Are you ready for this one? I sure hope so because, to date, this is definitely one of my favorite (yet simplest) recipes that I have shared with you all here on my blog!
What comes to mind when you think of the upcoming Fourth of July holiday? For me, I think of family, friends, fireworks, drinks, warm weather, and great grillin’ food, of course! Before adopting a vegetarian lifestyle, I was the first one in line to eat a freshly grilled hot dog with all of the fixings. Grilled hot dogs were my go-to Summer food of choice. It has been at least a year and a half since I have eaten a “real” hot dog. On occasion, I will eat vegetarian “hot dogs,” but the ingredients list for the majority of these is often not the most impressive. They usually contain unnecessary additives, can be quite processed, and are rarely vegan. So what is a mostly plant-based person supposed to make and eat for the Fourth of July? Why, carrot “hot dogs,” of course! 😉
I first encountered the concept of a carrot “hot dog” while reading a restaurant menu online. Unfortunately, I cannot remember the restaurant menu that I was looking at, so all I can tell you is that all of the credit for the inspiration of these dogs should not go to me! I did a little searching around the web, as well, and adapted my recipe from this recipe and this recipe.
Vegan Carrot “Hot Dogs”
Servings: Makes 2 “hot dogs”
Ingredients
2 large carrots, peeled, with the ends cut off (I cut mine to the size of the hot dog bun)
1/4 cup Bragg’s Liquid Aminos (you could also use soy sauce)
1/4 cup water
1 TB seasoned rice vinegar
1 TB sesame oil
1/2 TB apple cider vinegar
dash liquid smoke
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 tsp dried ginger
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/8 tsp granulated onion powder
olive oil cooking spray
2 whole wheat hot dog buns
desired hot dog toppings
Directions
1. Boil carrots for approximately 6 to 8 minutes, or until fork tender but not mushy. After removing the carrots from the boiling water, run them under cold water to stop the cooking process.
2. While the carrots are cooking, whisk together the Bragg’s, water, vinegars, sesame oil, liquid smoke, garlic, and seasonings.
3. Combine the carrots and the marinade in a zipper gallon-size bag (I actually used two in case of a leak), or in an air-tight container. Shake gently until the carrots are coated with the marinade. Place the carrots in the refrigerator for at least 24 hours.
4. To cook the carrots, spray a medium skillet with olive oil cooking spray. Turn the heat to medium and place the carrots and about 1/2 cup of the marinade into the skillet. Heat the carrots for approximately 8 to 10 minutes, or until warm.
The carrots should go from looking like this:
to looking like this:
The carrots get a nice crispy and seasoned coating on them from the marinade. This also helps give the “hot dogs” a more brown/tan color than their original orange color.
5. Serve your carrot “hot dogs” in a bun and top them with your favorite hot dog toppings.
I served my carrot “hot dog” with coleslaw mix, sliced yellow onions, dill relish, yellow mustard, and a hint of sriracha sauce. And keeping with the Summer grilling theme, I paired my “hot dogs” (yes, I definitely had two!) with an ear of corn on the cob.
You guys….these are seriously good! I know that the whole concept of using a carrot in place of a hot dog seems a bit strange (though I am carrot obsessed so it comes as no surprise that I loved the idea), but these really do taste great! The marinade is definitely the trick when it comes to these dogs. The ingredients of the marinade combined with the marinade time in the refrigerator changes a carrots from tasting like a carrot into tasting very similar to a hot dog. The texture and slight crunch of the carrot was delicious, and with all of the added toppings, I really think that I could have fooled myself into thinking that I was eating a vegan “hot dog” as opposed to eating a carrot!
I sent several of the above pictures to different family members and friends and they all thought that it looked like a deliciously grilled hot dog. But, here is the proof that it is, in fact, definitely a carrot. Look at that bright orange color on the inside!
So…carrot “hot dogs,” huh? Yes, they sound a bit strange, but they are delicious. You really MUST make these. Not just because they taste awesome and are a much healthier option, but also because I think it is just absolutely cool that you can turn a vegetable into a hot dog. I am telling you right now, vegans eat some damn good food! 🙂
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Wow, I shouldve added these to my 4th of July recipes!
They are definitely SO perfect for the 4th!
Wow I love this! It is so crazy and different but that’s what makes it sound so good!
I’m bookmarking this and trying it really soon 🙂
Awesome! And I love different so it is perfect :). Let me know what you think!
Hahaha I love that you’ve got a recipe for this. I had to read the title twice before believing it. Not sure it’s my cup of tea but I am definitely impressed! 🙂
Haha, pretty cool, huh? Definitely VERY unique!
Okay this is so strange and random- but sounds soo good! I actually don’t like hot dogs- so a carrot sounds way better to me on a bun anyways!
