Who the heck, thought of making a CARROT, taste just like a HOT DOG? Well after seeing all the hoopla last year I finally tried my hand in making some..... and DANG are they good! You gotta try my new Smoky Vegan Carrot Dogs! They're INSANE!
I seriously had my doubts on these...
I mean really....how in the heck can a CARROT.... of all things... taste like a hot dog?!
But I will admit, they WOULD be convenient, for say, a 4th of July picnic, where there will be people grilling burgers & hotdogs...right?
Now you can fit right in....as long as they taste good that is.
Well make no mistake.... these Smoky Vegan Carrot Dogs DO taste good.
Ridiculously good!
But it's weird.....the whole time my mouth is saying "man, this is one great hotdog"....my EYES are seeing a stupid carrot on a bun. It's just CRAZY..... but it works.
I know I'm a little late to the whole 'carrot dog' party, but I knew this holiday weekend people are going to be asking for them, so I might as well come up with my own recipe.
And what I did was scour the internet, looking at many of the various carrot dog recipes (and there are LOTS), and kind of made a mental list of what seemed to be the key ingredients.....soy sauce, liquid smoke, vinegar, etc. and made up my own recipe using what I thought would taste good, including a few ingredients none of the others had.....
Well all I can say is I am dang impressed. My very first try and both of us were running back for seconds.
It's crazy, it's weird, it's fat-free, and it's VEGAN......
And it's a CARROT.....that happens to taste like a hot dog.
Smoky Vegan Carrot Dogs
Start with about 6 (or more) fairly straight carrots, and cut off the tops. Cut off the bottoms to make them 'bun length'. And by all means, if you have a favorite, healthy, hot dog bun...use it. I used regular, every-day, hot dog buns... because that's all I could find on such short notice (and I got the last package at that!)
Peel your carrots and place them in a pan of water. Bring to a boil and simmer them just until they are fork tender.....about 10-15 minutes. We do NOT want mushy dogs here, just tender enough to push a fork through.
Drain the carrots and rinse really well with cold water (so they'll stop cooking). Drain again and place them in a ziplock freezer bag.
For the marinade, whisk all the marinade ingredients together until well blended and then pour that into the bag with the carrots.
I used soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, veg broth, and liquid smoke - as these seem to be the key ingredients. I also added a teaspoon of minced garlic (fresh, not the powder), a teaspoon of yellow mustard, and a teaspoon of my secret ingredient....pickled jalapeño juice.
All those ingredients are pretty acidic, so to balance that out I wanted to use a little sweetener. I had Maple syrup in my fridge, so that's what I used. You could probably use date syrup too if you choose, or agave - but I can't guarantee the results.
Seal the bag and place it on a plate in your fridge. Let that sit and steep for about 6 hours. Remember to turn the bag over occasionally to keep things mixed up.
UPDATE:
You can speed this whole process along by using your Instant Pot! Simply add your raw carrots and marinade to your Instant Pot and cook on MANUAL for 3 minutes. I did a Quick Release to release the pressure - and then just left my carrots in the pot until I was ready to grill that afternoon.
SUPER easy and saved a LOT of time.
PS. I would still marinate the carrots in the IP after cooking for at least an hour for maximum flavor.
And then to cook your dogs I did what any guy would do on a 4th of July weekend....I fired up my trusty grill.
I know I'll get questions......
Can you bake these? Don't know.
Can you pan fry them? Don't know.
Can you microwave them? Don't know.
I grilled them and they were awesome.
I also basted them occasionally with my remaining marinade to keep them 'juicy'.....because...well..... they're carrots. There's not going to be any fat sizzling down into the flames. I just grilled them long enough to get some blackened char, those lovely grill marks we love so much on several sides.
Like I said, I had my doubts and I'm sure to my neighbors I looked pretty silly.....grown man, beer in hand, grilling......
WTH!? Is he grilling CARROTS?
Yep. Life of a Vegan.
But man........ when you put these babies on a bun, with a little mustard, ketchup, sauerkraut, maybe a little chopped onion....
Oh man Magic happens.
Happy Holidays!
Smoky Vegan Carrot Dogs
Description
Don't you just hate Summer Picnics where everyone is grilling burgers and dogs? Well take these Smoky Vegan Carrot Dogs and join right in!
Ingredients
- 6-8 Carrots (peeled)
Marinade
- ¼ cup Soy Sauce (low sodium)
- ¼ cup Apple Cider Vinegar (Braggs)
- ¼ cup Vegetable Broth (low sodium)
- 2 Tbs Maple Syrup
- 1 Tbs Liquid Smoke
- 1 tsp Yellow Mustard
- 1 tsp Fresh Garlic (minced)
- 1 tsp Pickled Jalapeno Juice
- ½ tsp Onion Powder
Instructions
- Cut and peel carrots to make them "bun length'.
- Boil carrots in water until just fork tender. About 10-15 minutes.
- Drain carrots, rinse with cold water, and drain again. Place carrots in a ziplock freezer bag.
- Whisk all marinade ingredients together and pour into bag with carrots.
- Marinate for 4-6 hrs.
- Grill carrots on an open grill, basting occasionally.
- Grill to heat all the way through and to get some blackened grill marks on each side.
UPDATED INSTANT POT INSTRUCTIONS
- Add cut carrots and marinade to Instant Pot. Attach and seal lid, then cook on MANUAL for 3 minutes. After doing a Quick Release you can then leave the carrots in the pot until you are ready to grill.
- I would marinate the carrots after the pressure has been released for at least 1 hour. If not grilling soon - remove carrots and marinade and transfer to a container you can store in the fridge.
Notes
Garnish with your favorite Hot Dog toppings. Goes great with my Vegan BBQ Beans, Vegan Potato Salad, or Vegan Pasta Salad.
Tara L Firman
I haven't tried this yet, my mom told me about it b/c I am giving up meat completely well trying to. So far good. Anyway when I saw this I thought this looks very interesting, I love trying new recipes. I thought of using Parsnips instead of carrots. I have made Parsnip muffins with craisins and salted pistachios and they were delicious. I didn't have to add any spices such as Cinnamon, Nutmeg etc. I haven't tried this yet either a Parsnip cake like carrot cake. So I just might venture to giving your recipe a try.
Lupe
We made these tonight. They were incredible. Can’t believe that a carrot would taste like a hotdog. This is definitely a try and a do again for us.
Peggy
I am excited to try this. A cool restaurant near me served their version of a carrot dog and they were delicious. Unfortunately, the restaurant shut down. Is it possible to make the full recipe and freeze half of them after the Instant Pot part but before grilling them?
Cindy
Terrific. I was very happily surprised by how flavorful and authentic this tasted! Wow!!!
Patricia Velez
I tried carrot hot dogs for the first time yesterday 7/3/24 and MAN WERE THEY DELICIOUS!!! I didn't know about marinating them in a bag for a few hours! And they still came out tasty! I can't wait to perfect it for myself!! I haven't tried your recipe yet. Thank you!!
