I won’t lie; I’m a super busy guy who can also be super lazy — a nearly fatal combination when it comes to making food that tastes great, is nutritious, and can be prepared and eaten in a relatively short time. This is where my crockpot becomes a savior. I can prepare food quickly before work, and it’ll be hot and waiting when I get home. This recipe for chili-cheese veggie dogs is one of my favorites. It’s a hearty classic meal made vegan.
The chili preparation only takes about 10 minutes, and the cooking occurs while you’re out and about. This recipe is also a great without the hot dogs if you just want a good bowl of chili.
The recipe yields either 8 chili cheese dogs or about 6 bowls if you just make the chili and skip on the dogs. Either way, you have plenty enough to make a few meals.
Vegan Chili Cheese Dogs
Chili Ingredients
2 tbsp. oil
6 garlic cloves, minced
1 medium white onion
1 bag veggie burger crumbles
1 tbsp. chili powder
2 1/2 tsp. cumin
1 bay leaf
1 tsp. oregano
28-oz. can diced Mexican-style tomatoes
1 tbsp. Braggs or soy sauce
1 1/2 cups vegetable stock
1 tbsp. red wine vinegar
16 oz. black beans, drained and rinsed
16 oz. pinto beans, drained and rinsed
16 oz. kidney beans, drained and rinsed
16 oz. canned corn
6 oz. tomato paste
Directions
Cook the garlic, onion, and veggie burger crumbles in oil over medium heat until the onion is soft. Add the chili powder and cumin and stir the mixture for two minutes. Now add it, and all the remaining ingredients in your crockpot and stir very well to combine. Cook covered on low for about 6-8 hours.
Assuming you’ve been letting the chili cook while you’re at work, you’ve probably been daydreaming about it all day. Good news, it will be ready the moment you get home! While I know you’re excited to get your chili cheese dogs in your tummy, be sure to remove the bay leaf before serving your chili. It’s for flavoring only. The urban myth about eating bay leaf and choking to death may be just a fable, but why risk it?
Now it’s time to transform your chili into chili “cheese” dogs! You’ll need:
Ingredients
1 package your favorite veggie dogs
1 package of hot dog buns
1 cup Daiya cheddar shreds
Directions
Everyone has different views on the best way to cook a veggie dog. From boiling, to microwaving, to the grill, it’s truly a matter of preference. Personally I’m a fan of microwaving because I’m impatient. If you can’t decide, you can always default to cooking your hot dogs according to the directions on the package. While doing so, go ahead and toast your hot dog buns.
Now seat one dog in each bun and top with a healthy portion of chili. How much you add is really up to you. If you don’t mind making a mess, heap it on. Finish off your chili dog with a sprinkle of Daiya cheddar shreds or favorite cheese alternative. Now enjoy your good ol’ cruelty-free comfort food with reckless abandon! Don’t blame me if you need to do laundry afterwards; the mess is half the fun.
This article appears in Mar 21-27, 2013.