Pizza Doggies are either Hot Dogs or Sausages with Pizza Sauce, Mozzarella Cheese and Pepperoni. Add any other Pizza Toppings you want. Optionally brush the buns with Garlic Butter for added Garlic Flavor.
The Buns are Steamed and then Toasted to melt the Cheese and create a Pizza Dog that is Soft with a Crispy Exterior.
Pizza Sauce
Use your Favorite Pizza Sauce or try out the Passata Pizza Sauce or even the Quick Tomato Sauce which is also used on the Cheeseburger Oven Sub.
Passata Pizza Sauce
- 1×680 ml Mutti Passata
- 4 Large Basil Leaves – Finely chopped or torn
- 3 Tbl EVOO
- 1 tsp Sea Salt
- 3 Sprigs Oregano – about 1/4 – 1/2 tsp dried
- 1 Clove Garlic – Finely grated
- 1/4 tsp Black Pepper – or more to taste
Garlic Butter
Optionally brush the Hot Dog Buns with Garlic Butter to give it that Garlic Kick. Papa John’s Garlic Sauce or Aioli Garlic Butter which is also included in the recipe for Garlic Finger Sauce both can also be used to brush the Hot Dog Buns.
Garlic Butter
Used to spread on Italian or French Bread for Garlic Bread. It can also be used here to brush the Hot Dog Buns.
Papa John’s Garlic Sauce
Probably the simplest and fastest to make. Just combine the below ingredients together and mix well.
- 1/4 C Butter & Neutral Oil
- 1 1/4 tsp Fine Garlic Powder
- 1/2 tsp Butter Popcorn Seasoning
- Pinch of Citric Acid – just a few granules
Aioli Garlic Butter
This is also included in the Garlic Finger Sauce post because it is the Base to which other ingredients are added to create the Garlic Finger Sauce. However this too can be used as is to brush the Hot Dog Buns.
Garlic Finger Sauce
Garlic Finger Sauce takes the base Aioli Garlic Butter and adds in the following.
- 1 Tbl Mayonnaise
- 1 tsp of Dehydrated Onion & Garlic Flakes with 1 tsp of Chives
- A Chopped Green Onion
- 1/8 tsp Dill Weed & Ground Onion Seeds
Pizzeria Cheese
Go with a High Moisture Mozzarella Cheese Like Saputo. Even better and for a Pizzeria style Cheese combine shredded Mozzarella & Provolone at a 3:1 ratio. Just run the Cheese through a food Processor to shred and combine 3 Cups Mozzarella and 1 Cup of Provolone into a freezer bag. Use to top the Pizza Dogs and freeze the rest.
Saputo Mozzarella Cheese
Pizzeria Cheese blend
Blend of Mozzarella & Provolone Cheese. This just offers up remarkable flavors and beautiful melting.
Pepperoni
By far the best brand out there for Pepperoni is Fantino & Mondello. This can be found at Sobeys and probably your local Italian Grocery mart. Add other topping to customize your version of a Pizza Dog.
Pepperoni
Hot Dog Buns
Now we are down to the Hot Dogs and Hot Dog Buns. For the Buns, just regular Hot Dog Buns or if using Sausages either regular Hot Dog Buns or an Italian Hoagie Buns. These also allow you to place much more toppings on, so can be used with Hot Dogs too. I also use these for Pizza Oven Subs & Italian Meatball Oven Subs.
Italian Hoagie Buns
These or just regular Hot Dog Buns can be used.
Steamed Hot Dog Buns
Place the Buns brushed with a Garlic Butter/Sauce or not into a steamer just for a few seconds to soften it. Keep an eye on it, if it starts to wrinkle up it is being over steamed. We just want to make it soft and pliable so it cooks up in the oven Soft with a Crispy exterior.
You only need about 1 Cup of water so that it can heat up fairly quick.
Double Stack Steamer
Place water into the Pan and heat over max heat. Once steaming, place the Buns in to Steam just for a few seconds.
Once steamed, place them on a baking sheet to await the cooked Hot Dogs or Sausages.
Hot Dogs
Cook the Hot Dogs any way you like. Since I use a Double stack steamer to steam the Buns, I first Fry the Hot Dogs up in a bit of fat over medium high heat. Sometimes I boil the Hot dogs while Steaming the Buns and then remove the Buns, empty the water and fry the Hot Dogs in a bit of Fat.
You can also cook the Hot Dogs in an Air Fryer and if you are only doing a few of them I will also use the Air Fryer to Toast the Pizza Dogs at 400 F for just a few minutes until nice and Toasty.
Italian Sausages
Store Bought or Homemade Italian Sausages can also be used instead of Hot Dogs. Same as the Hot Dogs, cook them up any way you like or use an Air Fryer to cook the Italian Sausage and Toast the Pizza Dogs.
With the Hot Dogs or Italian Sausages cooked and the Buns Steamed, it’s just assembling the Pizza Dogs. Place the Hot Dogs or Sausages into the Buns, add Pizza Sauce, Cheese and top off with sliced Pepperoni. Into a preheated oven at 450 F for 4–5 minutes or the Air Fryer at 400 F for about 3 minutes or until Crispy to your liking.
Equipment
- 1 Double Stack Steamer
- 1 Baking Sheet
- 1 Pair of Tongs
Ingredients
- 4 Hot Dogs - or Italian Sausages
- 4 Hot Dog Buns - or Hoagie Buns
- 1 Tbl Fat - Lard, Oil or Bacon Grease
- As Desired Pizza Sauce
- As Desired Mozzarella Cheese Blend - 3:1 Mozzarella to Provolone
- 16 sliced Pepperoni
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 450 F rack in middle position. Prepare the Pizza Sauce, Cheese and any additional Pizza Toppings if desired.
- Place water into the bottom pan over max heat to Steam the Hot Dog Buns just for a few seconds. Remove with Tongs to a baking sheet.
- Remove the Steamer and empty the water out. Place the Pan back on the heat with 1 Tbl of Fat. Cook Hot Dogs over medium high heat until crisp to your liking. turning them over often. For Sausages, Pan fry over medium heat for 12 – 15 minutes, turning frequently.
- Place the Hot Dogs or Sausages into the Buns. Ladle Pizza Sauce and then a handful of Cheese. Place Pepperoni slices on top.
- Transfer the Baking Sheet with the Pizza Dogs to the oven to cook for 4-5 minutes. Remove and optionally garnish with Parsley, Aleppo, Parmesan or Parmigiano Reggiano Cheese.