook until the cracker meal or crushed crackers are browned. Add water and simmer for about 1 hour. Add more water if this gets too thick. Season again with salt to taste.
• You may skip this last step if you like the texture of your chili, but many people say the traditional Coney Sauce is blended to make a smoother sauce, you may use a traditional blender or food processor, but I like to use an immersion blender. Blend until you reach the desired consistency.
• When the chili is close to being ready, heat oven to 350 degrees. Wrap hot dog buns in foil and place them in oven for about 10 minutes until they're warm.
• While the buns are warming, get the hot dogs ready. The original Coney Dogs are grilled but you can steam or boil if you'd prefer. Put the hot dog in the bun, top with chili, yellow mustard and chopped onion.

FLINT'S ORIGINAL CONEY ISLAND

Steps:

• Mix all ingredients in a heavy pan and cook over med to low heat until mixture cooks and becomes dry and crumbly.
• If it seems too wet or greasy, add a few crumbled saltine crackers.
• Best if made a day ahead and reheated in a frying pan.
• Freezes well.
• Note: I grind my hot dogs up in a blender with a little water.
• I also chop the onions using my blender with water.