Renée
I’ve been making this recipe for a few years and serving at community events. I absolutely love blowing people’s minds! They go from incredulous to recruiting others to give them a try. 98% success rate and I think the 2% just won’t admit a vegan dog could be delicious.
Lauren
Love love love these carrot dogs. Made them a bunch of times and even used them for pigs in a blanket (I don’t use baby carrots I just cut regular carrots to size) and they turned out amazing. Thank you thank you!
Jen
I use this marinade on tofu and then roast it on a skewer over the campfire, just like you would a hotdog and its such a perfect substitute for a hot dog! Tastes amazing too! I also just cook the tofu in a frying pan when im not having a campfire and eat it as a burger! Fantastic recipe, i use it alot!
Monica
What in the world have I stumbled upon?! These are amazing! I used Braggs Amino Acids and didn’t have any jalapeño juice and they turned out great. After air frying at 400° for 10 mins (flipping half way through to get nice grill marks), I found myself eating almost a whole one after my first so-called “taste” bite 😂.needless to say I’ll be making these weekly! Thanks so much for the recipe 👍🏾
Grant A Allen
I use pickle juice if I don’t have any jalapeño juice handy. But you’re right, barely noticeable.
Simon
Soooooo goood
Sarah
I used baby carrots, but followed the rest of the recipe using the instant pot. Even after the three minutes, the quick release and letting them set for over an hour and then finishing them in the air fryer (until they were browned), they were still crunchy in the center. It's odd since the baby carrots were likely thinner than a full size carrot would be. I wanted to add the note here so no one else reported that issue and they might find this helpful. An extra minute or two (4 or 5 instead of 3) in the pressure cooker might help.
Char
I have tried the baby carrots before, with the same result. It works fine with regular carrots.
Sue Childs
The dogs are the best. Even our non vegan relatives eat one along with their flesh hamburgers. We have them for every BBQ event. I also LOVE your tofu crumbles. I make a batch almost every week.
Rita
I did not grill my carrots, but lightly sauteed them. I also allowed them to marinate overnight. I didn't have Pickled Jalapeno Juice, so I just gave it a sprinkle of Aleppo pepper. Easy and delicious.
carrot dog fanatics
as a split household between meat eaters and animal lovers, this recipe took me and my pals by storm. we came across this in a haze last night and knew we must make it the following day. and that we did. we marinated these carrots for a measly 2.5 HOURS and they still came out more delectable than I could've ever imagined. "i can't believe what i just consumed," says one of the meat eaters. as college students on budget, i am POSITIVE this will become a staple in my home and in my memories. thinking of buying baby carrots to make pigs in a blanket--this recipe cannot and will not be stopped. has anyone tried this? let me know.
Pj
I've seen a number of Vegan Carrot Hot Dogs before but something about this "Smoky Carrot Dogs" recipe caught my attention. I peeled, cut the carrots down into hot dog shape, then put them into Cuisinart Electric Pressure Cooker w/a little water til tender for about 15 minutes (Should've done for 4-6 min.), removed them, put into zip lock bag with the marinade and refrigerated for about 2 hours, then grilled on the cooktop. OMG!! I've been vegan 15+ years and missed hot dogs more than anything else! We toasted the buns, added sauerkraut, pickled onions, mustard & ketchup! Absolutely Deelicious! Smelled and tasted just like I remembered a hot dog should!
Served with baked beans and coleslaw. Chuck Underwood, you are amazing! I can't wait to try more of your recipes!
Tam
Thank you! I was surprised at how tasty these were. I truly was expecting a carrot in a bun taste but it actually worked as a hot dog!
Patty Hughes
Love this recipe can you reuse the marinade?
Sue Childs
I reuse the marinade several times. I love the idea of using baby carrots and making pig in a blanket!
Dx Maxx
My family loves these! We have used your recipe for a few years and they are always requested by my teen grandkids as well as my kids and hubby. Family isn’t vegan but I always incorporate vegan recipes into the menus. Never had a bad review yet! These are our all time favorites!
Jill
I love this recipe. I make it many times a year, especially for camping. Just cook the carrots, add marinade, and toss them in a Ziploc bag into the cooler. Reheat over the fire! Tastes very hot-doggy.
Jennifer Inbody
Wonderful! Even our non-vegan friends and family LOVE them!
Carma
Fantastic! We love these carrot dogs with vegan chili.
Anna
Can we all agree to call these “hot cats”?
Lisa
Or Car dogs
Brittany
Yes!! That’s brilliant. From now on, I’m exclusively calling these hot cats.
Julie
Have to give 5 stars as my hubby didn't know it's vegan but he loved it and asked me to make again! Definitely going to try other recipes of yours. Thank you so much for an 'out of the park' winner!
Ann M
These are truly amazing. Now that grilling season is upon us, has anyone made and frozen these? If so, at what stage did you do so and how did they turn out? Thx!
Lisa
I go to CarrotDog recipe. I have tried a number of these, but by far this is the best. Top with some sauerkraut, mustard and pickles Love them
Lisa
What could you substitute the sugar part with. We are diabetic, so no sugar.
Jordan Brackin
I dont see sugar. Do you mean maple syrup? I'd honestly just leave it out and try it that way.
Mel
There is actually sugar free maple syrup that I’ve found on Amazon. I think the brand was called RXsyrup or something like that it’s in a black bottle and they also make sugar free chocolate syrup and I think they had sugar free caramel sauce too. It is delicious, it took me 2 tries to get used to it not having sugar but it’s spot on flavor wise. There is another sugar free maple syrup brand called Lakanto which I personally don’t like as much. It has a mocha taste to it and I’m not a coffee drinker so I don’t like those type of flavors.
NANCY
Birchbenders Maple syrup. Made with xylitol. Just don't let dogs get to it. Toxic to them.
Donna
These are a big hit in our house. Simple and fun. I air fried them and they were excellent.
Susan Haines
Such a great alternative to store bought! I love Chuck's recipes!!! Brand New Vegan for the win !!!!!
Jillee
I absolutely love these. I make them and grill them in a countertop grill year round.
Sabra
This is my third time making these. This time at the request of my husband who loves them! We live where we have an awesome farmers market so I am able to make these with perfect sized fresh organic carrot. This recipe with those sweet carrots is outstanding! Thank you! On a side note, I left these to marinate over night and they turned out great. Also I did not add the broth or jalepeno juice last time simply because I was out and they still turned out great!
Thanks again Chuck for an awesome recipe!
Richard
Insanely good and very easy. Really bizarre having a carrot instead of a hotdog but really cannot taste the difference. Superb
Diane
Really good! Even the meat eaters ask me to make this all the time!
Melissa
Can you marinade for longer than 6 hours?
Thank you!!!
Chuck Underwood
yes!
Vegans Are Awesome
I just made these the other day, and they were so amazing!! This was my first time making and tasting carrot dogs. I fried it in just a little bit of oil on the stove, coating some of the sides with the marinade as I turned them. I actually prefer these to the store bought vegan hot dogs. I will definitely make these again!! Thank you for sharing such a delicious and healthy recipe! 😀
LaVonne Bunt
How often can the marinade be reused? With condiments of ketchup, mustard, and sauerkraut, these were pretty tasty.
