Smoky Grilled Carrot Vegan Dogs
Whole carrots are steamed until tender, marinated overnight in a smoky, savory brine, and then grilled to charred perfection. Served in soft buns, they offer a surprisingly satisfying plant-based alternative to classic hot dogs.
Instructions
Step 1: Prep the carrots
Peel the carrots and trim them to match the length of your hot dog buns. If needed, shave down the thicker ends so they are a uniform width for even cooking.
Step 2: Steam until tender-crisp
Set a steamer basket over a pot with 1 inch of simmering water. Add the carrots, cover, and steam for 10–12 minutes until they are fork-tender but still possess a bit of resistance in the center.
Step 3: Make the marinade
In a shallow dish, whisk together the apple cider vinegar, soy sauce, smoked paprika, and garlic powder. Add the steamed carrots, then pour in enough of the water to fully submerge them. Let cool, cover, and refrigerate overnight.
Step 4: Preheat the grill
Preheat a grill or grill pan to medium-high heat. Remove the carrots from the marinade and pat them dry with a paper towel. Drizzle with the avocado oil to lightly coat.
Step 5: Grill to char
Grill carrots 5–7 minutes, turning as char marks form on each side, until heated through and slightly blistered.
Step 6: Assemble and serve
Tuck the grilled carrot dogs into the buns and top with sweet relish, mustard, and your other preferred fixings. Serve hot.
Ingredients
- 8 medium carrots (peeled and trimmed)
- ¼ cup of apple cider vinegar
- ¼ cup of soy sauce (or tamari)
- 1 tbsp of smoked paprika
- 1 tsp of garlic powder
- 1 cup of water (or as needed)
- 1 tbsp of avocado oil
- 8 hot dog buns
- ½ cup of sweet relish (for serving)
Nutritional Info
per serving
- Calories:
- 175kcal
- Protein:
- 5g
- Carbs:
- 31g
- Fat:
- 4g