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
- Start by picking out the medium-sized carrots in the bag. You want to select uniform-sized carrots that aren’t too big or too small on either end. Also, they should be about the width of a hot dog or slightly bigger.
- Cut the ends off of each carrot. Leave them about 1 inch longer than the size of the bun to have room to shape the ends.
- Then, peel the carrots shaping and rounding the ends with the peeler for a uniform “hot dog” look. To shape the ends, hold the carrot in one hand peeling the end furthest away from you. Use small downward strokes turning the carrot while you peel to round the end. You can also skip rounding the ends and leave them with straight cuts for quicker prep.
Marinate The Carrots
- Pour the marinade into a large skillet with a lid and mix, then add the carrots. The pan should be large enough that the carrots lay flat on the bottom.
- Cover the pan with the lid and bring the marinade to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat and simmer the carrots for about 20-30 minutes. The carrots are done when a fork can be poked into them with little resistance.
- When the carrots are done, remove the pan from the heat. Allow the carrots to rest in the marinade for at least 30 minutes before grilling, but 1-2 hours is best for more flavor.
- See notes to marinate them in the Instant Pot, and instructions for storing the marinated carrots if you're not ready to grill them.
- 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
