← Alaska

Reindeer Dog

A caribou blend sausage split and grilled on the streets of Anchorage, topped with onions caramelized in Coca-Cola.

Flag of United StatesOrigin: Anchorage, Alaska, United States
Reindeer Dog illustrated hot dog icon

Origin region: Anchorage, Alaska, United States

The anatomy

Vessel
Steamed standard hot dog bun
Sausage
Split caribou, pork, and beef blend sausage
Region
Alaska
Ingredients

The Reindeer Dog is Alaska's definitive street food, served from mobile food carts under green umbrellas in downtown Anchorage. The sausage is a coarse-ground blend of lean caribou, pork, and beef, split lengthwise to guarantee a char on the griddle. It is finished with yellow onions caramelized in classic Coca-Cola and a smear of cream cheese. The result is a sweet and savory combination that Alaskans eat year-round, regardless of sub-zero temperatures.

Method

  1. 1Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat, add thinly sliced yellow onions, and cook for 8 to 10 minutes until translucent.
  2. 2Pour in classic Coca-Cola and simmer over medium-low heat for 15 to 20 minutes until the liquid reduces and the onions are sticky and golden-brown.
  3. 3Split the reindeer sausages lengthwise and grill on a medium-hot griddle for 8 to 10 minutes, turning frequently until the edges are lightly charred.
  4. 4Steam the hot dog buns until they are warm and soft.
  5. 5Spread a thick layer of softened cream cheese along the inside of each warm bun.
  6. 6Place the grilled sausage into the bun over the cream cheese.
  7. 7Pile a generous portion of the warm Coca-Cola glazed onions over the sausage.
  8. 8Drizzle with yellow mustard and serve immediately.

Sources

Controversies

The Alaskan Reindeer Dog is a wild game specialty featuring a sausage made primarily of authentic, locally sourced reindeer meat.

Our take: The math does not work. Alaska only processes a few hundred USDA-inspected reindeer a year, meaning your street-cart sausage is mostly pork and beef with just enough caribou to legalise the name. It is a marketing reality, but the sausage still tastes good.

The addition of cream cheese is a native, traditional ingredient defining the Alaskan Reindeer Dog.

Our take: This is Seattle geography creeping north. The cream cheese technique belongs to Washington, but the addition of Coca-Cola onions belongs to Anchorage. Combining them is fine, but do not call the cream cheese native.