Healthy vegan dogs made from tofu and seasonings, blended to a paste and shaped into delicious gluten-free hot dogs. These hot dogs contain no gluten flour, but have the perfect meaty texture.
These tofu dogs are a super healthy plant-based alternative to store bought hot dogs. They are unprocessed, made of only firm tofu, spices and liquid smoke. This makes them a nutritious, and protein-filled option you can feel good about.
Not only are they filled with nutrients but they have the perfect flavour and texture. Yes, these tofu dogs really taste like hot dogs! What’s more is they don’t require any vital wheat gluten flour to achieve that texture.
You may have noticed that most vegan meat recipes (with the exception of jackfruit meat) typically call for wheat gluten flour. Not this recipe! You can whip up these Vegan Gluten-Free Tofu Dogs with minimal ingredients and little effort!
Vegan Gluten-Free Tofu Dogs with No Gluten Flour
What makes this Vegan Gluten-Free Tofu Dogs unique is that it uses only tofu, and no wheat gluten flour. Don’t get me wrong, wheat gluten flour is a great, magical ingredient that produces delicious vegan meats like my Super Easy Vegan Steak! However, it’s not suitable for those on a gluten-free diet, and can give heavy feeling after eating it.
Cooking with vital wheat gluten flour also usually requires a more time-consuming process, since it’s used to make a dough that needs to be rolled and then boiled or steamed. So, not including it can be a bonus for those in a hurry.
Wheat gluten flour is also a fairly processed ingredient (although full of nutrients). Tofu, however, is so minutely processed (you can even make your own homemade tofu at home!) that it’s considered a whole food, and not a processed food.
So, a vegan hot dog made of only tofu is super desirable for being a healthy not dog alternative.
To achieve a Vegan Gluten-Free Tofu Dog that tastes like meat, we flavour the tofu, then blend it into a paste, shape into logs and bake. This way the flavour is infused into all of the tofu (unlike a marinade).
Blending the tofu to a paste also allows you to then shape the tofu into smooth long cylinders. Once this smoky savoury paste is baked, the soft paste forms into slightly chewy, meaty plant-based hot dog wieners.
Ingredients in Vegan Gluten-Free Tofu Dogs
- Extra firm tofu (thawed, previously frozen tofu is ideal, then drained and pressed or patted with paper towel)
- Tamari (or soy sauce if not gluten free)
- Liquid smoke
- Garlic powder
- Paprika
- Salt
How to Make This Recipe
- Preheat over to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Drain and press tofu or pat with paper towel to get rid of excess water. Thawed, previously frozen tofu is ideal to use for optimal texture, but not necessary.
- Add all remaining ingredients to a bowl and stir until combined.
- Crumble tofu into the bowl of flavourings and stir. Using a hand blender, blender or food processor, blend until it turns into a smooth paste.
- Set out a large piece of aluminum foil on the countertop (you can also line it with parchment paper if you desire). Add 1/4 of the mixture to the foil and form into a log, then tightly roll and fold the sides closed. Repeat with remaining mixture until you have 4 tofu logs.
- Place the 4 wrapped tofu logs onto a baking sheet and bake for 45 minutes, turning half way through.
- Remove from the oven and unwrap the tofu dogs. Allow to sit for 7-10 minutes to cool down and firm up.
- Serve as is, or grill up your tofu dogs in a pan with oil, or optionally on the bbq. Serve on a bun with your favourite hot dog toppings!
Common Questions
Do I have to use previously frozen tofu?
It’s recommended to use tofu that has been frozen and then thawed, in order to get the best meaty texture.
However, it’s not necessary and your dogs will still taste wonderful with tofu that hasn’t been frozen.
How do I store these tofu dogs?
Store in an airtight container for 3-4 days in the refrigerator, or up to 3 months in the freezer.
Vegan Gluten-Free Tofu Dogs
Equipment
- blender, hand blender or food processor
Ingredients
Vegan Gluten-Free Tofu Dogs
- 1 block extra firm tofu thawed, previously frozen tofu is ideal, drained and pressed or patted with paper towel
- 3 tsp tamari or soy sauce if not gluten free
- 2 tsp liquid smoke
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 Tbsp paprika
- 1/4 tsp salt
Instructions
Vegan Gluten-Free Tofu Dogs
- Preheat over to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Drain and press tofu or pat with paper towel to get rid of excess water. Thawed, previously frozen tofu is ideal to use for optimal texture, but not necessary.
- Add all remaining ingredients to a bowl and stir until combined.
- Crumble tofu into the bowl of flavourings and stir. Using a hand blender, blender or food processor, blend until it turns into a smooth paste.
- Set out a large piece of aluminum foil on the countertop (you can also line it with parchment paper if you desire). Add 1/4 of the mixture to the foil and form into a log, then tightly roll and fold the sides closed. Repeat with remaining mixture until you have 4 tofu logs.
- Place the 4 wrapped tofu logs onto a baking sheet and bake for 45 minutes, turning half way through.
- Remove from the oven and unwrap the tofu dogs. Allow to sit for 7-10 minutes to cool down and firm up.
- Serve as is or grill up your tofu dogs in a pan with oil, or optionally on the bbq. Serve on a bun with your favourite hot dog toppings!
Looking for more tofu meat recipes? Try my Vegan Bbq Pulled Chicken Sandwich!
