Vegan carrot hot dogs, a plant-based alternative to classic hot dogs! They're much healthier and perfect for barbecues.
It's summer, so we want to share some barbecue and grilling recipes with you guys (like the juicy portobello steaks we posted last week), because being a vegan or vegetarian in a BBQ is not always easy (we've been there).
Although it's pretty easy to find meat alternatives at the supermarket nowadays (especially burgers and hot dogs), they're usually made with refined and unhealthy ingredients that aren't good for our bodies.
These carrot hot dogs are a great choice because they're super healthy and surprisingly delightful. If you enjoy them with a good bread (made with a non-refined flour) and a healthy ketchup, you'll get a nutritious version of this classic fast food recipe that also tastes amazing.
There are so many toppings you can use, but we added ketchup, mustard, sauerkraut and chopped chives. Our ketchup and mustard were refined sugar-free and made with natural ingredients. Besides, sauerkraut is a natural source of healthy probiotics (good bacteria for our gut).
We want to wish our American friends a happy 4th of July. Have a great day!
looking for more carrot recipes?
Did you make this recipe? Please leave a comment below, share it, rate it or tag a picture @simpleveganblog on Instagram and hashtag it #simpleveganblog. We’d love to see what you cook!
📖 Recipe
Vegan Carrot Hot Dogs
Ingredients
- 4 large carrots
- ½ cup tamari or soy sauce
- ½ cup apple cider vinegar
- ½ cup water
- 2 tablespoon maple syrup
- 2 teaspoon paprika
- 2 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 4 buns, gluten-free if needed, we used whole wheat buns
- Ketchup, mustard, sauerkraut and chopped chives to taste
Instructions
- Peel and boil the carrots over medium-high heat until fork tender. The cooking time may vary, our carrots were ready in about 30 minutes. Drain and set aside.
- Mix all the marinade ingredients in a bowl (tamari, vinegar, water, syrup, paprika, garlic powder and pepper) and stir until well combined. Add the carrots (they have to be fully covered by the marinade) and keep covered (we used a sealed container) in the fridge for 24 hours.
- The next day, drain the carrots and cook them. We cooked our carrots on a griddle with a little bit of extra virgin olive oil (optional), but you can also grill them or cook them in a skillet (over medium-high heat) for 5 to 10 minutes each side or until golden brown. Don't discard the marinade, use it to make more carrot hot dogs or add it to any dish you want (we add a couple of tablespoons to our veggies when we cook them in a skillet to make them taste better).
- Place carrots in buns and serve with ketchup, mustard, sauerkraut and chopped chives or add your favorite toppings.
- Best when fresh, keep leftover cooked carrots in a sealed container in the fridge for 2 to 3 days.
Notes
- Any type of vinegar or sweetener is okay.
- Add your favorite spices and herbs to the marinade.
- Nutritional info is not accurate, as we discard most of the marinade. It doesn't include the toppings, though.
- The amount of sodium is not that high as we discard most of the tamari or soy sauce.
Vickie says
Can't believe it took me so long to discover these - they are delicious! Made them for my non vegan coworker yesterday who said that when topped with hot dog toppings he couldn't tell the difference. I've tried them a couple of times now using both regular and low sodium soy sauce. I thought the regular soy gave them a bitter taste that wasn't there with low sodium soy. I also replaced the regular paprika with smoked paprika which adds a nice flavor. Can't wait for summer cookouts! Thank you so much for sharing!!
Iosune Robles says
Hi Vickie! Thank you so much for your kind comment 🙂
Laura says
I joked with friends all day yesterday as I made the marinade and prepped the carrots, "I'm making carrot hot dogs haha!." I felt that surely there would be disappointment today after they came off of the grill. But noooooooooooooo .... they were wonderful! I'm using the marinade for another batch tomorrow. Thank you so much for this great recipe!
Iosune Robles says
Hi Laura! I'm so glad you all liked it 🙂
Alicia Capps says
Has anyone ever used these to make "pigs" in a blanket? Looking for some football game day snacks and how the carrot dogs may hold up in the oven?
Iosune Robles says
Hi Alicia! You only have to place the carrots in the buns and then, serve them with your favorite toppings 🙂
Dow Ford says
I would not have believed it. These were over the top. My wife was skeptical and then said “no one would believe that’s not a not dog .” 😱
Iosune Robles says
Hi! That's amazing 🙂 So glad you all liked it!
Kara says
So glad I found this as I hate liquid smoke and all other recipes have it. I added cayenne and onion powder to the marinade. Bringing them to our small 4th of July celebration! Can't wait to try them! Thank you.
Iosune Robles says
Hope you like it Kara 🙂 Have a nice day!
Kara says
Great recipe! Even the carnivores enjoyed these dogs!! I left them in the marinade for two days, placed on the grill for a few minutes on each side and they were perfect! Thank you!
Iosune Robles says
Hi Kara! So glad you liked our vegan hot dogs 🙂 Have a nice day!
Susan says
I really enjoyed this recipe! Have made it several times! Do you think this marinade would work for carrot bacon?
VIRGINIA KOBYLARZ says
These are great and easy, however, I would change the prep or total time on this to 24 hours so people are aware about the marinade time.
Iosune Robles says
Hi Virginia, thanks for your recommendation 🙂
David says
This was my first attempt at carrot dogs, and I really enjoyed them. Normally I don’t like carrots, but I had a craving for a hot dog again and was desperate 😅. I enjoyed them so much, I immediately prepped more carrots in the sauce after eating the first batch.
Iosune Robles says
Hi David, I am so pleased you enjoyed the recipe. Have a nice day!
Naomi says
I added granulated onion and cumin. I’ve never seen vegetables (especially cooked carrots) vanish so fast. Whoosh! Gone!! I made more in the same brine and those were gobbled up too. Best feedback from any WFPB recipe yet.
Iosune says
Hi Naomi! Sounds great 🙂 I'm glad you liked it!
Joyce says
Hi, I just found your blog while searching for a different recipe, then found this one. The recipes look delicious!
My comment on this is about the nutritional content.... How can there be 10 grams of protein, if you don't count the marinade ingredients? That just leaves the carrot dog and as far as I know, carrots have minimal protein. What am I missing?
I'm new to vegan lifestyle and trying to find recipes my family will eat. Thanks!
Iosune says
Hi Joyce! I've changed the nutritional info, it includes the bun, carrot and also the marinade 🙂
Ruth Knox says
I have a question. In the nutrition information, is that the info for the carrot hot dog and the bun? Also, did you take into account all the marinade, or just the amount that would seep into the carrot? Thanks.
Iosune says
Hi Ruth! Nutritional info includes the bun, but not the marinade ingredients because we discard most of them 🙂
Heinz says
Hi,
I would have used some of these recipies as they sound delicious. However they all had a big amount of sodium in them.
Have a great day and I wish you all the best for your food blog and books..
Iosune says
Hi Heinz! You can add less salt or soy sauce to reduce the amount of sodium in any recipe 🙂 Have a nice weekend!
Heidi says
Love carrot dogs! My hubby and I are addicted. I'm looking forward to trying your version, it sounds tasty!
Iosune says
Hi Heidi! Thank you so much 😉 Hope you enjoy them!
Freya says
Absoloutley LOVE the sound of these! Perfect for my next BBQ!
Iosune says
Hi Freya! Thanks a lot 🙂 Hope you enjoy them!
Amy Joy Lanou says
What a great idea! Thank you.
Iosune says
Hi Amy! Thanks a lot 🙂 Have a nice day!