| Vegetarian hot dog | |
| Alternate Name: | Veggie dog, not dog |
| Country: | United States |
| Type: | Hot dog, meat alternative |
| Main Ingredient: | soy |
A vegetarian hot dog is a hot dog produced completely from non-meat products. Unlike traditional home-made meat sausages, the casing is not made of intestine, but of cellulose or other plant-based ingredients.[1] The filling is usually based on some sort of soy protein,[2] wheat gluten, or pea protein. Some may contain egg whites, which would make them unsuitable for a lacto-vegetarian or vegan diet.
The history of the vegetarian hot dog is not clear, but Worthington Foods' Veja-Link meatless wieners claim to have been the world's first vegetarian hot dogs in 1949.[3] Since the 1980s, a number of other manufacturers have entered the vegetarian hot dog market, such as Lightlife Foods, Field Roast Grain Meat Co, and Beyond Meat. Massachusetts-based LightLife first sold its Tofu Pups in 1985.[4] In 2000, the Chicago White Sox's Comiskey Park became the first baseball venue to sell vegetarian hot dogs during games.[5] In 2019, Moving Mountains began selling a vegan hot dog in London.[6] The Nathan's Famous hot dog stands in New York City began selling vegan hot dogs in 2021. The hot dog is made by Meatless Farm.[7]
A carrot hot dog is a carrot cured to taste like a hot dog, then grilled and placed in a roll to resemble a traditional hot dog. Philadelphia magazine reported photos of carrot hot dogs appeared on Instagram and Pinterest in 2016.[8] The Kennebec Journal reported in 2017 that carrot hot dog recipes were "an emerging trend" in cookbooks.[9] Epicurious said it has been trolled ever since posting a carrot hot dog recipe in 2017.[10]
Some restaurants sell them. In 2019, Harry & Ida's Meat and Supply Co. in New York sold a carrot dog.[11] United States beverage firm Bolthouse Farms in 2020 began producing grill-ready cured carrot hot dogs to sell to retailers.[12]
Actress Tabitha Brown first published a carrot hot dog recipe in 2020.[13] In 2021, pop star Lizzo posted about carrot hot dogs. Vegan food columnist Avery Yale Kamila said in 2021: "For people who love vegetables, carrot hot dogs are a really exciting addition to backyard barbecues."[14]
Sausage rolls are a common fast food snack across Britain made from a sausage inside a pastry crust. Vegetarian versions or meat-free sausage rolls are now common. The small bakery chain Poundberry began selling vegetarian sausage rolls in 2016 and then a vegan version in 2018. In 2019, large bakery chain Greggs began selling vegan sausage rolls and the BBC reported the vegan rolls "caused an immediate sensation" and sold out fast.[15]
Vegetarian and vegan sausages are commonly eaten in Britain. The United States company Beyond Meat began selling its vegan sausages in the United Kingdom in 2019.[16]