Carrot Hot Dogs
Vegan Carrot Hot Dogs are a grillable, healthier option to vegan meat alternatives. Top them any way you like! Grilling, stovetop, and oven directions below!
Servings: 10 carrot dogs
Ingredients
- 8-10 medium carrots peeled and cut to bun size
Marinade
- 1 ½ cups water
- ⅓ cup tamari or soy sauce
- 2 ½ Tablespoons liquid smoke
- 1 Tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 teaspoons paprika
- ⅔ teaspoon garlic powder
- ⅓ teaspoon mustard powder
Instructions
Prep The Carrots
- Choose uniform, medium-sized carrots from the bag. Look for carrots that are neither too large nor too small and have a consistent thickness from end to end. Ideally, each carrot should be about the width of a hot dog or slightly thicker.
- Cut the ends off of each carrot, leaving them about 1 inch longer than the length of the bun. The extra length gives you room to shape the ends.
- Next, peel the carrots, using the peeler to shape and round the ends for a uniform “hot dog” look. To round the ends, hold the carrot in one hand and peel the end farthest from you. Use short downward strokes while rotating the carrot to create a smooth, rounded shape. For quicker prep, you can skip rounding the ends and leave them with straight cuts.
Marinate The Carrots
- Pour the marinade into a large skillet with a lid and stir to combine.Add the carrots, arranging them in a single layer. The skillet should be large enough for the carrots to lie flat on the bottom.
- Cover the pan and bring the marinade to a boil. Once it comes to a boil, reduce the heat to a simmer and cook the carrots for 20-30 minutes, or until a fork easily pierces the thickest part of the carrots without much resistance.
- When the carrots are done, remove the pan from the heat. Let the carrots cool in the marinade for at least 30 minutes before grilling, though 1-2 hours will give them the best flavor.
- Choose one of the three methods below to cook the carrot hot dogs after marinating.
Grilling Instructions
- Preheat your grill to medium heat. Once the grill is hot hot, brush the grates with oil.
- Grill the carrots on on the bottom rack for about 5-8 minutes or until heated through and the grill marks have formed. The carrots should easily release from the grill.
- Flip and heat for another 2-3 minutes to add grill marks to the other side.
Oven Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400ºF.
- Place carrot dogs on a cast iron grill or a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Brush the carrots with a bit of extra marinade.
- Bake for 10-15 min, then flip each carrot. Bake for another 5-10 minutes.
Stovetop Instructions
- Heat 1 Tablespoon of oil over medium heat in a skillet or grill pan.
- Carefully place the carrots in your skillet.
- Heat on each side for about 5 minutes or until heated through. While the carrots cook, brush them with the extra marinade.
Notes
To marinate the carrots in the Instant Pot
- Add the marinade ingredients and the peeled carrots to your Instant Pot.
- Using the manual or pressure setting, set the Instant Pot to 3 minutes high pressure.
- Once the cooking time is done, turn the steam valve to release the steam.
- Allow the carrots to sit in the marinade for at least 30 minutes for more flavor.
- To store marinated carrots: Add the carrots and marinade to a ziplock bag or airtight container large enough to fit them. Store in the fridge for up to 24 hours then grill on the BBQ, cook on the stovetop, or bake in the oven.
- To store grilled carrot dogs: Place the grilled dogs in an airtight container or ziplock bag. Store in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
Serving: 1carrot dog | Calories: 35kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 1g | Sodium: 50mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g
