If you like regular hot dogs, then you’ll love the Costa Rican version. They may look the same, with the sausage and the bun you already enjoy, but one bite of a Costa Rican perro caliente will surprise you with crispy cabbage, tangy sauce, and a flavor that feels like home. Watch the video here.
You might think hot dogs are only eaten in the United States, but this dish has been reimagined all over the world. In Costa Rica, it has been made part of the food culture, just like it has ben done with many other imported foods. Even McDonald’s had to adapt, adding Gallo Pinto to their breakfast menu to compete in the local market. In that same spirit, we gave hot dogs our own twist with fresh vegetables and the famous salsa rosada, a pink sauce made with Lizano sauce.
And since I learned to eat hot dogs this way, now that I live in the United States, whenever I make them at home this is how I prepare them. If I’m invited to a party and there’s only ketchup and mustard, I’ll still enjoy my hot dog, but my heart always goes back to the Costa Rican version.
What is Costa Rican Salsa Rosada?
Salsa rosada translates to pink sauce, which comes from mixing mayonnaise and ketchup. It is used throughout Latin cuisine, and each country has its own version of it. I like to add Salsa Lizano and a few other ingredients to mine, but at its core salsa rosada is basically just mayonnaise and ketchup. Let’s take a look at the ingredients you’ll need to make Costa Rican salsa rosada at home.
Ingredients for Costa Rican Hot Dogs
Let’s talk about some of the ingredients you’ll be adding to your Costa Rican hot dogs. You can find the complete list in the recipe card below.
🧴 Mayonnaise
Any type of mayo will work, even vegan if you want to make your hot dogs vegan. Just make sure it’s a mayo you’re used to. For example, if you’ve never had olive oil mayo, this is not the recipe to experiment with it.
🍅Ketchup
Costa Rican ketchup is a lot sweeter than American ketchup. If you want to add a little bit of sweetness, like sugar or honey, you could, and it will taste very delicious and much closer to the Costa Rican way.
🧴Salsa Lizano
Salsa Lizano is a staple in Costa Rican cuisine. It’s a mixture of vegetables and spices that has been around for over 120 years. Costa Ricans like to add it to many dishes, and I love adding it to my pink sauce. It is easy to find at Latin or Asian stores, but I’ll leave a link here so you can also get it on Amazon.
🧂 Seasonings
Other ingredients you can add to your salsa rosada, if you like, include hot sauce, mustard, salt, and pepper.
🌭 Hot Dogs and Bun
This would be your regular hot dog and hot dog buns, in the size of your choice. I’m using chicken because of personal preference, but you can use beef, pork, a mixture of both, or even vegan options.
🥗 Vegetables
We love to add greens to our hot dogs, such as cabbage, lettuce, and cilantro. You can also include other vegetables like tomatoes, onions, and the all-time favorites pickles or pickled radish.
💡Pro Tips to Elevate Your Costa Rican Hot Dogs
- Boil your hot dogs if you don’t want to add extra oil, or grill them if you’d like a smoky flavor.
- I haven’t found a big difference in flavor when making cuts on hot dogs before cooking, but if you like the look, go ahead and do it.
- Heat up the hot dog buns in the air fryer for a few seconds to get a toasted edge and a warm inside.
- Use gluten-free buns if you need a gluten-friendly option.
- Top your hot dogs with crushed potato chips or fries, a popular Costa Rican street-food style touch.
- Keep your salsa rosada chilled until serving so it stays fresh and creamy.
Step-by-step photos
Hot dogs are very easy to make, but I still like to include step-by-step pictures so you can see exactly what’s going on in the process.
Step 1: Make the Salsa Rosada
In a small bowl, mix all the ingredients for the salsa rosada: mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, Salsa Lizano, and hot sauce (optional).
Step 2: Adjust the Flavor
Add salt and pepper, a bit of sugar, or any other ingredient you like. Taste and adjust the seasoning to your preference.
Step 3: Prep the Toppings.
Chop your cabbage, onion, tomatoes, and any other toppings you’re planning to use.
Step 4: Cook the Hot Dogs.
Add a little bit of oil to a large pan, place your hot dogs inside, and cook at medium heat for 5–6 minutes or until golden brown.
Step 5: Flip the Hot Dogs.
Turn them from time to time to make sure they cook evenly. Remove from the heat and place them inside the buns.
Step 6: Add the Toppings.
Top your hot dogs with cabbage, salsa rosada, red onions, cilantro, and any other favorites.
💡 FAQs for Costa Rican Hot Dogs
Yes, you can!
Yes, absolutely.
You can use lettuce or kale. Have you ever tried microgreens? They’re an excellent option if you want to add more nutrition to your hot dogs, plus they look adorable and give you that professional chef vibe.
Technically, Salsa Lizano is not included in traditional Costa Rican pink sauce, but I like to add it. You can skip it altogether or add fresh herbs like oregano, thyme, or basil to give your sauce a twist.
Yes, you can make it a day or two in advance. Just store it in the fridge in an airtight container.
🌭 Why are Costa Rican Hot Dogs included in the blog?
Humans tend to copy things from one another, especially when those things have proven to work over time. It does not mean there is a lack of authenticity when they do, it simply shows a natural curiosity to try something new. And if it is good, people will want to have it again and again. That is where culture plays a huge role. Yes, we copied hot dogs from Americans, but we made them our own by adding elements that reflect our heritage, local flavors, and what was available to us at the time.
Since I am both Costa Rican and American, I believe this is the best way to represent both nations that I love with all my heart. This is just one example of Costa Rican street food. If you want to explore more classic Costa Rican dishes, I suggest you check out:
Costa Rican Gallo Pinto
Tropical Fruit Salad
Yucca Flower Picadillo
I hope you like them too and give them a try. They might surprise you with how good they taste 😉
Besitos (kisses),
Mara
Costa Rican Hot Dogs
Equipment
- Cutting board and knife
- Large Pan
Ingredients
Ingredients for Salsa Rosada
- ⅓ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 1 tablespoon mustard
- 1 tablespoon Lizano sauce
- ½ teaspoon hot sauce optional
- Salt and pepper to taste
Ingredients for Hot Dogs
- 8 Hot Dogs
- 8 hot dog buns
- 1 small cabbage finely shredded
- ½ red onion diced
- Fresh cilantro to taste
Instructions
Make the Salsa Rosada:
- Add all the ingredients to a small bowl: mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, Salsa Lizano, and hot sauce (optional). Stir well, then season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Transfer the pink sauce to a plastic bag, seal it at the top, and refrigerate until ready to serve. When you are ready, make a small cut on the tip of the bag and drizzle the sauce over your Costa Rican hot dogs.
Instructions for the Hot Dogs:
- Add a little oil to a large pan. Cook the hot dogs over medium heat for 5–6 minutes, or until golden brown. Be sure to flip them every once in a while so they cook evenly. Once ready, place them inside the buns.
- Add plenty of cabbage on top of the hot dogs, then drizzle with pink sauce. Finish with red onions, cilantro, and any other toppings of your choice.
Video
Notes
- Use gluten-free buns and vegan hot dog options if you desire.
- Boil the hot dogs to avoid using oil, or grill them for a smoky flavor.
- Toast the buns in the air fryer for a few seconds for a warm and crispy bite.
- Spread a little butter or garlic butter on the buns before toasting for extra flavor.
- Top your hot dogs with crushed potato chips for a Costa Rican street-food style touch.
- Keep the salsa rosada chilled until serving so it stays fresh and creamy.
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