Well, I am thinking that you should definitely give these a try then! 😉
I LOVE this idea. I really do enjoy the taste of hot dogs, but all the ingredients just freak me out. Plus I’m not trying to have all those nitrates either. This is a great share and just in time for the holiday. Thanks, Hannah! Looks great. And I also like my hot dogs with yellow onion and mustard 😉
I LOVE experimenting with new toppings, but I always go back to the traditional toppings. I can’t have a hot dog (in this case a “hot dog”) without yellow mustard!
This is so, so creative!!! LOVE this! I like making homemade veggie dogs, but these look like even easier. Thanks so much for sharing! 🙂
You’re welcome! Please let me know if you try them.
I love, love, LOVE this!!! I’m not even vegetarian and I can totally get on board. Carrots are going on the grocery list right now!
Haha, the concept is pretty fun, right? Let me know what you think and if you can get your kiddos to try them!
OK, this is genius! Definitely going to try!
Thanks! I will be curious to know what you think!
What a good idea! Vegan sausages/hotdogs can be very filling so I love this idea for a clean & healthy option!
This is definitely a very clean and healthy option. I LOVED them :).
WOAH!! I can’t believe that is a carrot from the photos – so impressive!! I love this 🙂 I’m totally going to have to give this a try.
Does it not seriously look like a hot dog? I almost amazed myself ;).
What a great idea! I actually love regular hot dogs, but I love this change!
It is definitely a great change. I like to keep things interesting! 😉
I am thinking you could add more protein by making them “corn” dogs with a batter with nutritional yeast added.
I LOVE corn dogs! Awesome idea :).
I also wonder if using chickpea flour would give it that meaty taste too.
Your batter could be a coconut flour and almond meal base for healthy fats and protein, but make sure you bake your “corn” dogs!
That would be SO good! I miss corn dogs!!
I LOVE this idea!! I don’t like sausages at all, so this is such a perfect substitute!
It so is!! Thank you! 🙂
Mind: blown. Nice work!
Haha, thank you! I am definitely loving this one.
omg! genius!
It is a pretty fun/cool concept, right?? 🙂
definitely! I am so doing this the next time my bf wants hot dogs so I can have one too
I’ve been thinking about field roast (vegan brats/sausages) alllll week, but now you have me rethinking my plan! Do you think these would grill okay? I know I’d miss out on being able to cook them in the liquid, but I like to feel normal when everyone else is grilling 😉 P.S. I totally watched a cartoon when I was younger called the Weekenders that had a vegetarian girl eating a carrot hot dog in the opening credits.
You could definitely try grilling them! Maybe trying grilling them on foil and then transferring them to the actual grill (without the foil) for the last couple of minutes to get grill marks. Let me know if you try it! I am curious as to how it would work.
Oh, grilling is the WAY TO GO”!!! That really makes them even MORE amazing! Just don’t let them get mushy… I never have, so not sure what to say, but someone else mentioned that; not sure if they meant when you initially cooked them or while grilling, but oh my, the grilled carrot dog is out-of-this-world!!
I am so glad that you have been enjoying them, Nancy! I (surprisingly) have not tried them grilled, but I need to! I have heard that quite a few others enjoy them that way.
Hmmmm I can’t decide if I will love or loathe this recipe, but I defintiely want to give it a try. There’s something I miss about the idea of hot dogs, but definitely not the ingredients! I think I’m gonna bring this to my fourth of july celebration!
You should absolutely give these a try! They are tasty :).
Cute idea, girl! I would never have thought to use carrots for hot dogs!
Pretty crazy, huh? They are really tasty, though!
When I saw the picture before reading the title, I thought for sure that thing was a real hot dog, lol! These are fun, interesting and it looks like they taste like the real thing!
Don’t they look SO much like hot dogs? I was pretty amazed by it.
Wow – what a cool recipe! I had no idea what to expect when I read the title of the post, but this is such a neat idea. I’ll pass it along to a few of my veggie friends. 🙂
Awesome! I hope they enjoy it!
That is seriously an amazing idea! I would never think of something like that!
It is pretty neat, isn’t it? It is amazing the things that you can make vegan!
Oh goodness, I love these! And I can’t believe how much they look like real hotdogs! I was so confused at first! Impressed lovely!
I had no idea that they were going to end up looking SO much like real hot dogs. I found that to be pretty awesome!
I kept having to take a double take! It looked so much like a ‘meat’ hot dog! This is genius!
Doesn’t it? That marinade sure is a miracle worker! 😉
I am not a vegetarian and LOVE hot dogs so I have no problem eating the real thing. But these sound so interesting and look great, I’m going to have to try them!
I hope that you do and that you enjoy them! 🙂
That is incredibly unique AND after reading the post, sounds really tasty! Wow!
They are VERY tasty. I cannot wait to make them again!
