SmartDogs

Has anyone tried them?  I bought some because my husband was in the mood for hot dogs and I kind of wanted one, too.  I cooked them as suggested (boiled for 2 minutes) but they had kind of a weird texture.  I didn't really expect that they would taste exactly like a 'real' hot dog, but I wasn't really expecting them to be so...  soft.

Has anyone tried cooking them a different way?  I was thinking about throwing them in a frying pan to see if I could crisp up the outside a little bit.

I should probably add that I don't eat fake meat very often because texture is a big deal to me.  I can eat some and the initial bites taste good, but after awhile the texture gets to me and I'll start to gag...  It's probably just an acquired taste.

Frying pan or tossing them on the grill should work. But if you do grill them keep in mind you don't need to cook them very long. They overcook pretty easily.

I've made them in the microwave and also tried boiling them...was not a fan of either. 

I really like the morningstar hot dogs though.

I really love them, even though they don't taste exactly like hot dogs.  I usually just microwave them, but I have found two things that I think are really tasty.  One, I microwave a sweet potato, cut it open, put vegetarian baked beans on top and then slice up a smart dog to put on top of the baked beans.  It definitely tastes better that way (sliced up).  Two, I take a wheat wrap, put sauerkraut on it and then slice up a smart dog and add some spicy mustard.  Yum!  And the second one is very filling for only about 150 calories.  I'd love to hear anyone else's ideas too! 

I used them to make pretzel dogs once and I must say that I was not a fan.  I baked them and the taste and texture were just off to me.  I rarely ever eat meat subs anymore, so that might be why...

Ballpark's Turkey Dogs are AWESOME!  45 calories and no fat - YUM! But for vegeterian's, they do have just fat free Ballpark's too, they're really good also.

I have tried all the brands of veggie dogs and I find that the Yves brand is the best/most meat like (and actually I think that SmartDogs are the worst).  Try the ones that come in a flat pack, I think 6 in there.  They are pretty good.  I cook mine by popping them in the toaster over until they start to brown and get a bubbly "skin."  They are good grilled in a pan, too. 

Try the Tofurky Kielbasa, too (NOT the beerbrats or the italian sausage flavors).  They are really good on the grill with some spicy mustard!

yves are my favorite :)

I love Smart Dogs...I think the package actually says for you to boil water, shut the heat off and then put the Smart Dogs into the water and let them heat up in there for 2 minutes...I usually just put little slits in the top and microwave them for 30 seconds :) You can quickly and lightly pan fry them as well with a little vegan margarine, olive oil or cooking spray as well.

I think they are best in a toasted bun with toppings, or sliced up in baked beans as mentioned above.

i'm staying away from meat substitutes lately, but of all the fake meats out there, faux dogs are my favorite. i liked to grill them, boil them, microwave them, slice them up in beans or mac&cheeze, make them into pigs-in-a-blanket... the possibilities were endless. i even ate them plain (yes, no toppings, no bun, no nothing).

when i first tried them the texture thing really turned me off of them. but i think it might be an acquired taste. i made myself continue to eat them (they are so high in protein and low cal with no fat) and now i can eat them right out of the package with a little mustard.

but at first i did fry them and it makes the texture a bit better. boiling them sounds disgusting, even to me now.

Original Post by scarter17:

Ballpark's Turkey Dogs are AWESOME! 45 calories and no fat - YUM! But for vegeterian's, they do have just fat free Ballpark's too, they're really good also.

...wow. haha! ::shakes head::

anyway, I think vegdogs are best on the grill. Tofurkey makes some good ones in addition to their sausages.  Has anyone ever had those Field Roast sausages? They're awesome on the grill, too!

I positively LOVE them.  To me, they taste like real hot dogs except without that nasty acidic grossness.  I don't know how else to describe it... except to say perhaps that they are hot dogs idealized.  LOVE THEM! :D

ETA: I'm talking about Smart Dogs.  I wouldn't switch brands for the world... nothing compares!