Is it possible for a carrot to be mistaken for a hotdog? Is it possible for a carrot to be confused for a hotdog if the two are placed side-by-side? Is it possible for a carrot to taste like a hotdog when placed in a hotdog bun?
And finally, is it possible to trick one’s self into thinking he or she is eating a hotdog by placing a par-boiled, marinated, and then grilled carrot inside of a hotdog bun and covering it with mustard, relish, and diced onions?
I had never considered these questions for the initial thirty-seven years of my life. Then one Saturday morning in June about four years ago, I was wandering around the local farmer’s market, loading up on fresh, vibrant produce. I wandered by the sandwich cart and grill, which I’d recently ignored since I’d stopped eating hamburgers and hotdogs several years prior, and a sign caught my eye… “Rochester’s Original Carrot Dog”, plastered in big letters across the display, along with a cartoon carrot in a bun.
“Carrot dog,” I blurted out loud, as I halted in my tracks, immediately causing a five person pileup just behind me. I was about to apologize and provide my insurance information to the market-goer who crashed into my back.
“Those carrot dogs are good!” she beamed, before I could even get a word in. “I highly recommend you give them a try.”
Not wasting another moment, I fled from the accident scene and secured my place in line behind a half dozen other market goers. When it was my turn, I eagerly placed my order for one carrot dog topped with grilled onions and a scoop of vegetarian hot sauce. After handing over $5.50 to the cashier, my mouth began watering in anticipation as I watched the cook flipping and slapping my dog around the grill on a separate surface, apparently reserved for carrots. After what seemed like a few hours, he retrieved the carrot from the grill, slapped it into a bun, and topped it with onions and hot sauce.
“Here you are, sir,” he said, thrusting the peculiar creation in my direction. “Have a nice day!”
Nodding in appreciative acknowledgement, I snatched the carrot dog from his grasp, eyed it curiously for a few seconds, and sank my teeth into the left side.
It was… It was…
…actually really good.
Was it greasy? Yes… Did it taste like a hot dog? No… Was it savory and satisfying? Absolutely. Most importantly, would it serve as a great substitute for a traditional hot dog at an outdoor gathering? Definitely.
As usual, I hastily made the effort to duplicate a homemade version of the carrot dog that was to my liking. After scouring the Internet for recipes and trying out several variations, I came up with my own version, which borrowed from several different recipes. Read on for the low down…
Ingredients:
- 8 carrots of ‘hot-dog thickness’
- 1/4 cup vegetable stock
- 1/4 cup soy sauce ( *substitute liquid Coconut Aminos for a soy-free version)
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 Tbs maple syrup
- 1 tsp yellow mustard
- 2-4 cloves fresh minced garlic
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 tsp thyme
- *if using Coconut Aminos, add 1/4 tsp sea salt
Le Process:
Prepare the carrots – Bring a large pot of water to a boil. While the water is heating up, cut the end off of the larger side of each carrot. Then, cut off the other side so that the remaining portion is ‘hot-dog length’. Every other carrot-related recipe on the Internet instructs the reader to peel the carrots. I stopped peeling carrots years ago. If somebody can explain to me why we peel carrots, I’m all ears. Is it for looks? Is it for health reasons? I have no idea. Seems like a waste of time to me, as I just give them a quick rinse and scrub with my hands. Once the water is boiling, toss in the carrots and boil uncovered for 17 minutes and 37 seconds. I’ve found that this is the ideal time which results in a firm, yet tender carrot. Once time is up, immediately drain the carrots and rinse with cold water to prevent further cooking and softening. You don’t want soggy carrots. That would ruin your whole weekend.
Prepare the marinade – Add the liquid ingredients to a 2-cup measuring cup and whisk together. Add the garlic and spices and whisk again. Once the carrots have been cooled, place them in a large zipper bag, dump in the marinade, and seal the bag. At this point, you can let the carrots marinate in the fridge as long as you’d like. I find that a good overnight soaking is ideal… and also very convenient.
Cook the carrots – If the weather is cooperating, the best option is to fire up the grill and grill your carrots just as you would a hot dog. If the weather is not cooperating, or if it’s winter, I preheat a cast iron skillet, add a bit of olive oil and wipe it around once heated, and saute the carrots on the stove top. Whether grilling or cooking indoors, I spoon excess marinade over the carrots each time I rotate them… usually once every three minutes, for a total cooking time of twelvish minutes.
EAT – Once the carrots have been browned and heated through, slap them in a bun and top with your favorite hot-dog toppings. Finally, you may sink your teeth into your delectable culinary creation… and ENJOY!!!
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