It looks just like a real hot dog!!! Great Post!
Thank you!!! I am loving these :).
I usually only like carrots in soups or when they are very tender. If you say this is amazing I must take your word for it. Perhaps I’ll try this out for dinner tomorrow 🙂
Oh, you should definitely try it! You won’t know until you do, right? 😉
Wait, this is like the coolest idea EVER. You’re a genius! I am so so so excited to try this 🙂
Haha, you are too funny! 😉 I hope that you LOVE them! Please let me know how they are!
Oh my goodness, the picture of this does not look like a carrot. The flavor combinations sound really good and like the perfect pairing with summer BBQ foods.
It really doesn’t look like a carrot until you see the inside! Pretty crazy, huh? 🙂
Wow this looks amazing!! 🙂 I would never have thought of this!!
It is a pretty unique idea, huh? They are tasty, too!! 🙂
Fantastic! They look just like hot dogs! And even though they’re not, still sound delish!
They SO are! You should definitely give them a try :).
That is creativity if I’ve ever seen it! I never in a million years would have thought that was a carrot, such a cool idea for a veggie hot dog alternative!
It really does look like a hot dog, doesn’t it? Yet another reason to LOVE carrots :).
Hahaha this is the most adorable thing ever! I totally love this idea because I hate hot dogs but I love the thought of grilled holiday foods like this. Even when I ate meat, hot dogs were a no no because of their ingredient list. And you’re right about vegetarian hot dogs – GROSS and too long of a list of ingredients. You are so creative and you are now invited to my 4th of July festivities so you can make me this. K, thanks. 🙂
Perfect! Tell me when and where and I will be there! 😉
I am so not a normal hot dog person. I’ve seen way too many videos about how hot dogs are made and how many different meats go into them, so I’ve been reluctant to eat any type of hot dog since. This hot dog seems right up my alley! Vegan carrot hot dogs? I’m way too intrigued to not try these. They are the perfect thing to make for the fourth!
They are SO intriguing, aren’t they? I love anything that involves carrots!
this is the most creative thing I have seen this in a longgg time.
Creative AND yummy! You should definitely give them a try!!
Wow! I never would have thought to place a carrot in a hot dog bun! Super creative!
It is definitely very unique, isn’t it? But SUPER delicious!
Wow, I’ve never seen this idea before, how cool! I’ve eaten my fair share of vegan hot dogs too. I would love to try this, thanks for the great idea!
Please let me know if you give them a try! I think you will like them :).
This is too awesome! I have got to make these!
Yes, yes you do!! 🙂 Please let me know what you think!
SO COOL! Def trying it. You always have the best ideas and recipes.
Aw, thank you! I appreciate that!
Wow! I want to try the carrot dogs. They look awesome!
They are!! You must try them :).
Oh my goodness. I want to go to the store right now and buy carrots so I can make these immediately.
Unfortunately I am going out of town tomorrow.
But this is GENIUS. So creative. I can’t wait to try it. 🙂
They are pretty fabulous, aren’t they?? Please try them when you get back into town and let me know what you think! 🙂
I really want to try this! It’s one of those “so crazy that it might work” kinda things. haha 🙂
My thoughts exactly! And they definitely turned out well for me :).
Wow, I would absolutely try one of these. 🙂
You should! Please let me know what you think!
If this is one of your favorites, it’s GOTTA be good!!! This is so cool 🙂
It REALLY is! I cannot wait to make them again, except next time I will be making more than just 2!
Everything tastes better in a bun…although these hot dogs alone sound delicious :)!
Haha, I SO agree..and with lots of great toppings :).
What a great idea! I’m big on hot dogs but I’m also newly vegetarian – I don’t like eating all the ‘fake meats’ either as they have a ton of sodium. I’m def going to use this, thanks!
Agreed! I hope that you give these a try :).
I actually just saved a carrot hot dog recipe the other day.. but hey you can never have too many 🙂 Thanks for sharing, beautiful!
No you can’t, especially since they are SO good!! They are a must try!
Amazing!!! This is brilliant!! I so want to make this at work and freak people out 🙂 I think some people would LOVE IT, others would be afraid. Oh gosh, I’m trying this one day.
It is definitely one of those things that you have to be a bit daring to try! 😉
Hahaha this is SO clever!!!!! I have never seen this before! Love it 🙂
Awesome, right?? Please let me know if you try them!
This is wild! I’ve been looking for some new grilling ideas that don’t involve processed soy products. Thanks 🙂
Haha, well these are perfect! ALL natural “hot dogs!”
How creative!!
They you! They are different AND tasty!
Hahaha! I love this! 😀 My husband and I are cracking up over this. I wonder if I could trick my daughters…..
