summertime is here and it is the best time of year to make some vegan hot dogs! this recipe is made with vital wheat gluten and they are meaty and delicious.
the inspiration
While there are many vegan hot dogs on the market, some good, some bad. But after making this homemade recipe I will only be having these all summer long. While they are a bit time consuming to make the result is so well worth it. They are great for grilling and getting nice and crispy.
the ingredients
- Vital Wheat Gluten: this is the base of our vegan hot dogs. It will give the meaty texture. Vital wheat gluten is the protein that is found in bread and is is great for making seitan with.
- Firm Tofu: this adds softness and texture to the vegan hot dogs.
- Apple Cider Vinegar: this adds a slight note of acidity.
- Olive Oil: since our vegan hot dogs are very low in fat this will add a touch of fattiness. I like to use extra light olive oil.
- Liquid Smoke: this adds a smokey flavor, I like to use a hickory flavored liquid smoke.
- Carrots: this will add some color to the vegan hot dogs.
- Seasonings: you will need a bunch of seasonings to add flavor: salt, garlic powder, and onion powder. We will also use paprika for color.
how to make vegan hot dogs
- The first step in making the vegan hot dogs is to blend all the ingredients with water (except the vital wheat gluten). This will form into a thick but very smooth liquid which will add moisture to the seitan. You want to blend this for about 45 seconds. Making it very smooth will ensure the vegan hot dogs have a soft, smooth texture
- The trick to making any seitan is kneading it. This will help the gluten to start to form and it results in a firmer, better texture for the seitan. For this recipe you will knead the vital wheat gluten with the liquid mixture about 5 minutes or until it turns into a smooth, shiny ball. It should bounce back when you poke it.
- You can make as many vegan hot dogs as you like. I found 4 works best for a standard hot dog size but if you don’t mind them being a little smaller you can do 5 or 6. I like to use a bun to help me to determine how long they need to be. The gluten will be very tight from kneading so don’t be concerned if it takes a few minutes to roll them out. Also, they don’t need to be perfect once they steam they will plum up.
- After you roll the hot dogs out, you will first wrap them tightly in parchment paper and then roll them up in foil. You will twist the ends of the foil almost looking a big, long candy wrapper. Then you will steam the vegan hot dogs for 30 minutes.
- After we have steamed the vegan hot dogs they are ready to eat. However, I am going to very strongly urge you to grill them or crisp them in a pan. This helps to create an outer crispy layer and more of that “skin” and “snap” feel. While you can of course eat them steamed it is almost like just having a boiled hot dog if you ever ate those. You can either grill these or just pop them right in a pan to get some crispy outsides.
- Add the vegan hot dogs to a bun and serve with your favorite condiments!
why you’ll love this recipe
I think you will really love this recipe a few reasons. First, it is super high in protein – one vegan hot dog has over 18G plant protein! Two, the end result is so worth the work. Three, they are a little time consuming to make but they aren’t difficult to make. Finally, it is such a cool thing to be able to say you are making your own homemade mockmeats!
homemade vegan hot dogs faq
- Is this recipe soy free? No, it does contain tofu and liquid smoke. If you are soy free you can try swapping the tofu for cannellini beans and leave the liquid smoke out.
- Is this recipe gluten free? No, the main ingredient is vital wheat gluten. Unfortunately, there is so no substitute for this.
- Is this recipe nut free? Yes.
- Do I have to use oil? If you want to leave it out you can.
- How long will these last? Up to 3-4 days in the fridge.
- Can I freeze them? I think it should be fine.
- How do I reheat these? In a pan on the stove or pop them back on the grill.
- Do I have to wrap them in foil? Something I received a few comments on, on Instagram was about wrapping the vegan hot dogs in foil. If you don’t care about the shape and how it looks you can try steaming them without anything, however, I am not entirely sure if it will yield the proper result. Otherwise, you can also just wrap them very tightly in the parchment paper and twist the ends. Again, it may not end up with intended result.
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Homemade Vegan Hot Dogs
These homemade vegan hot dogs are sure to blow your mind! Made with tofu and vital wheat gluten they are smoky, salty, and so delicious.
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 ounces firm tofu
- 1 ounce carrots, boiled
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon liquid smoke
- 2 tablespoons water
- ⅔ cup vital wheat gluten
Instructions
- In a blender, blend all the ingredients except the vital wheat gluten. Blend for about 45 seconds until it is a smooth liquid.
- Then add in the vital wheat gluten and blend for a few seconds until it forms into a ball.
- Use clean hands to knead the seitan 5 minutes, until it is shiny and forms a ball. If it sticking dust your surface with vital wheat gluten.
