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My vegan carrot dogs are a delicious, whole-food alternative, ideal for anyone looking for a plant-based way to satisfy their hot dog cravings. Made without any processed ingredients, they're all-natural, easy to make, family-friendly, and naturally gluten-free. Plus, they're ready in under an hour!
While my family loves a vegan hot dog or veggie dog now and then, I don't always want to be eating all that processed meat and additives that are often included in vegan hot dogs.
So I decided to come up with a plant-based and whole-food alternative that tastes just as good!This carrot dog idea is a perfect solution. It truly hits the spot without the processed meat alternatives.
I have even used them to make recipes like homemade corn dogs and vegan pigs in a blanket!
If you love healthier vegan alternatives to meat-based classics, you should definitely try out my Southwestern pinto bean burgers and my tofu meatballs.
🥘 Ingredients
My marinated carrot hot dogs use simple ingredients you can find at most grocery stores! Here's what you need:
Carrots: I find that full-sized carrots work best, but you can make mini carrot dogs using baby carrots for a fun twist.
Oil: For sauteeing the carrot dogs. This is optional, but I highly recommend using olive oil spray or just a little bit of olive oil to get the right texture on the outside of the carrots. To keep the recipe oil-free, you can leave out the oil too!
Vegetable Broth: I use this as the liquid base for the marinade.
Tamari: Liquid aminos is a good gluten-free alternative if you don't have tamari. You can also use soy sauce, but then this recipe will not be gluten-free.
Apple Cider Vinegar: I use ACV to add a subtle hint of sweet tanginess to the marinade!
Maple Syrup: The maple syrup adds a lovely maple flavor to the carrots, perfectly complementing the savory and smoky notes.
Liquid Smoke: To give my carrot dog marinade that extra boost of flavor, I add in some liquid smoke to add to the smoky flavor you might find in real hot dogs or other meats.
Seasonings: I use a blend of paprika, celery seed, garlic powder, onion powder, and sea salt. You can also add smoked paprika and black pepper for more flavor!
🔪 How To Make Vegan Carrot Dogs
While I do recommend planning ahead a bit so that these carrot dogs can marinate for the flavor oomph, they really are so easy to make with just a few simple steps. Here is how to make carrot hot dogs:
Prepare The Carrots: I start by cutting the ends off the carrots and peeling them. While optional, I like these to look more like hot dogs so I use my vegetable peeler to shape them.
Boil The Carrots: Next, I place the carrots in water over medium-high heat (before it boils). Then, I let the carrots boil for about 10 minutes, until a fork can pierce them but they still have a bit of firmness.
Make The Marinade: While the carrots are boiling, I mix all the marinade ingredients together in a deep dish or a plastic Ziploc bag.
Marinate The Carrots: Once the carrots are done boiling, I run them under cold water, then place them in the marinade. I let them marinate for at least 30 minutes but the longer the better!
Cook The Carrot Dogs: To cook the carrot dogs, I use a pan over medium-high heat and cook them until they brown on the outside, about 3-5 minutes.
Top & Serve: Once the cooked carrot dogs are ready, I add them to a hot dog bun, top them with my favorite condiments, and enjoy!
📖 Variations
I love to change up the flavor in a variety of ways, which can be done through new spices and seasonings, but also through different cooking methods:
BBQ Method: Instead of cooking the carrots on the stovetop, I switch things up sometimes by grilling them on the BBQ or on a grill pan for about 5-7 minutes, turning them until they have grill marks all over. I like to baste them with the marinade as they cook.
Oven Method: For an oven method, I skip the boiling step. I preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (205 degrees Celsius), place the carrots in a foil-covered baking dish with the marinade, and bake for 20 minutes. Then, I uncover the dish and bake for another 10 minutes until the carrots are fork-tender but still have some give.
Marinade Ingredients: Make the marinade your own, by adding or replacing ingredients. Try mustard, coconut aminos, honey (if not vegan), hot sauce - get creative!
🍽 Serving Suggestions
I love to load the vegan carrot hot dogs onto buns (gluten-free if needed) with all my favorite toppings, or cut them up into bite sized pieces and serve with dips! Here are some of my favorite options:
Condiments: The classic condiments like ketchup, mustard, and pickle relish are always a hit! But when I want to add new flavors I love using caramelized onions, vegan cheese sauce, ranch, vegan BBQ sauce, or even mustard BBQ sauce.
Toppings & Fillings: Other fun toppings that my family loves include plant-based bacon crumbles, pickles, sauerkraut, coleslaw, pickled or caramelized onions, chopped onion, jalapeños, or even some black bean chili and shredded cheese to turn these into chili cheese dogs!
🧊 Storing And ♨️ Reheating
Fridge: I store the leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Freezer: My vegan carrot dog recipe is technically freezer-friendly (storing the marinated carrots alone), however the texture may change a bit once defrosted. I seal them in an airtight freezer safe container for up to 3 months.
Reheating: When I am ready to serve, I reheat these in a skillet, an air fryer, or in the microwave.
❓Recipe FAQs
WHY ARE MY CARROTS SO MUSHY?
To avoid mushiness, I recommend keeping a close eye on the carrots as they cook. I prefer these carrots to be soft enough to bite but definitely not mushy. Rotate the carrots as they cook, so that they cook evenly.
CAN I MAKE THESE CARROT DOGS IN ADVANCED?
Yes! When I want to make these ahead of time, I boil and marinate the carrots, then refrigerate them for up to 3 days. I recommend that you hold off on browning them when ready to serve. When ready, cook and serve with your favorite bun and toppings.
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