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Carrot Dogs

Carrot Dogs (21)

This 4th of July, I had to get on the carrot dog bandwagon. I’ve seen pictures on social media of all these carrot dogs and they always look so good. So as the 4th of July approached, I started telling Tom about carrot dogs. He laughed at the idea, not thinking that carrots could become anything close to something resembling or tasting like a hot dog. The more he laughed, the more I was determined to make them – because I’m stubborn and oppositional like that.

The day before Independence Day, I got out the carrots and Tom helped me cut them into hot dog sized shapes. I boiled them until they were just fork-tender and then put them in the marinade where the magical transformation would happen.

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The next day I was so excited to make the carrot dogs. Opening the container with the marinade, it smelled like hot dogs. I took that as a good sign. Once they were in the pan, I rotated them and tried to have patience while they cooked. They take about 15 minutes to get caramelized and tender.

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Once they were done, it was time for the moment of truth. They looked like hot dogs. I put one carrot dog on a bun which made it look even more like a hot dog.

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Then I topped it with mustard.

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Tom and I each took a bite

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and wow – it tasted like a hot dog! We were both so happy!

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I was worried they would taste sweet since carrots get sweeter when you cook them but they didn’t. The ingredients in the marinade did a great job of seeping into the carrots and making them savory and smoky.

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Then I put another carrot on a bun with mustard, sauerkraut and my I ♥ NYC Red Onion Sauce. I gave it to a friend and didn’t tell him what it was. He said it was delicious and when I told him it was a carrot, he was surprised, to say the least. He thought they were vegan hot dogs that had carrots in them rather than all carrot.

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We were so happy with the carrot dogs. What a great idea to enjoy a hot dog without soy, gluten or any ingredients at all other than the marinade! I can’t wait to make them again and play around to see what else I can make. I’m thinking carrot sausage is coming soon!

Forget meat. Forget nitrates. Forget gluten and soy. Forget expensive packaged vegan hot dogs. These carrot dogs are amazing! That will teach Tom to laugh at me. Enjoy!

Carrot Dogs

Carrot Dogs (20)

GF if using gluten-free buns
Makes 8 carrot dogs

8 large carrots

¼ cup gluten-free tamari

¼ cup water

¼ cup apple cider vinegar

1 tsp. garlic powder

A few dashes Liquid Smoke

1 Tbs. vegetable oil

8 hot dog buns

Mustard

Sauerkraut

I ♥ NYC Red Onion Sauce

Peel the carrots, cut off the ends and cut them into the shape of hot dogs that will fit your buns. Bring a pot of water to a boil and cook the carrots until they are just fork-tender, about 15 minutes. Drain them and run them under cool water to stop the cooking.

In an air-tight storage container, mix the tamari, water, vinegar, garlic powder and liquid smoke. Marinate the carrots in the fridge for at least 4 hours and up to 24 hours.

Heat the oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Remove the carrots from the marinade and arrange them in the skillet in a single layer. Add a few spoons of the marinade and cook until the carrots begin to caramelize. Rotate them often.

Serve on buns with mustard, sauerkraut and red onion sauce or your favorite toppings.

Carrot Dogs (3)

 The “V” Word: Say it. Eat it. Live it. 

Carrot Dogs
Author: 
Recipe type: Hot Dogs
 
Ingredients
  • 8 large carrots
  • ¼ cup gluten-free tamari
  • ¼ cup water
  • ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tsp. garlic powder
  • A few dashes Liquid Smoke
  • 1 Tbs. vegetable oil
  • 8 hot dog buns
  • Mustard
  • Sauerkraut
  • I <3 NYC Red Onion Sauce
Instructions
  1. Peel the carrots, cut off the ends and cut them into the shape of hot dogs that will fit your buns. Bring a pot of water to a boil and cook the carrots until they are just fork-tender, about 15 minutes. Drain them and run them under cool water to stop the cooking.
  2. In an air-tight storage container, mix the tamari, water, vinegar, garlic powder and liquid smoke. Marinate the carrots in the fridge for at least 4 hours and up to 24 hours.
  3. Heat the oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Remove the carrots from the marinade and arrange them in the skillet in a single layer. Add a few spoons of the marinade and cook until the carrots begin to caramelize. Rotate them often.
  4. Serve on buns with mustard, sauerkraut and red onion sauce or your favorite toppings.

 

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18 Responses to Carrot Dogs

  1. CeaCea December 17, 2016 at 4:04 pm #

    As promised, I got off my lazy butt & HAD all ingredients! So… I finally made one of your recipes – this was my first! Firstly 2 calibrate my tastes 2 any reader.. I did/DO like the taste of meat & am forever searching for equal rivals of my favs in the vegan world.

    I decided 2 decorate them as I would a hotdog: a crazy amount of raw onions, relish & mustard. The only thing was I had no hot dog bun so wheat bread it was and the verdict is –

    I DEFINITELY adore these & they absolutely hit the spot! I just made & ate one; spared no time in giving this review. I mean this is really game changer – as is rice paper bacon – rivals the real deal! My only wonder is if they’d freeze ok. Because, u know how it is when u have the hankering 4 something? Well, sometimes waiting no less than 4h 15mins just won’t do… Other than that I can see this being an amazing satisfying 2 the hotdog craving at any whim or occasion!

