Chicken-Apple Hot Dogs with Blueberry Ketchup

Chicken-Apple Hot Dogs with Blueberry Ketchup
Red, white and blue are reflected in the grilled red peppers and white onions, along with a playful blueberry ketchup spread across each sausage. If you want to make this a kid-friendly meal, leave out the crushed red pepper when cooking the fruity condiment.


Ingredients
2 medium red peppers, cut into thin strips
2 medium plums, skinned, pitted and chopped, for the Blueberry Ketchup
1 large white onion, cut into thin strips
1 1/2 cups brown sugar, for the Blueberry Ketchup
6 chicken-apple sausages,
precooked 1/2 cup red wine vinegar, for the Blueberry Ketchup
6 hot dog buns
1 teaspoon ground ginger, for the Blueberry Ketchup
1 tablespoon olive oil, for the Blueberry Ketchup
1/2 teaspoon allspice, for the Blueberry Ketchup
3 tablespoons shallot, minced, for the Blueberry Ketchup
1 1/2 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, for the Blueberry Ketchup
2 cloves garlic, minced, for the Blueberry Ketchup
1 to 2 teaspoons crushed red pepper (optional), for the Blueberry Ketchup
3 cups fresh blueberries,
for the Blueberry Ketchup Salt and black pepper, for the Blueberry Ketchup

Yield: 6 Servings
Directions
1. Make the ketchup: In a heated saucepan, add olive oil. When oil is hot, stir in shallots and garlic; cook 1 to 2 minutes over medium-high heat. Add blueberries, plums, sugar, vinegar, ginger, allspice, lemon juice, and red pepper. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Continue to cook over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to simmer, stirring occasionally, until blueberries have almost entirely broken down and the sauce has thickened, 15 to 20 minutes. Add a final squeeze of lemon juice to brighten the ketchup’s flavor. Stir and then spoon into a bowl or glass jar. Refrigerate until chilled and thickened, about 2 to 3 hours.
2. When ketchup is almost ready, heat gas grill to medium-high. (You can also use a grill pan.) Place red peppers and onions either in a fine-mesh grill pan or in an open-face aluminum foil packet on the grill—just so the vegetables don’t fall through the rack. Cook about 10 to 12 minutes, stirring occasionally.
3. When veggies are almost done, grill sausages 3 to 4 minutes or until heated through. Toast the buns on the grill for 1 to 2 minutes on each side. Remove veggies and buns from grill.
4. Assemble hot dogs: Top them with red peppers, onions and blueberry ketchup.

Note: You can make the ketchup up to several days in advance. Simply store covered and refrigerated.