You should totally try!…and then let me know how it goes! 😉
WHAT!!!??! CARROTS!?! Oh my gosh YES this is the most amazing recipe for summer EVER! I cannot wait to try these, they look SO good!
Aren’t they cool? I had to try them for the simple fact that the concept alone is so unique!
This is genius!!! (<<< genius said in a super high squeally voice just so you know).
I say this every time with you, but these LOOK SO REAL!!
Haha, you are too kind! They ARE pretty awesome, though! 😉
What’s crazy is that I thought it was an actual hot dog before I even scrolled down!
I know, right?? They look super real! I should definitely try to trick some people with these.
Oh my gosh you would never think of this! Wow. I am impressed. I love this recipe and I’m definitely trying it! I am pescatarian and I stopped eating hot dogs about a year ago because of all the nitrates and yucky additives. I am thrilled that I can eat these! 😉 Thank you!
That is great! It is always nice to find a great vegetarian/vegan option! I hope you enjoy them :).
WOW!!!! That looks amazing
It REALLY is!! Give it a try!
I bookmarked this immediately when I saw you had posted it and marinated my carrots last night. Just ate them for supper and THEY. ARE. AMAZING! Thank you so much for the recipe!! 😀
Awesome!! I am so glad that you enjoyed them :).
This is brilliant!!!!!
Aw, thank you!!
This is such a cool idea! I’ve never been a big fan of hot dogs but I love carrots and I love how they really do look like hot dogs! I’m definitely going to try this out.
You definitely should! Please let me know what you think!
Great idea for keeping the bbq fare whole-foods based rather than use a processed veggie dog. I ran across this idea in the past but forgot about it. This time I’ll have to give it a try!
Yes, you definitely NEED to make it!!
This is such a weird idea! I’d never think to use a carrot as a hot dog replacement . . I have to try it! 🙂
Weird..but GOOD! Try it out for yourself :).
This was delicious. With the toppings (mustard, coleslaw, relish and ketchup) and the smokey/sesame oil marinade, it never once felt like I was eating a carrot.
I know, right?? I am SO glad that you enjoyed it!!
Cool! I’ve been making Carrot Dogs for years now and this is the first time I’ve seen a recipe online for them! Winter Park, Colorado has had a few Hot Dog Stand vendors that also made carrot dogs but when we moved off the mountain, I had to start making my own. They are surprisingly delicious and everyone in my family loves it when I make them! I’m going to try your method … Thanks for sharing and bravo!! 🙂
Yay! I am glad that you love carrot dogs, too!
I thought it was a crazy idea,but it’s really good. My carrots were very big and I cut them in half. I think they absorbed more of the marinade this way because they’re not orange on the inside.
I am glad that you liked them!! I am totally hooked on them :).
Awesome! I’ve gotta try this. I’m trying to eat a little healthier this month. I just shared the recipe on my blog: http://www.oliviacleansgreen.com/2013/10/meatless-monday-favorite-veggie-dog.html
I got the ingredients for this today and my 8 “hot dogs” are marinating now. I am going to eat them with my own home fermented saurkraut and pickles and some brown mustard. I already know the marinade tastes just like a hotdog. I’ve been a vegetarian for 2 years or more and just now started eating vegan. I used to really be able to put away some hot dogs so I know I will love this.
That is fantastic!! I am so glad you are trying it 🙂 Please let me know how they turn out! Oh, and your homemade sauerkraut sounds awesome!
It was very good. I used soy sauce because I couldn’t find braggs and I think they were a little too salty. I’m going to order some braggs on amazon and see if that makes a difference. They looked and tasted like hot dogs. It’s funny that I haven’t had a hot dog in years until I became vegan. Lol
And definitely a good use of my fermented sauerkraut.
It is definitely fun to be able to eat “hot dogs” again! 😉 And yes, try the Bragg’s. It is much lower in sodium so hopefully that will help!
I have made these several times now and they are great. Tastes just like hot dogs only better. I have some baby carrots marinating right now. 1 bag baby carrots and 4x the marinade. Tomorrow I am goin to cook them all and then I’m putting them in some locally made “Head Coutry” (available almost everywhere but you should try it) BBQ sauce and serving cocktail weenies at my family reunion again with my fermented sauerkraut. I’m guessing nobody will know they aren’t made from “mechanically separated pork, chicken and beef” until they taste a few. 😉
I was just about to ask if smaller pieces could be marinated and used in other dishes as a substitute for meat, but your post answered that question beautifully. This recipe seems highly adaptable – love your BBQ cocktail weenie idea!
It sounds delicious, doesn’t it?!
These were great! Has anyone tried freezing them after soaking in the marinade? I would love to have them prepped ahead of time and pull them out of the freezer and cook them up. Thanks for sharing.
I am SO glad that you liked them! I have not tried freezing them, but you have me intrigued. If you try it, let me know how they turn out!
