Copycat Lafayette Coney Island Hot Dog Chili Sauce Detroit Style Recipe - Food.com (2024)

6

Submitted by soveria

"If you want a true and authentic Detroit Coney experience, then make this. The authentic D-chili has beef heart in it... it really does make all the difference in the world, ask your local mom & pop butcher to grind it for you."

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Copycat Lafayette Coney Island Hot Dog Chili Sauce Detroit Style Recipe - Food.com (2) Copycat Lafayette Coney Island Hot Dog Chili Sauce Detroit Style Recipe - Food.com (3)

photo by soveria Copycat Lafayette Coney Island Hot Dog Chili Sauce Detroit Style Recipe - Food.com (4)

Copycat Lafayette Coney Island Hot Dog Chili Sauce Detroit Style Recipe - Food.com (5) Copycat Lafayette Coney Island Hot Dog Chili Sauce Detroit Style Recipe - Food.com (6)

Ready In:
4hrs 15mins

Ingredients:
16
Yields:

1/2 gallon

Serves:
20

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ingredients

  • 236.59 ml beef suet (crisco will do, but not the same, suet is fat around the kidneys) or 236.59 ml lard (crisco will do, but not the same, suet is fat around the kidneys)
  • 2267.96 g hamburger, 70/30 (not lean)
  • 453.59 g hot dog, diced (really should be ground cow heart, but dogs will be ok)
  • 24 saltine crackers or 24 soda crackers, crushed into a powder
  • 118.29 ml ketchup
  • 946.36 ml chicken stock
  • 44.37 ml chili powder
  • 59.16 ml paprika
  • 78.78 ml yellow mustard, plochmans
  • 29.58 ml turmeric
  • 29.58 ml cumin powder
  • 14.79 ml garlic powder
  • 14.79 ml onion powder
  • 14.79 ml black pepper
  • 14.79 ml salt
  • 0.61 ml ground cloves

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directions

  • 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?

Questions & Replies

Copycat Lafayette Coney Island Hot Dog Chili Sauce Detroit Style Recipe - Food.com (7)

  1. Just lost a competition with a fantastic Mexican chili. Second ingredient? Chilies. Planning on losing again with this one. This was the only recipe I've seen that even looks close to what I remember in flavor and texture. Number one was that delicious disgusting glaze that appears on the chili about 2 minutes after placement- it definitely had additional fat. A lot of it. I'm wondering if you found additional tweaks in your research that you have left out that might be fun to play with.

    Hugh F.

  2. Hey Everyone, native Detroiter here with an important question. Believing personally that the coney sauce(like the recipe here) is maybe the most important part, you’ve got some other components to assemble. The steamed enriched white bun, the chopped onions(Vidalia or Spanish white), the griddled pork/beef natural casing hot dog….but nobody ever talks about the mustard sauce. It’s not just a standard out of the bottle French’s or other. When you’re sitting at Lafayette or Duly’s, etc it’s usually in a big bowl and is scooped with a large spoon. It has a more sauce like consistency than mustards in the squeeze container. Any thoughts on this?

    bputrycus

  3. Dude, I am so pumped to try your recipe - thank you from all Detroiters!

    jeffinlm

  4. hey there! im going to give this a shot. in the first step you mention the diced hot dog in place of the heart. then say strain out everything. Are we discarding the diced up hot dog?

    Rob N.

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Reviews

  1. Thank you!! This recipe is legit! As a former Detroiter, now living in New Zealand, cooking this filled my house with such tasty smells. We'll be serving this to hundreds of people at a regional Burning Man event in a few weeks. I doubled the batch, and it makes... gah, probably two gallons worth of sauce? It's going to be perfect. I ground my own beef hearts on the Kitchen-Aid, and substituted a GF Flour for the crackers to make a roux. Thanks again for the time and expertise!

    See Also
    The Michigan

    Anonymous

  2. I was born in Detroit, lived there for 26 years and I was basically raised on Coney dogs and coney Island food. My stepdad was a coney Island connoisseur. I've lived abroad for 4 years and it's at the point where I could literally kill a man for a coney Island. I made this recipe tonight, in fact my Chili is still cooking on the stove but by tasting it I can say this recipe is 100% legit. I used lard and rendered beef brisket fat instead of suet, minced hot dogs (had a beef heart in my freezer but my meat mincer quit on me) and 80/20 ground beef. They don't have saltines where I live so I used Ritz crackers. This recipe is so good I literally made an account here to review it. Thank you man. The only thing missing is the dingy diner full of your half drunk friends, Greek Mafioso, and that one homeless guy sleeping in the back booth

    endlessmar

  3. I lived in Detroit on the West Side for 25 years and loved all Coney Island Chili, Dogs, Loose Burgers. This recipe is the Real Deal. We made it today and my husband loved it Beef Suet truly made the difference and the way you suggest mashing the beef up the texture was spot on and the flavor is the most. I will not have to place an order online for $60 or $70 dollars. Thank You So Much!