    I love that u figured out and gave the recipe 4 your special sauce, I def will try that one of these days. I wonder how long that will keep…I’m guessing same as any other condiment in the fridge…

    Anyway, thanks 4 all u do in sharing your recipes 4 our foodie wonderment & sake of the non human animals! I really look forward 2 making so many more of your recipes! U r appreciated!

    <3 C

    • CeaCea December 17, 2016 at 4:17 pm #

      PS – I forgot 2 add I understand the horror of u discovering your special sauce was a highly regional thing. Around here we have a Deerhead Hot Dogs local chain that has spread I guess just 2 some states in my tristate area. I thought for sure it was else where, and of course it wasn’t. I DO MISS them as they dont offer veggie dogs…but they had this yellow spicy sauce… i can tell there is some sort of hot pepper, turmeric, mustard, I’m sure garlic in it but that’s about it. I wish I had your talent 2 figure out what is in things!!! That was really good on a pizza too.. so If i had that sauce, i could even slice these carrotdogs up on a pizza and use that a the sauce… YUM!!! I will keep dreamin….

  2. Diane September 7, 2015 at 6:58 pm #

    I tried these tonight and once they were in the bun with the fixings it was hot dot all the way they tasted just like a hot dog to us. We were all saying how much better they were for us than soy or regular hot dogs. Will be making them again. Thanks for the recipes

    • Rhea September 16, 2015 at 3:55 pm #

      Right? You can’t tell the difference once the toppings are on! Thanks for letting me know. xoxo

  3. Eve-Marie August 21, 2015 at 12:30 am #

    We had these for dinner tonight and couldn’t believe how much like real hot dogs they were! My husband thought a lot of people would probably not even be able to tell they were not the real thing. Thanks for the great recipe!

    • Rhea August 29, 2015 at 4:55 pm #

      Right? Once you put them on the bun with the toppings, you can’t tell the difference! xoxo

  4. loz August 19, 2015 at 5:12 pm #

    I tried these, wasn’t sure whether they tasted like hot dogs as I never liked hot dogs, so I never hate them but they were nice enough. Don’t think i caramalised them enough! and I didn’t have a bun to put them in as I am gluten free and there isn’t many decent GF bread/buns in the UK so it didn’t feel like a hot dog but I would definately do them again.

    • Rhea August 29, 2015 at 4:54 pm #

      Yes, they need to caramelize to really get that specific flavor.

  5. Jo Anna August 17, 2015 at 8:45 pm #

    I’ve had C-dogs twice (in different locales) and loved them. This is a Must Make – thank you! And I’ll be sharing it with two different WW FB groups I’m in.

    • Rhea August 19, 2015 at 12:33 pm #

      I was amazed how much they taste like hot dogs! Thanks Jo Anna xoxo

  6. D1Stewart August 12, 2015 at 11:54 pm #

    You know, I wonder what these would be like with parsnips instead of carrots. Parsnips, though they have more sugar than carrots, don’t taste as sweet as carrots, and have a nice nutty flavor of their own. I think I’ll make a dual batch and see how they compare.

    • Rhea August 19, 2015 at 12:35 pm #

      I said the exact same thing to my husband. I said parsnips are spicier and would be good but they wouldn’t have the color to look like hot dogs.

  7. Joanna July 7, 2015 at 9:52 pm #

    Ok….who has tried making these as far as marinating them and freezing? I have recently banished hot dogs from my house (mainly because I have a kiddo who needs to get off processed stuff for a while) but we are missing hot dogs hardcore. I am wondering if I can make a bunch and freeze. 😀

    • Rhea July 8, 2015 at 11:55 am #

      Hi Joanna, I haven’t tried to freeze them but in my experience, carrots don’t freeze well because they get mushy when they thaw. Carrot dogs don’t have that hard coating that hot dogs do. But I don’t know. If you find out, let me know, please. xoxo

      • Nancy Nurse February 14, 2016 at 9:53 am #

        Believe it or not… they freeze beautifully!!! Then, just take out what you need and heat! What if you added just a bit of fennel? Would that give it more of a hot dog taste?

        • Rhea February 23, 2016 at 1:09 pm #

          I add fennel to make them into carrot sausages. I think they taste a lot like hot dogs especially with toppings. I’m glad to know they freeze well. Thanks! xoxo

  8. Susan July 7, 2015 at 7:38 pm #

    Wow – thank you so much for sharing this amazing recipe (and also the one for I ♥ NYC Red Onion Sauce). I would never ever have thought of making anything like this but I will be making these Carrots Dogs with the red onion sauce tonight. Thanks Rhea!

    • Rhea July 8, 2015 at 11:56 am #

      Thanks Susan. Carrot dogs seem to be the new trend so I can’t take credit for the idea. The red onion sauce is sooo good, like right off the trucks in the city. xoxo


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