Rebecca
WOW! Would make again. I reduced the vinegar to 2Tbsp after reading some other reviews, that was perfect. Added less liquid smoke - personal preference, and omitted jalapeno juice simply because I didn't have it, but I'm sure that adds great flavor too! I was legit dumbfounded how much this tastes like a hotdog.
GD
Yes unfortunately my family didn't like these because of the overpowering taste of apple cider vinegar..I'll try again and hope they appreciate it after this first try
Christa
These were really good! I took the instant pot option, and decided to add some variety by also making some rutabaga dogs to see how those would turn out. I thought maybe the rutabaga would get too soft, but it cooked out about the same rate as the carrots. They were both delicious, but I think the rutabaga actually came out a better texture to be a fake hot dog. Thanks so much for your recipe!!!
Barb
It had to happen! Just saw an ad for carrot dogs. Chorizo or sweet Italian flavor. Boathouse Farms. I’ll have to check on the price. I’m sure it is high.
VeggieTater
Love these! I recently I had some very irregular, misshapen carrots that wouldn't make make bun worthy dogs... but remembered how I used to make a quickie meal for a bunch of hungry kids.... hot dog "coins" and baked beans. I chopped the carrots into "coins" instead, cooked them briefly in the marinade, then let them soak in it for a while. Later I just heated up the beans, drained the carrots, added them in and mixed it all up. Pretty darn convincing!
Dorie
Yes, the longer you marinade, the better. Replaces the carrot taste with hot dog flavor.
Wilma
I have wanted to try these for a couple of years..
Oh my goodness- heavenly - I even eat them for breakfast while I watch Blue Jays in 30
I followed your recipe exactly and LOVE my HOT DOG condiments of red onion and sauerkraut and mustard.
I used my Wee George Foreman grill - as my hubby hates anything healthy ,- I have stopped trying and guess what - leading by example and looking good eating PLANTS is his curiosity
Amanda
First attempt at carrot dogs and I was very impressed! I used the Instant Pot method and they turned out great. Grilled them up and topped with some leftover veggie chili. Will make again!
Hanni
I've made these several times and they turn out great every time. Even when I accidentally cook them too long on the grill they're great because they're covered in condiments anyway! I'm not vegetarian but have made them when having vegetarian friends over, and everyone loves them. My tip is to just use premade BBQ sauce like sweet baby ray's instead of making our own. It's easier and I think gives a flavor that packs more of a punch. I also grill the carrots for quite long (20 min) which ensures any carroty flavor becomes more of a sweet roasted flavor.
Sassysyl
I recently found you on YouTube and love your channel. I made these today and roasted them in my air fryer basted once and turned over and continued to roast . They turned out great. So close to the real thing. I will definitely enjoy these during our summer bbq’s. I wish I could find a healthy hot dog bun but figure since I am eating a carrot, I can eat two of these on hot dog buns yummy.
Thomas Kevin Blanc
I'm going to try this marinade with tempeh. Just because I have some to use up.
SGagne
I had looked at this recipe last summer but I was skeptical,how could a carrot taste like a hotdog? We just had an extra warm couple days and decided to give it a try. And wow! These are great. After reading some of the reviews, I used 3 Tbsp of vinegar and let them marinate nearly 3 days (was't my intention, but how it worked out). Otherwise I followed the recipe exactly as written. Looking forward to tossing these on the grill all summer!
P. Showalter
I was so skeptical of this recipe. I don't actually like hotdogs. I also don't tend to like vegan meat clones. I made this basically on the faith that everything I've made from here has been great & that the Krocks in the Kitchen recommended it. Even with that I was skeptical and my wife was even more skeptical.
I made them today basically as an experiment. I did the IP version and I only let them marinade an hour.
This recipe is nothing short of witchcraft. They not only taste like hotdogs, they taste like incredibly good hotdogs! I sincerely feel it makes the best tasting hotdog I've ever had. Not the best tasting vegan hotdog, the best hotdog! On taste alone, I prefer this to any animal based hot dog I've ever had.
Lay
Enjoyed this recipe I threw mine in the air fryer and turned them half way through. It’s too cold up north to be grilling rn lol came out great made chili to go on top too
Jonathan Rys
Some of he carrots I used were a little too big(~3" wide) so they didn't cook all the way through but they were still pretty good. The thinner carrots were better though. I saw another recipe say to whittle them down to the right size and round the ends for a more realistic dog, but I think I can find carrots that don't require much processing or waste. On the point of waste, I found the extra marinade works really well for hydrating TVP for sloppy Joes.
mary singleton
I knew this was going to be a tough sell to my fussy kids and husband. Along with packaged sauerkraut, I prepared and served a NY hot dog cart onion sauce recipe. With these condiments, the carrot hot dogs were delicious. In my honest opinion, the carrot hot dogs really needed the onions and sauerkraut. Thanks for sharing this recipe.
Kat
These are amazing! I think the ingredients for the marinade are balanced perfectly. I was honestly shocked when I tasted the marinade and it tasted like hot dogs! (In a good way!) I had skinny carrots and marinated for an hour and it worked great. I topped it with homemade pickle diced, diced fresh onion and red pepper, vegan mayo, grey poupon, and ketchup. It. Blew. My socks. Off!!! I wish I could post a picture of my husband's face after his first bite!
Beth
We made these today and they were great! It rained, so we broiled them to get a little color. Everyone loved them. They really do have the taste of hot dogs! I will add these to the rotation!
A. Bull
Made vegan carrot dogs tonight. They were great. Marinated them for an afternoon but yes I can see how marinating longer could be ok too. Next time I will make carrots same size circumference wise. As far as condiments, we’ll that is personal preference. Highly recommend.
Becky Banta
Holy cow!! I’ve tried many different recipes for carrot dogs, and as much as I liked all of them, my family didn’t. But these ones taste JUST LIKE HOT DOGS!! My family even liked them, which is saying a lot. I made them and took them camping. I roasted mine over an open campfire and it was so good!! I still have a few that’s been marinading for a good 5 days and had one for lunch. The flavor wasn’t too strong, it was PERFECT!! Thank you so much for this yummy recipe!! ❤️
Donna Reeves
I asked my friend when she wanted to come over for a meal. She said, "When are you making carrot dogs again?"
We love them.
Donna
StaceyN
I made this today since I had a bunch of carrots that needed to be used and have been wanting to try carrot dogs for a while. I left out the jalapeno juice since I don't have that and I halved the vinegar. I put it in my instant pot with the marinade for 3 minutes though I think maybe a little longer may have worked better since parts were still a bit hard but not too bad. I wish my instant pot could do 3 1/2 minutes. haha I put it in a hot dog bun with a sauce mix I like and tried it. I thought it was really good! Definitely not the same texture as a hotdog but I liked it! I then let my kids try it and asked them what they thought it was and they said a hot dog and they all liked it as well. I told them it was actually carrots and they all wanted it for lunch. My 8 year old complained that I didn't make more and wanted to have it for dinner but I ran out of hot dog buns. All five I made were eaten and I'll definitely make it again. 😀
Jennifer Purdy
Oh, thank you so much! I have tried veggie hotdogs before and they were okay but heavily processed and didn’t taste great. And I’ve missed hotdogs. I’ve eaten more hotdogs now in the last 2 weeks than in the last 8 years or so. These are great with my usual ketchup and mustard on them. Thank you!!! And they’re so easy.
