Description
This Vegan Carrot Dogs recipe offers a delicious and healthy alternative to traditional hot dogs, using marinated and grilled carrots to mimic the smoky, savory flavors of a classic favorite. Perfect for vegans and those seeking a plant-based meal, the carrots are marinated in a flavorful blend of soy sauce, liquid smoke, ginger, garlic, and spices, then boiled until tender and grilled to achieve appetizing char marks. Serve them on buns with your favorite toppings for a fun and satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Carrots
- 8–10 medium-sized carrots*, peeled and ends cut
Marinade
- ½ cup soy sauce
- ½ cup water
- ¼ cup rice vinegar
- ½ teaspoon liquid smoke
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 ½ teaspoons fresh ginger, grated
- ¼ teaspoon white pepper
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 ½ Tablespoons sesame oil
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Prepare the Carrots: Wash, trim, and peel the carrots as desired to create ‘hot dog’ sized pieces. Place the carrots in a shallow baking dish or container that can hold them snugly and allow the marinade to mostly cover them.
- Make the Marinade: In a medium bowl, whisk together soy sauce, water, rice vinegar, liquid smoke, minced garlic, grated ginger, white pepper, onion powder, sesame oil, and freshly ground black pepper until well combined.
- Marinate the Carrots: Pour the marinade over the carrots, tossing them to coat evenly. Cover and refrigerate for at least 12 hours, preferably 24 hours, turning or ‘swooshing’ the carrots occasionally to ensure even marination. You can marinate up to 48 hours for more flavor.
- Boil the Carrots: When ready to cook, transfer the carrots and marinade into a large saucepan and bring to a boil. Cook for 15-20 minutes until the carrots are fork-tender. Remove the carrots and gently pat them dry to reduce splattering during grilling.
- Grill the Carrots: Preheat a grill, grill pan, or cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Lightly brush with oil if desired. Place the carrot dogs on the hot surface and cook for 2-3 minutes on each side until grill marks appear. Optionally, add some marinade to the pan for glazing but be cautious as it can burn quickly.
- Serve: Place the grilled carrot dogs in hot dog buns and add your favorite toppings. Enjoy your flavorful vegan alternative to traditional hot dogs!
Notes
- Choose carrots that are about the size of hot dogs for the best eating experience; larger carrots may be difficult to eat.
- You can adjust the quantity of carrots as needed, just be sure to increase the marinade proportionally to ensure proper flavoring.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 carrot dog with bun (approximate)
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 700mg
- Fat: 5g
- Saturated Fat: 0.7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
