Tofu Hot Diggity Dogs!

Sometimes vegetarians just want a damn hot dog.

 

So here you go, I've helped you get your fix. Pigs not included. It's a tofu hot dog with lots of flavor, great texture and even some protein, you protein freaks! I have seen this marinated carrot hot dog around the interwebs which sounds weirdly good but tofu is where it's at for me in this recipe. I like the tofu because when it's browned in the pan it created the kind of tension that a hot dog gives when it's bitten. Does that make sense to all you hot dog eaters?

 

Let's get to how we make this treat before I get myself into trouble. The best thing about Tofu is that it's the chameleon of the veggie protein world. It needs a coat of many colors to get it to taste like anything worth chewing. So in comes my fiesta of flavor in the form of a marinade (recipe at the end of this post).

Hello tofu, you look extra cardboard-y today. Let's have Marc cut you all up while I photograph your mutilation.

 We're looking for a hot dog shaped cut, so this block will equal 8 Tofu dogs. Cut into 4ths and cut each again,  thus making 8! Viola!

Just in case my words are confusing here are some more tofu chopping pictures...

Riveting. You can't find this on anyone else's blog folks.  Also Marc asks for you to forgive his mechanic hands, they're clean (I swear!).

 

After making your dogs, place them in some sort of device that will keep them covered in the marinade. We used two plastic sandwich bags. I had originally thought a shallow pan but I want these to be completely covered in the marinade on both sides, so no shallow pan. No. Just do what I say!

 

Ooo, pour, pour, pour.

 

Soak. Soak. Soak.

After marinating, sauté in a frying pan with cooking spray until all sides are browned. We want that texture of a hot dog, so make sure it's a nice super firm tofu!

 

Tofu Hot Diggity Dogs

 

16 oz Super Firm Tofu, cut into 8 rectangular pieces

cooking spray

 whole wheat hot dog buns

desired hot dog toppings

 

Marinade:

1/4 cup low sodium Soy Sauce

1/4 cup water

1.5 TBSP apple cider vinegar

1 TBSP olive oil

 dash liquid smoke

1 clove garlic, minced

1/4 tsp dried ginger

1/4 tsp black pepper

1/8 tsp granulated onion powder

 

Marinade cut tofu into sauce mixture. Allow to soak up flavor for 1 hour, up to 24 hours. Spray frying pan with cooking spray and cook marinated tofu on medium heat until all sides of tofu are browned. Place on buns and add toppings of choice.

 

 

Hot diggity, you've made a tofu dog!