Easy Homemade Vegan Hot Dog Recipe

These Homemade Vegan Hot Dogs are super easy to make and taste like the real thing. Super-firm tofu is soaked overnight in a sweet and smoky marinade and then wrapped in spring-roll paper before browning in the frying pan. The spring-roll paper adds great texture, similar to a hot dog casing, and the flavor is spot on. Enjoy these easy vegan hot dogs at your next BBQ or for a fun family dinner.

It may not be summer anymore, but it’s always hot dog season! I’ve been working on this Easy Homemade Vegan Hot Dog Recipe for a little while now, and I’m excited to share it with you finally. These vegan hot dogs are made using tofu soaked in a flavorful marinade, wrapped in rice paper rolls, and fried to perfection. They’re packed with protein and taste like the real thing.

Why You’ll Love These Homemade Vegan Hot Dogs!

• They are easy to make – The base of these hot dogs is a piece of tofu, so you don’t have to prepare a mixture of ingredients and then shape it into hot dogs to cook. The tofu marinates, is wrapped in spring roll paper, and cooks in a skillet. 
• They’re packed with protein – Tofu has a ton of plant-based protein and will leave you feeling full after you eat these hot dogs. I’m sure carrot dogs taste great, but I’ve always wondered how much they actually fill you up.
• They look and taste very similar to the real thing – Wrapping the tofu in spring roll papers gives it the legit hot dog look and texture. The marinade also has a great warm and smoky flavor.

Easy Homemade Vegan Hot Dog Recipe Ingredients

• Tofu – I recommend using super-firm tofu for this hot dog recipe. Super-firm tofu is usually pre-pressed, so all you have to do is pat it dry. It has a great texture that’s perfect for making veggie dogs. If you can’t find super-firm tofu, I recommend well-pressed extra-firm tofu.
• Tamari – I like to use low-sodium tamari for this recipe. Tamari is a bit thicker and richer than soy sauce, which is nice for a marinade, but soy sauce also works. If making gluten-free, use tamari or a GF soy sauce.
• Smoked Paprika – Smoked paprika adds a delicious smoky flavor to these vegan hot dogs and a nice red/orange color to the marinade. You should be able to find smoked paprika in the spice aisle at most grocery stores.
• Maple Syrup – For this recipe, be sure to use pure maple syrup, not pancake syrup. Honey could also be used if you don’t want to make these vegan, but I prefer the taste of maple syrup.
• Liquid Smoke – I use hickory-flavored liquid smoke and add a few drops to the marinade and to the water that I soak the rice paper in. The liquid smoke adds a nice flavor that mimics a regular hot dog. 
• Garlic & Ginger – I also add fresh garlic and ginger to the marinade. They help add extra flavor. You could instead use dried garlic and ginger.
• Toasted Sesame Oil – I add 1/4 teaspoon of toasted sesame oil, so it’s not super strong but adds a nice depth of flavor.
• Rice Paper – The rice paper is optional, but I love wrapping it around the tofu before cooking it. It creates a nice outer layer similar to a hot dog casing. It also gets a bit crispy and mimics the texture of hot dog skin.
• Hot Dog Buns – You can use whatever type of hot dog buns you prefer. I’m eating gluten-free right now, and I like to enjoy my hot dogs wrapped in a warmed corn tortilla.

How To Make The Best Vegan Hot Dog Recipe

1. Remove tofu from its package and pat dry. If using a tofu other than super firm, I recommend pressing as much liquid out of it as you can. Cut your tofu into 6 equal-sized rectangles. I place my block of tofu on its side and cut it in half vertically once. Then, cut each half into three slices. This step is optional, but if you like, you can trim off some of the square edges so that the tofu is rounded like an actual hot dog.
2. Make your marinade in a ziplock bag or small container. Add the soy sauce, maple syrup, smoked paprika, toasted sesame oil, garlic, ginger, and a few drops of liquid smoke, and then mix together well.
3. Place the tofu in the marinade and cover it as much as possible. Ideally, you want to let the tofu sit in the marinade (in the refrigerator) overnight, but at least two hours should flavor it well. Make sure to swish the marinade around every so often or flip your tofu to ensure the entire piece is submerged.
4. Prepare the spring roll wrappers once the tofu has been fully marinated. Add about a cup of water to a wide, shallow bowl. I then like to add a few drops of the liquid smoke and mix it around. Place the spring roll wrapper into the water, one at a time, and use your hands to move it around until it becomes soft and flexible.
5. Lay the wrapper onto a flat surface and place one piece of tofu in the middle. Wrap the edges up and then roll the wrapper around the tofu. It will be a little slippery, so do your best!
6. Heat a large pan over medium heat and spray with cooking spray. Add your wrapped vegan hot dogs and let each side cook for 2-3 minutes until browned and slightly crispy. Some parts of the spring roll wrapper will get crispy, while others may not, but that is ok. At the end, I like to add a few spoonfuls of the leftover marinade to the top of the hot dogs and let them cook for another 30 seconds. This just creates a nice charred flavor and blackens them a bit, which is how I prefer to eat my regular hot dogs.
7. These hot dogs have the best texture when served immediately.  Enjoy in a bun with your favorite hot dog toppings.

