Vegan carrot hotdogs are such a fun, creative, tasty meal. At first it can be surprising that a carrot can successfully replace a hotdog but the flavours of the sweet, smoky and tangy sauce coupled with the soft hot-dog like texture of the carrot will quickly win you over.
These vegan carrot hotdogs are perfect for enjoying at family movie/film night, super bowl or game night, parties, barbecues or cook-outs, buffets or just for fun, easy mid-week meals.
Carrot hotdogs can be easily prepared gluten-free by using a gluten-free soy sauce such as Tamari, as well as a gluten-free veggie stock, and using gluten-free buns/rolls or bread.
Vegan Carrot Hotdogs
These carrot dogs are a staple at our house as my kids absolutely love them, my daughter gets so excited whenever we have these for dinner. I love that they are so easy to cook and I don't have to open a packet or box but simply prepare a few carrots, pour the stock into a saucepan with the flavourings, and simmer until cooked!
Serve with a crunchy rainbow salad and/or some home-made potato wedges or fries. Perfect for summer lunches and dinners, or a family fake-away.
Or even enjoy chilled for picnics and pack lunches.
Planning a summer BBQ?
A batch of already cooked carrot dogs can be left in the fridge to marinade further in the cooking juices for up to 4 days. Reheat the carrot dogs on the BBQ to boost the flavours further and achieve some lovely authentic grill lines! Or simply reheat by simmering in a pan of veggie stock for a quick nutritious lunch.
If you have kids this recipe is ideal for some supervised summer holiday cooking while at the same time demonstrating to kids that veggies are incredibly versatile, creative and tasty.
How to easily prepare vegan carrot hotdogs:
Scrub, peel or leave the peel on if unblemished.
Top and tail the ends.
Sculpt the ends so they are a little more rounded.
Slice very thick carrots lengthways.
Bring to a boil.
Lower the heat and simmer for 60 minutes.
Once the carrots are ready the stock will be very thick and concentrated.
Pop in a carrot dog and top with your favourite garnishes such as vegan mayonnaise, mustard and pickled gherkins.
Recipe Notes And FAQs
Store your carrot dogs in the fridge in a covered container, with any remaining cooking sauce, for up to 4 days.
The carrots and sauce will improve in flavour as each day goes by!
Reheat by placing the carrot dogs in a saucepan along with the sauce, add a little veggie stock to nearly cover the carrots and bring to a simmer. Heat for a few minutes until the carrots are piping hot throughout.
Alternatively reheat under a grill, turning for even browning, until nice and hot.
These carrot dogs are amazing for BBQs. Reheat the carrots on a BBQ, turning to evenly brown the sides. Brush the carrot sides with some of the sauce during reheating.
Or heat up the carrot dogs in a frying pan/skillet with some of the sauce and a little bit of veggie stock if necessary. Simply reheat in the sauce, flipping the carrots frequently until nice and hot
* The carrot dog sauce will be very concentrated and bursting with flavour so don't waste it. Instead add some to any soups, stews, or sauces that would be complimented with a BBQ flavour.
* Such as chilli's, lasagnes, tomato and bean soups, pasta sauce, etc.
* Also try spreading the sauce over a veggie burger or on tofu slices for a sandwich.
* If you prepare your own veggie burgers add the sauce as a flavouring.
* Use the sauce as a marinade for tofu, tempeh, veggies, soya chunks, etc.
* Mix the sauce through a tray of veggies and roast at a medium-hot heat until cooked
Your favourite condiments, sauces, dips and toppings that you enjoy with veggie burgers, sausages, etc are perfect for carrot hotdogs.
- vegan mayonnaise
- vegan sour cream
- vegan salad cream
- vegan thousand island dip/sauce
- sweet chilli sauce
- tomato ketchup
- brown sauce
- BBQ sauce
- mustard
- salsa
- guacamole
- vegan refried beans
- pickles
- gherkins/dill pickles
- fermented red cabbage
- kimchi/pickled cabbage
- vegan grated cheese
- sliced onions
- jalapenos
- fresh chilli's
* potato salad
* vegan coleslaw
* pickles
* mixed salad
* mixed bean salad
* pasta salad
* couscous salad
* onion slices/rings
* fries/chips/wedges
* guacamole
* salsa
* baked potato
Take your carrot hotdogs to a new level by topping with a few scoops of the following delicious meals.
This is a perfect way to use up small amounts of leftover meals by repurposing them to top carrot dogs.
So yummy, dinner just got more interesting!
Vegan Chilli Macaroni and Cheese
Vegan Carrot Hotdogs
Equipment
- Medium sized saucepan
Ingredients
- 8 whole carrots small-medium in size depending on how large your hotdog rolls are. Longer, thinner carrots are best but larger carrots can be sliced down lengthways to create 2 hot dogs.