Christina
These are going to change my life. I haven’t had a real hot dog in over 15 years. I made these lastnight and became Immediately obsessed! They are so good!! I will now have something to eat at barbecues because I’ve never been a fan of veggie burgers. Thanks for this recipe!
Stacey Oldt
I felt like I was cheating on my diet! Totally tasted like a hot dog with the ketchup and mustard. I used an Ezekiel tortilla instead of a bun. I did the instant pot version followed by George Foreman grill; Made enough for leftovers
Ellie L.
Okay, I just ate mine today, and they were fantastic! I slightly undercooked them, so there was a bit more bite than perhaps was intended, but the flavor was awesome! I only used maybe slightly more than half a tablespoon of vinegar instead of a quarter cup, and that was perfect for me, so I would use the vinegar very sparingly. I marinaded mine for three days in the fridge and grilled them today for Memorial Day! My Mom and I loved them, everyone else was too timid to try them.
Ellie L
I am marinating mine now, and the marinade tastes great! I don’t like a lot of vinegar, so I only added a scant tablespoon, and it was great! I also only added a scant tablespoon of maple syrup. I very lightly salted my water used for boiling the carrots.
Sakala
I made these a few weeks ago and they were absolutely delicious! I am actually making another batch right now with some carrots I got at the farmer's market. When I used to eat meat, I loved a good burnt hot dog. I find that this is really the key with these as well. I tend to like them better the day after I make them, and I warm them up in the air fryer. They're deliciou!
Jill
My 11 year old daughter who always eats her hot dogs with no toppings or a bun likes them. I cooked her a hot dog and a carrot dog and put them both on her plate. She ate her carrot dog and asked for another before she touched her hot dog. You should know that she is that alerts me that we are low on prosciutto.
Also I've made cooked them over a fire and pan fried. Great both ways. My only criticism is that they are a little better when par-boiled in stock or seasoned water.
Robin Plett
This was my very first BrandnewVegan recipe and they are the bomb! Like another reviewer, I couldn't get anyone else to eat them, so I froze them. No problems, just as good after freezing.
Lisa
Tried your recipe today and it is ridiculously good! Make them in an instant pot and they were fantastic.
Heather
We made Chicago dogs out of these and I could not be more impressed or satisfied! It’s ridiculous how delicious and O.G. hotdog-like they turned out. We used the Instant Pot method, I’m seriously saving the marinade to use for something else. Thank you!!
Nikki Z
OMG these were absolutely awesome. made them for Superbowl last night! in my instapot. followed directions, cooked 3 minutes, followed by quick release, let them sit 1.5 hours and then put them on the BBQ., Will definitely make these again..
Sita
I love your recipes Chuck. Haven’t tried these yet but wonder if they can be made without an IP?? Thanks!
Chuck Underwood
I have stovetop instructions in the recipe.
Hayley
this was my first attempt at carrot dog. Can’t believe the naysayers! I did the Instapot method and then let them sit in the pot in the marinade for an hour. Then tossed a little Earth Balance butter in a skillet and cooled them up. My 2 tweaks were using a no-beef boullion cube dissolved in boiling water instead of veggie broth, and I added 1 tsp vegan Worcester sauce. They were so dang good, I ate one and hubby ate 3! Thank you for a great recipe!
Amelia
I rarely leave reviews, but I was so impressed with this recipe! I'm not vegan, but moving toward a whole foods/plant based diet slowly but surely. My husband wanted to have hot dogs for Labor Day, so decided to try this out. He had regular hot dogs, and I found my carrot dogs satisfying enough to not even have a bite of his! I made them in the instant pot, marinated for 45 mins, and broiled them in the oven. We also toasted the buns, and garnished with onions and mustard. I think without the toasted bun and garnishes, they might not have been as satisfying a substitute. Will definitely make again!
Nina
Made this yesterday and hubby ate three. Loved them. May try with less maple syrup as he is diabetic. Marinate in refrigerator and leave leftovers in to be ready at moment. Which could share pic. I did share on FB.
Merrymepenelope
Wow! I didn't have pickled jalapenos so I subbed a little A-1 sauce which was just fine. We threw everything into the InstantPot and cooked for 3 minutes, released pressure and allowed to continue marinating for 90 minutes. Because we don't have a grill, the next best thing was a cast iron pan. They are marvelous!!! We served these little carrot dogs on toasted buns with fresh onion and condiments. A winner! Thanks!
Shari T
These are a keeper! I tried another recipe in the past, but they were more like 'carrots with a hint of hot dog' These smelled great while cooking [I just put them in a saucepan] and the flavor is wonderful. Thanks for sharing!
Freya
I haven't made them from this recipe yet, but it sounds great and I plan to use this recipe next time.
I had carrot dogs for the first time today after I found them in a supermarket. I had been wanting to try them for years. The store bought ones just needed to be baked in a pannon th stove for 3 to 5 minutes so that was really easy (there were also instructions for using an oven on the package).
We ate these on a tomato-onion burger bun, with saurkraut, sugar free ketchup and mustard. It was our first time eating carrot dogs and also my first time eating a dog with saurkraut. We loved it ?❤️! We loved both the carrot dogs and the addition of sour kraut. The taste and texture of the carrot dogs aren't exactly the same as regular hot dogs, but they ARE similar and have the right feel! Neither my boyfriend or I are vegans but we do eat a lot of vegan food. My boyfriend is a big fan of meat and even he lovef these carrot dogs. We were both amazed at how close these are to real hot dogs. Personally, I like these better than real hot dogs. Real hot dogs are tasty but to me also have something yucky in their taste (because of the meat that is used) and they tend to have yucky bits in them like pieces of cartilage.
These carrot dogs are really tasty and healthy and easy to make since they can be made in a lot of different ways and if you make them yourself they are also really cheap.
You can boil them first, then marinate and then bake/grill, etc them. You can also use an instant pot and they can even be frozen.
You can eat them as is or on any kind if bun or bread, in a tortilla wrap or even in a lettuce leaf. And add any condiments or additions you like, like ketchup, mustard, mayo, saurkraut, grilled onions, peppers, pickles, etc.
You can also make things like pigs in blankets with them or use them in a quiche or casserole, chop them up and use them in stir-frys, salads, or in noodle- or pasta dishes.
You can use carrots of all sizes, from baby carrots to regular sized ones and even those huge ones.
You can prepare these in the microwave, in the oven, bake them in a pan, boil them in a pan, grill them on a grill pan or a grill and grill them on the bbq.
