How to Grill Hot Dogs

METHOD: Direct grilling

You may be surprised, even a little insulted, to find a technique for grilling hot dogs here. After all, what could be easier than popping a tube steak on the grill? Even if you’re a total neophyte and you’ve never grilled anything else, you’ve probably grilled a hot dog.

Well, that’s what I thought until I went to Brazil. Grill jockeys in Rio de Janeiro elevate grilling the humble hot dog to the level of art. Their secret is simple: They cut a series of small notches in the wiener and fill them with an aromatic mince of onions, peppers, and garlic. That set me thinking about other stuffings and soon I was making my hot dogs hot and cheesy with the addition of sliced jalapeños and Monterey Jack.