It's true! You can make vegetarian (& vegan!) carrot hot dogs at your next summer BBQ for a flavorful, umami-loaded, smoky, savory plant-based hot dog! Load them up with your favorite toppings and dig in!
Wash, trim, and peel carrots as desired. Add to a shallow baking dish or container that the carrots fit into and that the marinade will at least mostly cover them.
In a medium bowl, whisk together soy sauce, water, rice vinegar, liquid smoke, garlic, ginger, white pepper, onion powder, sesame oil, and black pepper.
Pour marinade over the carrots and toss carrots to coat. Place the dish in the fridge for at least 12 hours, up to 48 (24 hours is recommended). Turn carrots occasionally if they are not fully submerged (I just "swoosh" them around by pushing the cotainer a few times when I've opened the fridge).
When ready to cook, place carrots and marinade in a large saucepan and boil for 15-20 minutes, until fork-tender. Remove carrots from the marinade and gently pat dry as desired (more marinade will splatter if cooking on the stovetop).
Grill, Grill Pan, or Cast-Iron Skillet: heat over medium-high heat and lightly brush with oil, if desired. Place carrot dogs on the hot pan and cook on each side for 2-3 minutes until grill marks appear. Optional: if using a pan, add some marinade to it to create a glaze on the carrot dogs, but do know the rest in the pan has a tendency to burn quickly.
Serve with hot dog buns and toppings of choice. Enjoy!
Notes
Make sure the carrots are "hot dog" sized - you don't want them too large or they'll be difficult to eat.
Use more or less carrots as needed, just being sure you have enough of the marinade if making more than 12.