The possibilities are endless!!!
Freya
Also, these are great for a healthy diet.
They can be eaten by vegetarians and vegans and they are also great for anyone with diabetis, high cholesterol and hearth disease. Just make sure to not add ri much sweetener if you are diabetic, not to much sakt if you hae heart disease and to not use a lot of fatty condiments like mayo if your cholesterol is high.
The carrot dogs are low in calories and fat so highly suitable for a lot of diets. Be sure to adjust the marinade, what you eat it on (bun, Atkins bread, lettuce wrao, etc.) and what condiments and additions you hse to your specific diet.
Btw, even though carrot dogs are healthy, they do not contain a lot of protein. So be sure to addsomething with protein to your meal or desert to make sure your body cab use those proteins.
Barb
I made these today in the IP. I HAD 3 non vegans try them. All 3 said they were spot on! My 17 year old picky meat eater could not believe how tasty they were!! Game changer for me!! Love them and thanks for sharing your recipes!?
Teri
Oh my goodness! I love love love these Smoky Vegan Carrot Dogs! This has changed my life. The calorie content is fabulous and can be reduced even more using a wheat slice of bread vs. a bun or eating them by themselves. While cooking, my whole house smelled like passing by a hot dog stand at the fair. Even my husband, who is non-vegan loved them! As per the comments, I also reduced the vinegar to 2 tbsp, but kept everything else the same. The possibilities are endless. I am going to be experimenting with Arepa dough, and thinking about wrapping it around these carrot dogs for a yummy corn dog.
Tina V
I will admit I was skeptical but I was delightfully impressed! A few notes. I only had Red Wine Vinegar (it worked) It's been raining in NE Florida so my charcoal wouldn't light. I used my air fryer and they came out fine. I also didn't have buns so I used a tortilla! Chopped onions, relish tomatoes mustard and chopped jalapenos. it was a delicious meal!
Thanks, Chuck!
Quin
This was really good! Much better than I expected. I mean of course you can tell it’s not a hot dog but the flavor and texture was on point. It wasn’t too mushy or too firm. I followed the recipe but decreased the vinegar to half due to the reviews and it was awesome. My hubby and i topped it with a vegan coleslaw and jalapeños . Sooooo gooodddd. I can’t wait to try it as a chili dog ?.
Barbara
This is the most awesome vegan recipe! While marinating, I opened the bag to release air, and it spelled like hot dogs. They were perfect! Tastesj just like hotdogs!
nuu
Would this work with baby carrots? And if so, what would I need to change, if anything? Thanks!
carrot dog fanatics
have not tried, but can imagine it would be great! good luck nuu!
Sheila
This recipe is a dream come true. I enjoy them the next day as well.
Marcy
I have been curious for a long time, but not a cooked carrot lover. However, I really enjoyed these. My husband was also a fan, but not having as much luck convincing the teenage sons. I don't think it's a taste issue as they think they smell great, but more mind over hotdog! I cook mine in the IP and leave them soaking in the marinade for additional flavor then grill or pan fry for caramelization. Thanks for another great recipe!
Cathy
My friend made this recipe for a dinner Friday night....and WOW! I'm vegan-curious but I do still eat the occasional hot dog. These were AMAZING. Sadly my husband is allergic to carrots so I won't be able to make these at home, but I heartily recommend them.
Shari T
@Cathy Can hubby have parsnips? I bet that this recipe would work with parsnips. I was actually going to try it once but got too lazy...
Ethan
I'd advise to add Vegemite to the marinade. It gives an umami taste, a semblance of beef or pork aroma, and metallic taste that reminds of hemoglobine in meat sausages. Vegemite is a vegan fermented yeast sauce from Australia, I guess it can be found in USA and Europe too.
Glenn S.
These are so good. Everyone who's tried them has asked for this recipe and I've forwarded your site to them. My only tweak is that I also add a teaspoon of smoked paprika and I leave the skin on and just scrub the carrots. I find the skin gives them that snap that a real hot dog has. I haven't eaten animal products in over a year so this recipe has been heaven! Also, here's a tip....you can marinate, then dry the carrots well with a paper towel and freeze them. When you want to make them pull out the carrots, defrost in the fridge for a few hours then grill them. They are perfect and same as when you make them fresh. Oh...and you can use the marinade over and over again (I freeze the marinade as well after I dry and freeze the carrots). THANKS!
JC Simpson
Well what a great surprise. I followed the recipe to the letter and made/marinated then bbq them all (5 in total).
My wife ate one and loved it. I was planning on eating two, but ended up eating the remaining 4, they are great.
Thanks for sharing the recipe.
Glenn S.
These are the bomb! I cannot believe how much they taste like hot dogs. My entire family loved them. The only thing I changed is that i did not peel them. I think just scrubbing them gives them a better texture and closer to a hot dog "skin". Also, I made a big batch, marinated for 6 hours, dried off the marinade and froze them laying flat in a freezer bag. When I was ready to make them I just threw a few in the fridge a few hours before to defrost then grilled them and they were just as good as fresh. Thanks for the killer recipe!
Sara
What a great idea!
Jackie Clinansmith
Just thought of this, I Can a lot of Veggis so I'm going to look into Canning these! Talk about a long lasting, shelf stable hot dog!
BTW Thank you for all you do Chuck. Your my go to for dinner!
Nicola
You’re a genius! I’m trying this tomorrow!
MaryB
I LOVE this recipe and have used several times in last year. I used all ingredients exactly as written but sometimes add just a little extra maple syrup. Always wanted to try “carrot pigs in a blanket” by wrapping small lengths of the carrot dog in Crescent Roll dough and baking. Tried it this week and they were fantastic!!
I wish I could have posted a picture because they were cute!
Lisa
I made baby carrot dogs in a blanket for my daughter-in-laws baby shower last month, they were so good! Everyone was shocked when I told them they were carrots.
Laura Lowell
I just harvested the last of my carrots in the garden. I needed a vegetarian option for my daughter. I found this recipe and laughed..:but nothing ventured nothing gained. It was amazing! My husband had seconds! Served with homemade French fried and Cole slaw. A definite keeper. Thanks for a very creative and delicious alternative.
Stephanie
I used your recipe EXCEPT for the jalapeno juice--cause I didn't have any, wow!!! these are delicious!! I know my grandkids would never know the difference.
Thank you for sharing your recipe.
Jennifer
I made 2 last night for myself and my meat eating daughter and husband each wanted to try a bite because they looked so good. Needless to say they each loved them and even asked if I had anymore made. My daughter said she will never go back to eating meat dogs again. They were insanely delicious! My husband said he would even eat them or a "real" hot dog any day.
