Vegan carrot hotdogs are such a a fun and tasty meal. Surprisingly veggie hotdogs do actually have the texture and taste similar to regular hot-dogs. You've got to try them and see for yourself, the carrot-dogs are pretty easy to prepare in one-pot. Carrot hot-dogs are perfect for for family film nights, game day snacks, parties, buffets, pot-luck, or for just fun and easy meals.Also it's pretty easy to prepare a batch of carrot hot-dogs and take them on a camping trip, or for a BBQ or cookout, as they can be easily reheated over a camp-fire or grill.
8wholecarrots[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.]
1litrevegetable broth[use a gluten-free variety if required]
60millilitressoy sauce[or use Tamari soya sauce if requiring gluten-free]
60millilitresapple cider vinegar[Alternatively use red wine vinegar, white wine vinegar or balsamic. Or even malt vinegar.]
2tablespoonsoft brown sugaror an alternative sugar or syrup, such as maple syrup.
Hot dog bread buns:
8wholehot dog bunsvegan, use gluten-free buns if required or can replace with large lettuce leafs
Optional extras:
vegan margarine or butter[for spreading on the bun]
mixed salad leaves[for adding a layer on the bun]
Instructions
Prepare your carrots. Either peel or just scrub clean if the skins are unblemished. Remove the top and bottom part of each carrot.Using a small knife or peeler scrape at the ends of the carrots to create a more rounded end. although this is an optional step.
8 whole carrots
Place the carrots into the saucepan.
Pour over the vegetable broth and add the rest of the ingredients. Give the broth a stir around the carrots so that the ingredients are mixed through.
Bring to the boil, lower the heat, and simmer for 60 minutes. After 60 minutes pop a lid over the pan and cook for another 10-15 minutes, the exact times will depend on how thick your carrots are. Larger thicker carrots will take longer but smaller carrots may be cooked quicker than the times specified here.[The longer cooking time does result in butter soft carrots that still hold their shape so its so worth it]
Meanwhile prepare your hotdog buns, including any fillings and condiments. Keep your eye on the carrots and don't let the sauce boil dry, just gently bubble and if you think the sauce requires a little extra liquid pour in a few tablespoons of water.
8 whole hot dog buns, vegan margarine or butter, mixed salad leaves
The sauce will now be very concentrated and thick so check to see if your carrots are very soft.
Once cooked pop a carrot into each bun and add your preferred garnishes.
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 sauce. Use within 3-4 days.
To reheat add a little extra veggie broth 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 very hot.
Or reheat your carrot dogs on a BBQ or grill. 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 cooked carrot dogs, along with a bread bun, for a packed lunch or picnic. Just chill the carrot dog in the bun with the salad, and wrap up with food-safe wrapping. They taste amazing chilled.
Leftover sauce 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, sauce, or soup you may be making that would be tasty with the extra BBQ flavour.
Or use leftover stock as a marinade for tofu, brush the sauce 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.
Do have a look at our recipe notes and FAQ section above the recipe for more useful ideas about sides, repurposing leftover sauce, etc.
For gluten-free carrot hotdogs choose a gluten-free bread bun or go with a large lettuce leaf to use as a bread-free wrap. Also select a gluten-free veggie broth and a gluten-free soy sauce such as Tamari.
To prepare carrot-dogs in the slow cooker:
Add the carrots along with all the ingredients to a slow cooker, ensuring that the carrots are covered in liquid, so add more broth if necessary.
Cook on the high setting for 4-5 hours with exact times depending on your carrots thickness and your slow cooker. Our carrot hot-dogs weighed about 45-60 grams [1 ½ - 2 oz] each and took about 4 hours 45 minutes to cook in a Swan 3.5 litre slow cooker which has a ceramic cooking pot.
The carrot hot-dogs are ready once a skewer easily pierces through the carrot, so try to ensure that each carrot is similar in size so that they cook at the same time.
Dish up the hot-dogs or keep warm until required by using the slow cooker low setting or a keep warm setting if it has one.
Use a fork or tongs to remove the carrot hot-dogs from the cooking liquid.