They freeze beautifully! I make TONS of them and when I want two or more (for myself!), I just take them out and put them under the grill… OMG, they are soooooo amazing!
Hi there!
First, I love your blog overall. I am a sometimes-vegan {like 4-6 months out of the year} and your recipes are so creative and interesting, love. I also hate hot dogs {I KNOOOW!} I usually feel so left out at hot-dog eating events, but now I can SO not wait to try this recipe! It also seems like a great lunch idea for my little nieces {I pride myself on being their whole foods good-influence :)}. Do you think that if you sprayed them with cooking spray after marinading they could stand a flash on a grill just for char marks?
Thanks for sharing!
Sarah
Thank you so much for your kind feedback, Sarah! I hope you give these “hot dogs” 😉 a try and love them as much as I do! And awesome job on being such great, healthy aunt! It sounds like you are a wonderful influence.
I think that grilling these is certainly possible. The only thing that makes me unsure is that when I cook them on the stovetop I always add more marinade for them to cook in so that they soak up more of the flavor. You might try cooking them halfway through on the stove with some of the marinade and then grilling them up for the last couple of minutes. I am intrigued to see what happens so let me know how it works if you try it!
Wow! I’m just seeing this because the Vegucated facebook page posted this link. These sounds so good! I was laughing at first when I saw the picture because I halfway thought it was a joke, thinking that I would totally eat them but I would never hear the end of it from my husband (who is an omni). But after looking at the recipe, these sound even more enticing and I’m definitely going to make him try one 🙂 Thanks for posting this recipe. I can’t wait to see how it tastes!
Thank you, Taylor! Please let me know what you (and your husband!) think! They definitely sound a bit strange at first, but even my omni parents enjoyed them 🙂
I made these again for a block party and I only made 8 of them and they were gone. Everyone really loved them, including the people who claim to only eat meat. Lol. It was a hit. Thanks again for posting this awesome recipe.
That is SO awesome!! Who knew carrots could be so popular, right? 😉
Vegans eat good food. True.
SO true!! 🙂
Totally made these last night and had them for lunch today. Loved it! I’m sad I only brought one to lunch today! I should have let the carrots boil longer but was scared of turnig them into mush. But over all yum!!! Totally remaking them! Thank you so much for this recipie!
I am SO glad that you liked them!! Thank you for letting me know 🙂
Thank You so much for the inspiration!
I made these (with a bit of a twist) over the weekend – I’m in love!
I’ll be eating MANY of these over the Summer!
Since becoming vegan I’ve noticed that most of the blogs and recipes I encounter have comments that do not state whether the food is good or not. Almost all the comments on see on these sites are about how good the food looks or how much the person looks forward to trying them, but there’s never a review of the recipe by someone who has attempted to make it or try it.
That being said, I just made these yesterday and they are really really good. I doubled the recipe so I could make carrot weenies out of baby carrots, and accidentally added a bit more than a dash of liquid smoke, but the outcome was very good. I added chopped red onion and sauerkraut to the top of my carrot dogs and the combination was a winner. I will definitely make this again (although with less liquid smoke and maybe some personal twists), and I suggest anyone who sees this try it out. Even if you’re not vegan this definitely has to be a healthier option then regular hot dogs and, at least in my opinion, better tasting.
Hey there interesting recipe! I am not a vegan or anything, but I ended up stumbling upon this recipe. I would really like to try this. I’m curious though, how would you describe the taste? Also do you leave it in the marinade for 24 hours or just in the fridge after coating it in the marinade for 24 hours?
How do they taste you ask? Well, to me, they taste just like a hot dog, but EVEN BETTER! The texture is so much like a hot dog… I used to be a hot dog addict, until I saw what went into them… yuck! I was really doubtful that I’d like these, but gave them a try.. Oh my!
Made these today, so, so good! Thank you for helping me satisfy a craving I didn’t want to have 🙂
I am so glad to hear that you enjoyed them!! Thank you for the feedback 🙂
These carrot dogs are amazing!!! I would eat them on the Fourth of July!!!! Could not believe it but if you close your eyes and bite one even plain. It tastes like a good hot dog!!! I am sold! Marinate and then marvel!
I’m so glad that you enjoyed them! Isn’t it amazing how similar they taste to the real deal?
I am going to marinate this today for tomorrow’s lunch! I love the occasional veggie dog but I hate the stuff that is in them so this is the perfect alternative (Plus carrots are wonderful and less expensive).
Carrots are definitely one of my favorite vegetables! I hope you enjoy them 🙂
Unique idea, and very tasty too. The doubled recipe did wind up a bit salty with Braggs though, so I think next time I’ll use low sodium soy sauce or tamari instead.
Thank you, Kari! I am sure they would be tasty with tamari!