Chris
All I can say is WOW! I've used to live in Atlanta and they had a place that only served hotdogs - a carrot dog was on the menu but I never tried it. Even though I am a vegetarian, I'm not a big fan of carrots - only as juice - so I passed on theirs and had the vegan field roast dog. Soooooo glad I found this recipe! I had most everything in my kitchen to prepare it - but had to get some liquid smoke and carrots. Had to settle for carrots that weren't too think (I was hoping for 1 inch thick ones as that seemed right) but wound up with thinner ones. As it was a 2 pound bag, I prepared all the carrots as you mentioned - using the bun as my template - but decided to cook the whole lot of them - maybe 8 regular and 3 smaller ones in my InstantPot. Didn't use the jalapeño juice as we don't have pickled jalapeños here. Accidentally used 2 tbs of liquid smoke instead of 1 but the marinade was already made. Poured over the carrots in the IP, pressure for 3 minutes and natural release and them popped two of them on the George Forman Grill (its raining today) and served them in buns topped with sauerkraut! Well let me tell you! I WAS AMAZED! 1 - The size of the carrot was perfect - when it's thicker you can taste a slight bit of carrot (not bad but you do notice). 2 - The texture was great - firm with a little push back when you bite, but thick and "meaty" when you chew. 3 - The taste and smell are amazing!!! I left the others to marinate in the IP bowl with the hot marinade, them packaged them up for lunches this week! I am so excited to have them again! So tasty, filling (but not heavy) and vegan! And the only really calories are coming from the bun! What a great find! Thank you so much for taking the time to get the right marinade and share with us! I'll be checking out your other recipes for sure!
Bronwen
I !!! LOVE LOVE LOVE !!! Carrot Dogs ...I jumped on the Carrot Dog bandwagon as soon as they started circulating. I made them for my (non Vegan but very Vegan friendly and curious) family that whilst amused and thought I had lost the plot and always requested I make enough for seconds and thirds, they LOVED them too. But this recipe is NEXT LEVEL. I followed this recipe to a T and in my opinion did not need ANY alterations as it is perfect. Thank you, this recipe will go into my trusted "Tried and True' recipe book and will be my go to for every time I make Carrot Dogs. I just have one question to satisfy my curiosity if I may ? I never peel carrots, I just top & tail, wash and slice off any undesirable bits on the skin (if any) ... is there any real need to peel them for this recipe ?
Thank you sooooo much ... Best Carrot Dog Recipe EVER (and I have tried a few)
Chuck Underwood
Nope - no need to peel f you're comfortable with that. I do the same.
Rene
I tried these and love them. I haven't used the instant method yet. I keep a batch in my fridge for a quick lunch . I reheat in microwave and they are great. When I run out of carrot dogs. I cook a new batch and use the marinade again. It seems to keep real well. Love these. Thanks so much for the recipe. No quilt at all.
Stacy Siegmund
WOW!!!! These are crazy good. Follow the recipe and you won't be disappointed. Thanks Chuck, for such a wonderful recipe.
Pam Burbank
Oh my GOODNESS!!!! I’m so excited about how much I love these!!! I have missed hotdogs for years because (well they’re not really food) but the flavor of a hot dog is just something special. Now I can have them again!!!
I was truly impressed with how much it matched up with how I remember them!! I cooked them in the IP with the marinade and then kept them in marinade over night then grilled them. Perfectamundo. Then I took leftovers to work and amazed my coworkers when they smelled my leftover grilled “hotdog”. They’re like.. “whaaaat??”
Yeah. I’m pretty much known as the health nut and this just elevated my status even further!
Donna Forcier
AMAZING!!! Made exactly as instructed, marinated over night, then grilled. I absolutely loved these - they hit the spot just like a good ol' hot dog! My nieces who enjoy eating veg gave them a 8 and 9 out of 10!!
melissa
These are awesome! Not vegan here, but the recipe intrigued me. My burly meat eating husband was amazed by how much these tasted like hot dogs. The only thing I changed about the recipe was that I pierced the carrots lightly with a fork so it could soak up more marinade and I used liquid aminos instead of soy sauce. Great recipe! Thanks for sharing!
Janessa
These were alright. I never liked hot dogs, so it's exciting to have something i can throw on the grill with everybody else. The 3 year olds had no clue they were carrots nor did i tell them. I poked holes in my carrots before marinating them hoping the juice would seep in. Served topped with guac and quick pickled onions etc... I will make these again. Thanks
Jen
I don't understand why you don't just cook the carrots in the marinade. That's what I do. They are tastier and it eliminates the step of boiling them first.
CindyLu
AMAZING! I used the Instant Pot steps and they really surprised me! I DO NOT like cooked carrots so I was very skeptical. The taste and texture was just like a hot dog!
Thanks, BNV!!
Amy
I just made these using your IP instruction and they were great! I’ve even used your recipe before and i think in the IP they come out even better than without. Thanks! I posted to the FOK private group also. All the best, —A
Brooke
Before switching to a plant based diet I was a hotdog FENATIC. I made one of these last night with some grilled onions, ketchup, and mustard. I'm in love and can't wait to make more!! I used smoked paprika in place of liquid smoke and powdered garlic. I also left out the broth and jalapeno juice. I did not find the vinegar to be over powering. I left a little pop in my carrot too as I feared a mushy carrot. It reminded me of the little snap I used to enjoy when eating a hotdog.
Wendy
How much smoked paprika did you use? Did they taste "smokey"?
Holly Mesa
Other recipes I've seen for cortito hot dogs do marinate them up to 24 hours, so all of
you are on track!
Kari
I have seen this recipe numerous times on various facebook groups I'm part of and always made a strange face when seeing these. I was skeptical to say the least! But after a few months of seeing this recipe go by, I decided to read the reviews. I was really craving hot dogs so I made these instead. OMG, I am so impressed!! They are the same texture and taste as a cheap brown hotdog. Mind blown! If you are on the fence about trying them - do it! You won't be disappointed!
Denise
I made these and actually stood at the grill and ate half the batch. I left the other to marinate overnight and cooked up in a cast iron frying pan ...AHHHMAZING! Won over my daughter and I both! Definite keeper. Have not tried it on bread with the fixings, but once I find a gluten free bun I will!!! 5 stars!
Dena
These were fantastic! Thank you so much!
Sandy O
I can't believe how well these turned out. I would never have thought it could come this close to being a hot dog in fact it was better.
Susan
I made a bunch of these for Memorial Day cookout. I marinated them overnight. We grilled them outside. They were so good! Put on what ever fixings you desire and enjoy! Will definitely be making these a lot this summer.
Anne Wright
Made these for Memorial Day barbecue and they were delicious! No carrot taste at all. I didn’t have jalapeño juice, but used spicy mustard. They’re great with sauerkraut! Thanks Chuck!
Susan Luddy
I want to try making this carrot dog recipe, but I don't like "smoked" foods. Should I just eliminate the liquid smoke, or does it need to be replaced with something else? Thanks for coming up with so many great recipes!
Chuck Underwood
You could try adding a little smoked paprika instead...
Ida
No changes necessary. Amazing!
Amber
I'm interested in trying these out for camping, but am wondering how to make them a bit more quick, camping-friendly. Can these sit in the marination for longer than six hours (think 24 hours or longer)? Or, alternatively, can the carrots be cooked, then set aside and added to the marination the next day without comprising the integrity of the carrots or taste?