Vegan Hot Dog Recipe Frequently Asked Questions

• Are these vegan hot dogs gluten-free? Yes, just make sure to use gluten-free hot dog buns. I prefer to wrap mine in heated corn tortillas rather than use gluten-free buns.
• Do you have to wrap the tofu in the rice paper? No, you can just leave the tofu plain without wrapping it in rice paper. The marinade will make more of a mess in the pan, but they will still taste good.
• Can these vegan hot dogs be grilled? Unfortunately, I think the rice paper might stick to the grill a little bit, but I honestly haven’t tried it myself, so I’m not 100 percent sure. I’ll update the post once I try it!  The tofu itself can absolutely be cooked on the grill, though.
• How long do leftovers last in the refrigerator? If stored in an airtight container, they should last about 5 days. I recommend reheating them in a pan with a little cooking spray.

Have a question I didn’t answer? Ask me in the comment section below, and I will get back to you ASAP.

Popular Hot Dog Toppings

Some people like to go super simple and add just one or two toppings, while others load them on! Here are a few popular hot dog topping ideas:

• Ketchup
• Mustard
• Onion
• Jalapeno
• Relish 
• Chili 
• Coleslaw

What’s your favorite hot dog topping?

Looking For More Delicious Veganized Recipes?

Crispy Tofu Nuggets

Vegan Pumpkin Queso Dip

Vegan Tuna Salad

Vegan Orange Chicken

Vegan Carnitas with Mushrooms

Homemade Vegan Hot Dog Recipe

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5 from 3 reviews

• Author: She Likes Food
• Total Time: 0 hours
• Yield: 6 1x
• Diet: Vegan

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Description

These Homemade Vegan Hot Dogs are super easy to make and taste so much like the real thing! Super firm tofu is soaked overnight in a sweet and smoky marinade and then wrapped in spring roll paper before browning in the frying pan. The spring roll paper adds great texture, similar to a hot dog casing, and the flavor is spot on. Enjoy these easy vegan hot dogs at your next BBQ or just for a fun family dinner.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 (14-16 ounce) package extra firm tofu, pressed to get as much water out as you can
• 1/2 cup tamari, I use low sodium
• 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
• 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated garlic
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
• Liquid smoke, I like to use the hickory flavored one
• 6 small sized spring roll wrappers
• Hotdog buns

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Instructions

1. Remove tofu from its package and pat dry.  If using a tofu other than super firm, I would recommend pressing as much liquid out of it as you can.  Cut your tofu into 6 equal sized rectangles.  I place my block of tofu on its side and cut in half vertically once.  Then, cut each half into three slices.  This step is totally optional, but if you like, you can then trim off some of the square edges so that the tofu is more rounded and resembles an actual hot dog shape.
2. Make your marinade in either a ziplock bag or small container.  Add the soy sauce, maple syrup, smoked paprika, toasted sesame oil, garlic, ginger and a few drops of liquid smoke and then mix together well.
3. Place the tofu into the marinade and make sure you cover as much of it as you can.  Ideally, you want to let the tofu sit in the marinade (in the refrigerator) overnight, but at least two hours should flavor it well.  Make sure to swish the marinade around every so often, or flip your tofu to make sure the entire piece gets submerged.
4. Prepare the spring roll wrappers once the tofu has been fully marinated.  Add about a cup of water to a wide, shallow bowl.  I like to then add a few drops of the liquid smoke and mix it around.  Place the spring roll wrapper into the water, one at a time, and use your hands to move it around until it becomes soft and flexible.
5. Lay the wrapper onto a flat surface and place one piece of tofu in the middle.  Wrap the edges up and then roll the wrapper around the tofu.  It will be a little slippery, so just do the best you can!
6. Heat a large pan over medium heat and spray with cooking spray.  Add in your wrapped vegan hot dogs and let each side cook for 2-3 minutes, until browned and slightly crispy.  Some parts of the spring roll wrapper will get crispy, while others may not, but that is ok.  At the very end, I like to spoon a few spoonfuls of the leftover marinade on top of the hot dogs and let them cook for another 30 seconds or so.  This just creates a nice charred flavor and blackens them a little bit, which is how I used to prefer to eat my regular hot dogs.
7. These hot dogs have the best texture when served immediately.  Enjoy in a bun with your favorite hot dog toppings.

Notes

Wrapping your tofu in the spring roll wrappers is optional, but gives a nice look and texture to the hot dogs.

Hot dogs can be marinated overnight for best flavor, or for at least two hours.

• Prep Time: 2 hrs
• Cook Time: 10 mins
• Category: Dinner, Vegan
• Method: stovetop
• Cuisine: American