I didn’t even have half of the ingredients in your recipe so I had to make a variation…omg – delicious!!! I would do this again and again. I have recently become allergic to regular hot dogs and this is a terrific, healthy alternative that tastes great! Thank you!
That is wonderful, Diana! I am SO glad you enjoyed them! Thanks for letting me know 🙂
I love this recipe!! These taste sooooo much like hot dogs – thank you!!
Thank you Mimi! I am so glad that you enjoy them!!
I had these this weekend and I am obsessed!! I thought the idea sounded gross when my brother’s girlfriend mentioned it– but they are crazy good!!!
Haha, they do sound a bit strange don’t they? The taste is a fun surprise…and quite tasty if I do say so myself! I’m so glad you like them 🙂
This recipe sounds just delicious. I love the entire idea. The liquid smoke is the key, I’m guessing. Thank you for sharing. Amybeth Hurst, Portand, ME
Thanks Amybeth! I hope you give it a try 🙂
I just made these (well; I started yesterday) today and they were fantastic. I didn’t add the water to the marinade and I finished mine off on the barbeque but they were great. I think I will cook them more on the 8 min side than the 6 as they could have been a touch softer but they were AWESOME!! Thank you..
I am so glad that you enjoyed them, Robin! Thank you for letting me know!
I have made these before but never with the seasonings – LOVE the idea and will help mask the “carrot” flavor for the kids. Thanks for a great post!
I was trying to come up with a side dish to grill and my 8 year old suddenly suggested whole carrots. My mind was blown because I had never thought of it. From the mouth of babes I suppose. After having them as a side a few times I thought they would make a perfect hot dog alternative. I was just looking up homemade veggie dogs and stumbled upon this recipe. How excited I am to see a more thought out and complete recipe. Dat veggie hive mind at work. Kudos to you lady for a great recipe.
Thanks so much for your kind words, Robert! I hope you try them and love them! 🙂
These.are.SCRUMPTIOUS! Thanks for an amazing recipe!!
I’m SO glad you enjoyed them Renee!!
Delish! Just like a restaurant that used to make them here in Jacksonville, FL. I hate mine on spelt bread. Thank you.
That sounds amazing, Paulette! I am so glad you enjoyed them 🙂
Oops I meant ate them on spelt bread not hate them. Totally different meaning
I knew what you meant! 😉
Will be trying these this weekend. I cant wait to try them. The recipe sounds outrageously wonderful.
Thanks, Michele! I hope you enjoy them 🙂
Don’t soak for 48 hours! Waaaaay too salty. Not good at all.
I normally do about 6-8 hours and have found that works best!
Carrots have been marinating since 7pm… About to cook em in about 2 1/2 hours & Can’t F*kin’ Wait!
I hope you enjoy them!!
Am very impressed, Hannah! I enjoyed these over the weekend, minus the oil. Was absolutely amazed at the taste (18 hour marinade) and texture/snap of the ‘carrot dogs’. Topped with browned onions and mustard, couldn’t be better. So good, it should be mass-marketed, as it is also ‘somewhat healthy’ and better than anything on the market 🙂 Thanks!!!
I am SO glad you enjoyed them, Lee! Great idea to add browned onions on top. And yes, mustard is a must!
I just made these tonight and I’m just amazed at how they tasted!!!
Amazing!!!
I tried to fool my husband who was not very impressed BUT he ate both of them, so that says something! (Big meat eater!) 😉
Definitely adding this to my list of MUST HAVE recipe list!!!
Thank you very much!
That’s so great to hear! I am glad you (and your husband) enjoyed them!!
Hi, I had to leave a comment because I just made these and they are INCREDIBLE. I mean seriously!! I am shocked that they taste so much(pretty much exactly the same) like hot dogs. I will never eat store bought hot dogs again. I can’t wait to try them grilled this summer. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe. It’s a game changer in my book! LOL I ate mine with browned onions, ketchup and mustard. Yummy!!
That’s so great, Gina! I’m glad you enjoyed them! I’ll have to try them with browned onions the next time I make them 🙂
Thanks for the recipe! I look forward to trying it.
I wonder if the restaurant that inspired you was Richard Blais’ HD1. They had delicious carrot dogs.
You are welcome! I hope you love it!
It is actually called M’s Pub here in Omaha!
I can’t thank you enough for this recipe… Wow! So good!!!!!! So sausagey!!!
I’m so glad you loved them!! 🙂
Made these today. Freaking awesome!!! I posted the link to my page; hopefully many of my friends and family will give it a try.
That’s so great! I’m glad you enjoyed them and that you shared them with others 🙂
I made these today and they were great. Even my teenagers liked them!