Either way, even if I can't make it work for camping, I will certainly be trying this recipe at home! Sounds absolutely delicious and like a fun way to participate more in barbecued meals.
Karen Tennant
I score and cook them in the marinade and then let them sit in it until I am ready to use them. Usually I make a whole bag of carrots and munch on them for days. I use extra marinade on other veggies and grill them, too
Jasmine
I don't normally leave recipe reviews, but these were really amazing. I didn't expect much because there's a reviewer saying she didn't think they were anything special. I did about 2 Tbs of apple cider vinegar and used mesquite liquid smoke. I also browned my carrots in a frying pan, because I don't have a grill. I used these for meal prep. I ate two carrots a day and left the others in the marinade. They didn't over marinate and tasted great. Oh, and I'm a vegan BTW.
Lynn
This will be dinner sunday thank you an everyone for the helpful comments?
Donna Cairns
My first try at Carrot dogs and I had no expectations and I want to thank you very much.. they were Awesome ?
Sally
Would it be possible to leave out the liquid smoke? Or would that completely change the flavor? I have heard some questionable things about liquid smoke, so I just wanted to ask.
Chuck Underwood
That would change the flavor. but I suppose you could try adding smoked paprika instead?
Stephanie Reynolds
I don’t prefer the flavor of liquid smoke, so I used 1 TBSP of my favorite grill rub. These hot dogs were fantastic. **my taste is probably at 25% of what it used to be since Covid, but these really hit the spot. I did the insta pot method! And threw in diced carrots, onions and red pepper to marinade after the quick release. Will make these again while my family eats meat!
Jodie
I actually made the "dogs". Science, I guess. Outstanding. Put catsup and hot sauce on-no difference to a regular hot dog. Totally amazing. A must try. Not kidding.
I accidentally left the "dogs" in the marinade in the fridge overnight. Not sure if that made a difference.. Thanks, Chuck! Summer will be better, because of you.
Samantha
I really enjoy your recipes, I've tried quite a few and recommended them to friends. I had my doubts about these, even when making them, but ever since going veg I have craved hot dogs with a hearty dollop of guac, mustard, and sauerkraut, and soy dogs did not do the trick. I did these carrot dogs the laziest way possible: I marinated them in the same pot I boiled them in, then (since I don't have a grill) I brought them to a simmer in the marinade until heated through. I am converted! Even my meat eating partner who loves hot dogs gave me the nod of approval. Chuck, you've done it again!
Lynn Witkowski
I would love to be able to make these up and have them on hand, do you think these can be Jared and ke of in the refrigerator for any length of time?
Chuck Underwood
Not sure - maybe a few days but I get nervous after a while.
Eryn
I'm not a vegan but I love hot dogs yet hate what they're made of. Instead I just gave them up. Until I found this recipe. I'm in love! I can eat hot dogs again. I too cut the cider vinegar in half. It really is too much. And I skipped the jalapeño juice. I also used beef broth since I'm not a vegetarian. But these are delicious! I have to keep telling myself that its a carrot. So thank you for the recipe.
A s
Made these for dinner tonight. Everyone loved them.
Susan
Do you think instead of using liquid smoke, one could put the marinade in the smoker( my husband smokes other food) it would/could be even better or smoke the carrots?
Chuck Underwood
By all means, if you have a smoker, try it!
Dailey Lengerich
Hello We looked at similar recioes and created our own which works well for us. First we simply wash and cut off ends. Then we steam in Instant Pot for 7 min on "rice" setting. Then we take out and place on hot oiled griddle and sprinkle a little of this and that. Namely, celery seed, smaked paprika, garlic, onion, salt and cumin. Grill til charred a bit on each side and put on bun or bread with ketchup and mustard. We have 5 children who LOVE these! Thanks!
Jana
I love carrot dogs, but not a fan of bread so I use cabbage or lettuce leaves instead
Mary-Mike Linz
I adapted your mokey carrot dogs for Instant Pot and make a batch weekly. Instead of piercing and marinating the carrots, I simply make a double batch of marinade from the recipe and submerge 8-10 med sized carrots in the liquid in the Instant Pot. Then I use the manual setting to pressure cook them for 2-3 minutes in the marinade and do a 10 min NPR. I do 2 min if carrots are more slender, 3 min if they’re thick. Initially I thought the vinigar was a bit overwhelming but after trying variations decided iyour original does the job splendidly. Thanks so much! These really fill a hole in my comfort food cravings.
Gigi
I LOVED these! I've been curious about carrot dogs for a while now. I looked over a few recipes and decided to go with yours and I'm so glad I did. I was going to leave them marinating overnight, so I cut the ACV to half. I used garlic powder just because I was lazy. I used honey (not vegan, I know) because I didn't have any maple syrup. I cooked these on the stove in a cast iron skillet, letting them char just a bit. My husband had 2 with mustard and ketchup. I had 1 with mustard and ketchup and 1 with mustard and sauerkraut. We used plain, generic hotdog buns. They smelled so good while cooking and tasted just as I'd hoped. While they obviously do not have the same taste and texture as a hotdog, they were close enough and delicious! My husband could not stop raving about how wonderfully weird it was eating a carrot on a bun. Well done!
Kristine Griffin
Oh. My. Word! These were a huge hit for my family of 7. They eagerly asked for me to make them again--soon! The only thing I did differently was instead of the pickled jalapeno juice, I subbed white vinegar. As baby vegans, these tasted just like hot dogs, and much better than the fake meat versions! Thank you so much for sharing this recipe! I will definitely recommend it to EVERYONE I know!
Jennifer 🐳🐋🐬🦉🐾🌹🌸🌼🌺🌈🌌🌋
I was wondering about the pickled jalapeño juice. Do you buy pickled jalapeños and use the fluid in there? I don’t want to have to buy it so was wondering about leaving it out. So how did it come out using the white vinegar instead?
Kya Cooper
This recipe was EXACTLY what I needed. I doubled it, left out the veggie broth and jalapeno sauce, and made two 8 packs of carrot ? dogs. If you want to cook em on the stove, let me suggest simmering them just about 3 or 4 min longer in that initial step so that way, you're really only heating them in the pan. Heat them in a little of the marinade just till warm. We had em with all the fixings, and we all couldn't believe how good they were. Thanks for this recipe.
Carolyn Cooper
I can't imagine this working! I just can't. hahahaha. I am NOT a fan of carrots though. mmmm, okay. will have to try and see how it goes. thank you for the recipe!
Chrissy
Made these. SO delicious! Everyone kept commenting in the aroma as they cooked. They smell just like hot dogs. I don't really eat soy so it was a treat to have something that tasted so much like the real thing. Thank you!
Buff Cree Barr
Just tried this, honestly, it's not going to be my new thing. To me, it still tasted like a carrot and not at all like a hot dog. The right flavor just wasn't there or it wasnt strong enough. I can't really understand all the rave reviews.