    sheilaarm1964

  4. Just used your recipe and it is really good and authentic. I grew up on the East side so National was always my go to. This is as good as their sauce. I did make a couple of modifications out of necessity. First I could not find cow heart so used veal and it seemed to work out ok. Second, (because m wife threw out the beef fat I had rendered over the holidays) has to make a game time decision to use butter and olive oil. Also seemed to workout fine. Serving tonight at a super bowl party so the proof will be I the tasting.

    kedoyle

  5. Love this recipe and so does My Husband. Liked how You explained how to cook the Hot Dogs. Kay Rhudy

    • Copycat Lafayette Coney Island Hot Dog Chili Sauce Detroit Style Recipe - Food.com (17)

    Kay R.

see 1 more reviews

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RECIPE SUBMITTED BY

soveria

United States

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Copycat Lafayette Coney Island Hot Dog Chili Sauce Detroit Style Recipe  - Food.com (2024)

FAQs

What brand of chili does Lafayette Coney Island use? ›

American and Lafayette are almost the same

American's chili comes from the Detroit Chili Company. Lafayette uses a Keros family recipe “mixed in with a little chili from National Chili Company” according to the book Coney Detroit. Also, American uses sweet Vidalia onions and Lafayette uses Spanish onions.

What's the difference between coney sauce and chili sauce? ›

Coney is more of a condiment than it is a dish. Chili is thick, filling, and can stand as a main on its own; it's spoonable. Coney sauce is traditionally very thin: You should be able to drizzle it on the hot dog, and if spooned on a plate, it will spread everywhere.

What hot dogs does Lafayette Coney Island use? ›

Erik Smith: American, Lafayette, and other Coney Islands get their hot dogs, believe it or not, from the same place, Dearborn Sausage. Don Kosch, Owner, Dearborn Sausage: We're a niche company, and that's exactly what's, that's what we're there for. You know, we do specialty things.

What is the difference between Detroit and Flint style coney? ›

Both are prepared with Koegel's Viennas and buns, however, the Flint-style coney is then topped with loose beef, mustard and onions while the Detroit-style coney is more of a chili dog with mustard and onion.

What's the difference between a Coney Island and a chili dog? ›

They might seem like different names for the same style of hot dog, but Coney Island dogs are smothered with a meat sauce that's not exactly chili—plus onions and yellow mustard. Chili dogs can be topped with meat and bean chili as well as cheese or cheese sauce.

Are coney dogs a Michigan thing? ›

As one story goes, Greek immigrants passing through New York and its famed Coney Island, appropriated the Coney Island name for their Coney dog version. While no one place can definitively claim to be the birthplace of the Coney dog, Michigan, by sheer volume and duration of its Coney restaurants, makes a strong bid.

What kind of chili is best for chili dogs? ›

A smoother chili sauce with fine “grains” of ground beef / beef mince, rather than chunks like bolognese or chili con carne, works best for chili dogs. It's the Ben's Chili Bowl way! I've always wanted to replicate the Ben's chili sauce.

Why does Detroit have Coney Island? ›

Gust Keros came to Detroit from Greece and started American Coney Island. In 1924, his brother William came to help run the business. But when a storefront was available next door to American Coney Island, William grabbed at the opportunity to open his own shop, Lafayette Coney Island.

Why is Lafayette Coney Island closed? ›

The restaurant is back, and so are the diners. DETROIT (FOX 2) - Ten days after Lafayette Coney Island closed after health inspectors found rat droppings, diners filled the popular Detroit restaurant.

What is the most important Coney Island hot dog topping Michigan? ›

Your classic wiener and bun combo, but the meaty chili sauce is what separates these Coney Island Hot Dogs from all other hotdogs. Top it with some cheese, onions, and mustard and this is a recipe you'll want to keep on file!

What are the ingredients in National Coney Island chili? ›

ingredients
  • 1 lb ground chuck.
  • 1 large onion, chopped.
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced.
  • 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste.
  • 1 cup water.
  • 1 tablespoon sugar.
  • 1 tablespoon prepared yellow mustard.
  • 1 tablespoon dried onion flakes.

What brand of hot dogs are on Coney Island? ›

Feltman's hot dogs are premium because they're completely natural. 100% beef. Our motto is to inspire families to eat natural food, one hot dog at a time.

What brand of hot dogs does National Coney Island use? ›

The hot dog used is the Vienna Beef from Chicago, which is topped with the restaurant's own coney sauce, with options of mustard, onion, and, for a small fee, cheese. The Superior Street location also offers sport peppers as a topping.

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