- 1 litre vegetable stock use a gluten-free variety if required
- 60 millilitres soya sauce or use Tamari soya sauce if requiring gluten-free
- 60 millilitres apple cider vinegar Alternatively use red wine vinegar, white wine vinegar or balsamic. Or even malt vinegar.
- 2 tablespoon nutritional yeast flakes
- 2 teaspoon smoked paprika or ordinary paprika.
- 2 teaspoon onion powder
- 2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 tablespoon soft brown sugar or an alternative sugar or syrup, such as maple syrup.
- 8 whole hot dog buns vegan, use gluten-free buns if required
Optional extras
- vegan margarine or butter for spreading on the bun
- mixed salad leaves for adding a layer on the bun
- condiments, such as tomato ketchup, mustard, BBQ sauce, etc. choose gluten-free varieties if necessary
Instructions
- Prepare your carrots. Either peel or scrub clean if the skins are unblemished. Slice the top and bottom parts off. Using a small knife or peeler scrape at the ends of the carrots to create a more rounded end. Although this is optional.
- Place all the ingredients into your saucepan and give it a stir.
- Place the carrots in the stock.
- Bring to the boil, lower the heat and simmer for 60 minutes. Add a lid and cook for another 10-15 minutes.
- Meanwhile prepare your hotdog buns, including any fillings and condiments.
- The stock will be very concentrated and thick.Check the carrots are very soft.
- Add vegan margarine to your bun if liked and a layer of salad.Pop a carrot in each bun. Add garnishes of your choice.
Notes
- Nutritional information is provided for guidance only and is not a strict calculation as ingredients vary.
- Carrot hotdogs can be stored in the fridge with any of the remaining cooking liquid. Use within 3-4 days.
- To reheat add a little extra veggie stock to the concentrated thick sauce just enough to help the carrots heat through. Bring to a simmer, place a lid on your pan, and cook for a few minutes until carrots are hot.
- Reheat your carrot dogs on a BBQ. This will add more depths of flavour and achieve some authentic grill lines. Brush the leftover sauce over the carrot dogs as they reheat.
- Enjoy ready-made carrot dogs in the bun for a packed lunch or picnic. Just chill the carrot dog in the bun with the salad and condiments added, and wrap up with a food-safe wrapping. They taste amazing chilled.
- Leftover cooking stock will be very concentrated in flavour. So if you have eaten all the carrot dogs and have some of the sauce remaining it can be added to any stew, chilli, or soup you may be making that would be tasty with the extra BBQ flavour.
- Or use leftover stock as a marinade for tofu pieces, brush the stock over and allow to marinade for a few hours, before baking in a medium-hot oven for about 25 minutes. Add the tofu pieces to a salad or sandwich.
- For gluten-free carrot hotdogs choose a gluten-free bun/roll/bread. Also select a gluten-free veggie stock and soy sauce. Tamari soy sauce is usually free from gluten but do check.
Emily
This is such a clever recipe and I can't wait to make these for my friend at our BBQ. She doesn't eat meat and I want to surprise her. So fun!
Great! Hope you friend has a brilliant BBQ and loves the carrot dogs 🙂
Sadia Malik
I love these and they look like real hot dogs, awesome idea!
Thanks so much! These carrot dogs are so much better for you than real hot dogs!
Adrianne
I would never have thought of using carrots instead of meat sausages! What a great idea. Love that your daughter enjoys them also.
Thanks. My daughter really does love these carrot dogs 🙂
Beth
My son and hubby absolutely loved this recipe! Such a big hit here and packed with so much flavor! I will be making this again very soon!
Wonderful that your family enjoyed the carrot dogs so much! Its a favourite with my family also 🙂
sali
Hi can these be done in the slow cooker do you think?
Yes, I would think carrot dogs would be great for the slow cooker. Thanks for the great idea as I was just thinking yesterday evening that I wanted to cook some carrot dogs and I think the slow cooker would be perfect. Although, I will give it a go and see how much liquid needs to be added, etc and update the post with some info. x
Alexa
I loove hotdogs but trying to reduce my meat consumption! We lived these carrot hot dogs! Thanks for this amazing idea!
Brilliant. Over the moon that you loved the carrot dogs. They are the perfect fun meal for including more plant-based meals into your diet 🙂
AISilva
I love any trick or tip that might get my kids to eat more veggies ,and this will definitely do the trick.Never thought of making hot dogs out of carrots, great idea!
Your kids might not even suspect these hotdogs are carrots! Would love to know what they thought of them 🙂