Suzy
I agree with you Buff Cree Barr. I was not impressed. I marinated for at least 6 hours. Mine never reached the dark color and I had them on the grill for quite a while and basted frequently. I almost think that a ridged cast iron grill pan would be better for cooking so the juices stay on the carrots a bit. The flavor was pure carrot. Disappointing.
Barbara
After I pre-boil the carrots I marinade them for 3-4 days that way the flavors mellow together. I fry them and apply marinade liberally. It takes time to do this as you want them flavorful. I do burn them alittle as this is how I like them. They are awesome tasting. Hope this helps.
Rhonda Scott
I just made them also and all I tasted was carrot. Will leave them in the marinade in the fridge for a few days and see if that helps.
Kathryn Kopach
How long did you marinate the carrots? I didn’t like the first recipe I tried and I believe it was partly the marinade, this recipe is much better and I marinated it overnight, which I did not the first time.
bracha
Derek Jones, if you freeze fully cooked carrots, they will be mushy. Try cooking them only about half way before you freeze them.
Derek Jones
Just curious: Could you put the marinade in the bag with the carrots and then freeze it.. then move it to your fridge to thaw and Marinate when your ready to use them?
Chuck Underwood
I suppose.....I've never froze carrots before.....but it sounds like it would work.
Evelina Marie
I froze mine. I made a batch. I used only half the vinegar called for in the recipe, my taste preference. My carrots were so large I ended up with eight hot dogs. The taste was remarkable. Of course my hubby and our 8 year old grandson did not eat them, not even taste. Their reasoning was since they never liked hot dogs in the first place why would they even want this! LOL. I expected that and gladly hogged them all to myself! After 10 days of the remaining carrots sitting in the marinade baggie in the fridge I had to freeze them. I put each carrot, (I had 5 left), in a sandwich ziplock baggie, distributed the marinade evenly between the 5 baggies, then squeezed out the air. I plopped these baggies into a quart size ziplock freezer baggie and tossed it into the freezer. I have eaten two frozen carrots so far. Yum! When the hot dog craving hits, or I'm starving too much to start cooking a meal on an empty stomach all I do is grab a carrot in it's baggie, toss the carrot baggie in the sink to defrost, maybe in a bowl of Luke warm water if I'm in a hurry. When thawed out I heat up a cast iron grill pan and get those nifty char marks on all sides. Then I toss it into the microwave and heat it up for 30 to 60 seconds. Into my sandwich it goes! I liked margarine on my toast to put my hot dogs onto in the past. So, I will toast up my slice of bread, and spread a very thin layer of almond butter, peanut butter or cashew butter on the toast. Maybe half a tsp of one of the nut butters. Goes great with my condiments as if it were real cow butter or margarine without all the squishy greasy mess, ( which is why I started toasting my slice of bread to wrap around the hot dog. Btw, ever notice hot dog buns are sold with two less buns than the number of hot dogs in a package? Yeah, I just switched to using a slice of bread instead of buying two packages of buns. Bun rant over.)
Derek Jones
Thank you so much for your input... Exactly what I wanted to know... Bun and all
Michele
These were great! Flavor and texture straight on...marinated for 4 hours then air fried until my preferred char....will definitely make again!
Mary Pfender
What temp did you air fry at?
Donna
Derek, wondering if you tried this with good results. I have family visiting next week and want make-ahead and prepped meals ready to go.
Patty Hughes
Forgot to mention I disagree with the other comments of reducing vinegar. Mine marinated 3 days and was still amazing! Love all of the flavors together! Wouldn't change the recipe a bit.
Cheryl Barnes-Neff
(please delete this after you read this; editors aren't really fit for being around nice people - lol) Just a small proof reading error for #5 - Marinate for 4 - 6 hrs, rather than "Marinade."
April Bryer
But did you try the carrot dogs?
Cheryl Barnes-Neff
not yet - looking forward to it 🙂
Alesia
Fabulous recipe! I will definitely use it again. This was my first time making hot dogs. I reduced the vinegar by half because of the other reviews. Next time I will eliminate it completely, it was too much when adding mustard, dill pickle slice and tomato. I also used a pressure cooker for 4 minutes.
Tina Bambauer
You're my new best friend lolol
Catherine
I am so curious! I can't wait to try these. Veggie sausages bought from the store end up being really expensive (and SO SALTY). I'd love an alternative.
kd12
Tried these this for the July 4th holiday; overall they're good but next time I would reduce the vinegar to maybe 2 TB. We found 1/4 cup was far too much; the dogs came out with an over-the-top vinegar taste that was off-putting. Otherwise, the other ingredients matched up. I've experimented with many carrot hot dog recipes over the past year trying to find the right combination of ingredients to deliver true hot dog flavor (when I was a meat-eater I always opted for hot dogs over burgers). I think this will be my go-to recipe as soon as I figure out the right ratio for the vinegar. Thanks 🙂
Chuck Underwood
Just curious.....how long did you marinate them?
kd12
overnight; I've experimented with both overnight & fewer hours on other recipes, and overnight seems to be the best bet for getting the flavors infused...
brian McGinnis
New here. Can't seem to find the ingredient proportions for the marinade. I have everything.
Kathryn Kopach
This was the first carrot dog recipe that I liked, and I marinated it overnight. I cooked it on my George Foreman, the grill marks really do make it, but that marinade is out of this world- thank you thank you!!!!! ?
Patty Hughes
My mom sent me this recipe and I still can't believe how amazing these turn out, I've fooled so many people thinking they are real hot dogs, the taste and appearance! Love this recipe so much! Thank you!
Erin Lynch
What a great idea for vegan friendly BBQ fare!
Rick Parker
I have made these Carrot Dogs several times
I enjoy them more w/ mustard & Dill Pickles &
tomatoes. Thanks
Cap'n Dave
Sounds like you've had Chicago dogs. For those not in the know, take a slice of tomato, halve it, and put both halves on one side of the dog. Then, on the other side, a dill pickle spear. (Polish is preferred, if you can find them, but kosher will do in a pinch.) Then your mustard, ketchup as well if you like, a little sweet relish perhaps, and some sweet-hot peppers (minced onion and carrot and jalapeño peppers, add to a brine of olive oil and salt, add some sugar, let marinate at least overnight), then sprinkle with a little celery salt. Voilà - a meal on a bun. (For the TRUE Chicago experience, serve with a side of fries and a couple of tamales.)
ChicagoMom
No ketchup! 😉
Karen
Thanks ChicagMom! that had me cringing!
Stu
Never ketchup!
Ralph
Hi Chuck, do you think this marinade would work with seitan to make seitan hot dogs? Thanks!
Marlynn [UrbanBlissLife]
I've had carrot vegan dogs before that were not very appetizing, but I don't think the carrots were cooked the way they should have been. Your recipe looks like a winner, though! I'm not vegan, but I have a LOT of vegan and vegetarian friends and we're always trying to find new recipes for when we entertain that will appeal to everyone. This looks like a great one to try!
Steph
We are not vegan but I like to switch it up, and just had to see if these were actually good. Followed the recipe pretty closely, and we all liked them - including the teenager! Husband gave it an 8.5/10 and ate three!