That is fantastic! I’m so glad everyone enjoyed them 🙂
I made these for my son and they were so salty I had to throw them away. In the directions you said to marinate for AT LEAST 24 hours. But then in the comments you said 6-8 hours. Could you please clarify. I let mine marinate for about 36 hours and I am so disappointed.
I always marinate mine for 24 hours, but for those who do not like them as salty, I recommend the 6-8 hours. You might try that out!
The restaurant, that has the carrot hot dogs, is M’s Pub in the Old Market, Omaha, Ne. I hear they are great!!
Yes! I still cannot believe I have not tried them yet. I need to!
Hi there! Can anyone tell me if they’ve made these without the liquid smoke and if so, were they still tasty? Thank you!
I personally have not tried it, but I say give it a go. You won’t know until you try, right? Let me know if you do!
The first recipe I made was way too spicy but I couldn’t stop eating them! I then tried this recipe and it was way too bland and too much vinegary taste…. so I must find a solution – somewhere in between… as far as the “liquid smoke” – I’m not a big fan of the taste… so I use ever so little, but I do think that it does tend to make it taste more like a hot dog. I will report back with my new recipe.
These were super delicious! Even the carnivores at the table thought they were yummy! I used light soy sauce instead of aminos and the soy was definitely the dominant flavor, but omg so good and everyone literally said these were better than the Applegate organic beef hot dogs that I made too….. thank you I will be enjoying these frequently!
I am SO glad to hear that you and your family enjoyed them! Who knew carrots could become hot dogs, right? 😉
We made these again last night but had them Vietnamese ‘bahn mi’ style….. Omg that’s the way to go!!!!! They were So. Dang. Delicious!!!!! Weight Watchers has a great recipe….. it’s on pinterest as ‘vietnamese hot dogs’ just sub the regular dog with a carrot dog! My hubby is a huge carnivore (grew up in a family that owns cattle ranches!) And even he loves these! 🙂
I LOVE bahn mi’s, so I’m sure I would LOVE that!
Loved it! Plan to reblog, will link back. The kids ate them too. The only problem I had was I planned to make 6 hot dogs, so I tripled the marinade recipe. This caused them to come out too salty. Will have to alter it next time.
I’m so glad you enjoyed them. You can absolutely cut back the amount of soy sauce/liquid aminos in order to make them less salty! Also, thank you for sharing, but please do not post the full recipe. A link back would be great!
It was set to auto-post. I will change it today when I get to the computer 🙂
Thank you!!
I love putting baby carrots in the crock pot with this recipe for some lovely “cocktail wieners”
Awesome idea! I’ll have to try that sometime!
Wow. Thanks so much. I had all the ingredients, and made for lunch. Better than hotdogs.
That’s great! I am so glad you enjoyed them 😀
I have these marinating now! The marinade is so yummy! Can’t wait to grill these up!
Yay! It is officially carrot dog season! 😀
Made a batch of 10 “sausages” at first try (I’m very optimistic). The were a hit and and all devoured! Thanks!
I’m so glad they were enjoyed by all!!
Amazing and easy recipe. Im glad I found this fresh healthy option, instead of some processed substitute full of sodium and preservatives. Thanks!!!! I will be making these soon!!!!!
I hope you enjoy this much healthier alternative!
I work nights, meaning I was unable to get my carrots marinating until 11pm tonight. Do you feel that if I cooked them tomorrow at 4pm (17 hours marinating) they would still taste good? Or should I put this off for another day and let them marinate for closer to 48 hours?
I think you will be just fine with that. That should be long enough for them to soak up most of the goodness!
I made this for a BBQ this weekend with a bunch of carnivores and they were a big hit! They were stupefied that a carrot could taste like a hot dog. I was surprised when one person told me he didn’t like them, because everyone was raving about them. I asked what he didn’t like about them, and he said they were delicious, and he couldn’t tell he was eating a carrot, and that was what he didn’t like. Sigh. So, other than that guy, everyone loved them!
Haha! Proof that you cannot please everyone 😉 I’m so glad 99% of you enjoyed them!
Had to tell you this is one of my FAVORITE recipes! I have come back to it time and again – and have shared it with friends and family. I no longer buy processed veggie dogs because these are so much tastier and healthier!
Yay, I love hearing that! Thanks so much for letting me know 🙂
I’m looking forward to trying these. I’ve been vegetarian for about 3 years and am now mostly vegan. I’ve been trying to avoid soy and so have been substituting coconut aminos for the tamari that I really have grown to love as an ingredient in my cooking. I have found that the flavor of the coconut aminos is less intense than the tamari and definitely less salty. If I were to make the same substitution in this recipe, would you recommend adding a little salt?
Honestly, you might try it without adding any extra salt first. If you read some of the comments, some people thought the marinade was TOO salty, so it may actually be just fine with the lower amount of salt. I personally like the salty taste, so if you tend to salt your food, you might add a bit. I’m excited to hear how it goes with the coconut aminos (which I now eat since I no longer eat soy). Please let me know after you make them!
