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A gourmet chilli beef hot dog with whipped feta, muhammara, sumac onions, pomegranate, pistachios, and sumac-lemon fries.

The Istanbul Fire Dog with Sumac-Lemon Fries

A substantial 150g Chilli Beef Frankfurter served in a toasted roll with roasted pepper and walnut muhammara, cooling whipped feta, sumac onions, charred aubergine, pomegranate and pistachios. Sumac-lemon fries and garlic yoghurt turn it into a colourful, premium summer pub main.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings: 4 portions
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Turkish Fusion

Ingredients
  

For the hot dogs
  • 4 × 150g Chilli Beef Frankfurters
  • 4 large premium hot dog rolls or long sesame rolls
  • 1 large aubergine
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 80 g pomegranate seeds
  • 30 g shelled pistachios lightly toasted and roughly chopped
  • 2 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
  • ½ teaspoon sumac to finish
For the muhammara
  • 200 g roasted red peppers from a jar thoroughly drained
  • 60 g walnuts lightly toasted
  • 30 g fresh breadcrumbs
  • 1 tablespoon pomegranate molasses
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 small garlic clove
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon ground cumin
  • ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ¼ teaspoon salt or to taste
For the whipped feta
  • 120 g feta
  • 100 g thick Greek yoghurt
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • Freshly ground black pepper
For the sumac onions
  • 1 medium red onion very thinly sliced
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon sumac
  • ½ teaspoon caster sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
For the sumac-lemon fries
  • 800 g skin-on fries
  • 1 teaspoon sumac
  • Finely grated zest of 1 lemon
  • 2 tablespoons finely chopped flat-leaf parsley
  • Fine salt to taste
For the garlic yoghurt
  • 180 g thick Greek yoghurt
  • 1 small garlic clove finely grated
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • ¼ teaspoon salt

Method
 

Prepare the sumac onions.
  1. Place the sliced red onion in a bowl with the lemon juice, red wine vinegar, sumac, sugar and salt. Mix well and leave to soften for at least 20 minutes. Drain thoroughly before serving.
Make the muhammara.
  1. Add the drained roasted peppers, walnuts, breadcrumbs, pomegranate molasses, lemon juice, garlic, olive oil, cumin, smoked paprika and salt to a food processor. Pulse until combined but still slightly textured. The sauce should be thick enough to stay in the roll. Add a few more breadcrumbs if it is too loose.
Make the whipped feta.
  1. Blend the feta, Greek yoghurt, lemon juice and olive oil until smooth and creamy. Season with black pepper. Refrigerate until required.
Prepare the garlic yoghurt.
  1. Mix the Greek yoghurt with the grated garlic, lemon juice and salt. Cover and chill until serving.
Char the aubergine.
  1. Slice the aubergine lengthways into thin strips. Brush lightly with olive oil and cook on a hot griddle or under a hot grill for 2–3 minutes on each side, until tender and visibly charred. Cut into manageable strips for the hot dogs.
Cook the fries.
  1. Cook the skin-on fries according to the manufacturer’s instructions until golden and crisp. Mix the sumac, lemon zest and parsley together, then toss through the hot fries with salt immediately before serving.
Cook the frankfurters.
  1. Grill or griddle the Chilli Beef Frankfurters according to the product instructions, turning regularly until evenly browned and piping hot throughout. Avoid excessive heat that could split the casing.
Toast the rolls.
  1. Split the rolls without cutting completely through. Toast the cut surfaces briefly on the griddle or under the grill until lightly golden.
Assemble the Istanbul Fire Dogs.
  1. Spread or pipe a line of whipped feta into each roll, followed by a thin layer of muhammara. Add one Chilli Beef Frankfurter to each roll.
Add the toppings.
  1. Spoon small amounts of additional muhammara along the sausage. Arrange the drained sumac onions and charred aubergine on either side. Finish with pomegranate seeds, pistachios, parsley, mint and a light dusting of sumac.
Serve.
  1. Serve each Istanbul Fire Dog immediately with sumac-lemon fries and a small pot of garlic yoghurt.