- Divide into 4 pieces. Roll out into a thin 6 to 7 inch log. You can also use a hot dog bun to give you a guide for length. The seitan may take 1 to 2 minutes to roll out.
- Use a piece of parchment paper to roll up the vegan hot dog up tightly and then wrap it tightly in foil. Twist the ends of the foil to make it like a party popper or piece of candy. If you need a visual please check the youtube video.
- Steam in a steamer basket for 30 minutes. Then let them cool for 20 minutes before unwrapping.
- After you unwrap them, you can then cover them with a touch of oil. I like to spray them with spray oil to do this. Grill them for a few minutes or you can crisp them in a pan on the stove.
- Place in a bun and add any of your favorite toppings. Enjoy.
Video
Notes
- Nutrition facts are based on my gram measurements put into Cronometer. Yours may vary. They are to help you get an idea.
Nutrition
Serving: 51gCalories: 113kcalCarbohydrates: 4.2gProtein: 18.5gFat: 2.7gSaturated Fat: 0.5gSodium: 326.3mgPotassium: 77.6mgFiber: 0.4gSugar: 0.6gVitamin C: 0.4mgCalcium: 65.2mgIron: 1.2mg
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hey there!
Hey, I’m Francesca!
Thank you for checking out my recipe! I am happy to have you here and hope you explore more delicious vegan recipes.
Where are the carrots in the recipe?
Hi Chris, thank you for catching my mistake! Updated now!
Are wheat gluten and liquid smoke vital to the recipe? I’m trying to stay away from overly processed foods. Tx!
Hi yes they are. This is a vital wheat gluten based recipe 🙂
I had to add 2TB more water to get it blended smooth. Any suggestions as to why?
Hi Lyn, having to add in a bit more extra water isn’t too big of a deal! However, you may need add in then a touch more vital wheat gluten. Could be due to the blender size, brand of your blender, brand of tofu you are using, just general water content in the vegetables. Either way not too much of a big deal.
Hello! This is an excellent recipe! I added a little white miso paste and tamari sauce to kick up the umami flavor. Came out wonderful. Great texture, held together well in a bun. Thank you!
Hi! Awesome I am so glad you enjoyed. Thank you so much for trying and taking the time to leave a comment/review!
Can you microwave them or bake them? I don’t have a grill and I don’t like frying things
Hi Vera, so you can eat them steamed you don’t have to cook them further. However, you can also try baking them if you like! The frying isn’t like a deep fry just a pan fry to get it crispy.
Is there a substitute for vital wheat gluten? I’ve read chickpea flour or almond flour but I’m not sure the ratio. I’ve having a hard time sourcing it locally and I was planning on making them soon.
Hi Ty, unfortunately I do not have a substitute for this recipe as it is a vital wheat gluten based recipe. Sorry!
How many carrots should I use?
Hi it would be either a few baby carrots (like 2-3) or one very small carrot. It is hard to say exactly because all vegetables will have a different weight which is why I gave ounces and grams as opposed to a specific number.
Hi! Could I use beans instead of tofu for this to make it soy free? If so, how much?
Thank you!
Hi Al, this isn’t something I have tried for making vegan sausages and hot dogs. I do believe it would work as I use beans for my steak and chicken seitans but I can’t say for certain it will. I would just substitute the beans 1:1
WOW, I really didn’t think they would be so good! Just about to finish the first batch (last three from the freezer) then will be making again at X3 recipe! Thank you for sharing this great recipe 🙏
Hi Kim! Awesome I am so glad you enjoyed them so much! thank you for trying them yay!
Just made these and love them! Accessible ingredients (liquid smoke is more of a special purchase but worth it for most vegans), easy technique, just requires a little time and planning for steaming. My husband, carnivore, ate and enjoyed. Will def make again
Hi Melissa yay I am so glad you enjoyed them so much. Thank you for taking the time to try them and leaving a comment/review!!
I made these using the double up recipe and I found the dough really tough to work and roll out then the sausages came out very tough and chewy. The definitely didn’t have hot dog texture. Do you have any suggestions or tips to try to make them softer? Thank you.
Hi Carol, hmm okay well so with seitan it can be a bit tricky with kneading. How long did you knead them for? Also, because you doubled the recipe that could have caused some issues. I would suggest if you try them again make the recipe two times instead of making a huge batch of the seitan.
I believe that if you over knead the dough, it can get tough and chewy.
Could I use medium-firm fava bean tofu in this recipe instead of soy tofu? I saw fava bean tofu for the first time in one of your other recipes and I was so excited! I am sensitive to soy, but want more protein in my vegan meals. Thanks so much!
Hi Tami! I personally haven’t tried it with the fava bean tofu. I think it should work out okay. I do love the fava bean tofu!