Okay then…I made these tonight using the coconut aminos and no additional salt, as per your suggestion. They tasted great! It’s the combination of ingredients that really gives the carrots their “hot-doggy” taste. For the record, I’ve been trying to eat gluten free and so put my carrot dog in a big piece of lettuce…next time, I’ll find a gluten-free slice of bread since the lettuce just wasn’t “right”! Great post—thanks!
Thank you so much for letting me know how it went! I love knowing that coconut aminos are a great option for this recipe 🙂
This is an amazing idea, I can get right on board. I just bought more carrots today with this idea on my mind after reading about it.
Curious to find how how well they would hold out after maybe making enough before hand to freeze. I’m up to experiment. I think carrots do seem to freeze well, never tried after cooking them though.
Thank you for the recipe! I make Seitan, and my own tofu using ACV as coagulant every so often. This seems way more time friendly.
I have not tried freezing them, but I’d love to hear how it goes if you give it a try!
I’ve actually just kept a big container of these in the fridge for like a week. Haha. I think they taste just as good after a week as they do day 1. I’ll try freezing them next time too though!
Thanks so much for the feedback. Let us know how the freezing goes!
After you marinate the carrots over night can you freeze them and cook them another day and them still be good?
Honestly, I have never tried this so I am not sure. If you give it a go, let me know how it works!
Do they have to be marinated? Will the flavor still come through if you just cooked them in that sauce?
The marinating part is definitely important. They wouldn’t be as flavorful without that step!
Going to grab the rice vinegar and a few other things but once I do, from all the comments I’m sure it’s just the beginning soon it’ll be zuchinis, bell peppers and maybe even a banana. Lol thanks for the thought put in the recipe.
It’s pretty amazing what you can turn veggies into! 😉
This is amazing!!!
I happen to think so! 😉
Has anyone tried to cook these up on the grill?
I personally have not, but I’d love to hear how it goes if you try it out!!
Thank you so much. I will be trying these. Hot dogs are definitely my one real craving as a new vegetarian.
These should absolutely satisfy those cravings! I hope you love them!
So do these have to be peeled? I don’t have a veggie peeler and I’m too lazy to do it with a knife. Thanks for the recipe!
If I had to guess, I would think the carrots might not soak up as much of the marinade without being peeled, but it likely wouldn’t affect the taste TOO much. Let me know if you try it!
I tried these today. Not bad for the first time but mine were a little salty. Will try less Braggs next time.
Definitely let me know how your alterations go!
I have my carrots marinating in fridge right now! I love love love hot dogs – but I know they are not really good for you and I am cutting prepared things from my diet. Can’t wait to try these tomorrow!
I hope you loved them as much as I do! It’s amazing how a carrot can replace a hot dog 😉
The very first time I made carrot dogs, it was over a year and a half ago and they were out of this world! I then tried to make them again but changed the recipe and they weren’t so good… but I “think” what made my first ones so good was the addition of soy sauce, red pepper flakes and fennel seeds. Here’s the recipe if you want to try mixing and matching (just in case – I haven’t tried this particular recipe yet, so can’t comment, but certain it’s outstanding). Just another option:
– 1 cup cold vegetable broth
– 1/4 cup soy sauce
– 2 cloves garlic, grated fine
– 1 1/2 teaspoons fennel seed, crushed
– 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
– 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
– 1 teaspoon dried oregano
– Several dashes fresh black pepper
Place everything in a pan large enough for the carrots to lay flat. Bring to a slow boil. Cover, simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from heat. Allow to cool. Place in refrigerator and stir marinade over the carrot dogs every few hours. When ready to use, reheat in microwave or grill to warm and enjoy (can also be frozen)
Can you over marinate the carrots? I forgot about them for several days in the refrigerator.
It think it is possible they might get extra salty if marinated for several days, but I’d say it is worth a shot!
These are seriously THE BEST! I have made them for the biggest doubters on the planet and have won over every person who has ever tried them. They are just that good. This marinade is amazing. So happy to have this recipe in my life!
Isn’t it so fun to make people realize that carrots CAN actually taste like hot dogs? It’s a strange concept, but it works!
We have a local restraint called “Instant Karma” who makes these! Love to have the recipe to make them ourselves too!
I’m convinced they are one of the greatest things on earth!
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Impressive! Boiling my water now! So, can these be boiled marinated and then frozen?
I make these all the time now. Only thing I do different is that I use garlic powder, bc I am too lazy to dice it up fresh. I prefer these to real hot dogs, and I’m not vegan or vegetarian. I also use low sodium soy sauce as I found the soy aminos to be very salty.