Tex-Mex "Carrot Dogs"

Tex-Mex "Carrot Dogs" with Cilantro Garlic Yogurt Sauce -- A completely meatless version of a summer favorite! Smoky roasted carrot "hot dogs" are loaded with homemade pico de gallo, a sprinkle of cheese and drizzled with a truly addictive Cilantro Garlic Yogurt Sauce. Don't knock it 'til you've tried it! 

Disclosure: This post is written in partnership with Stonyfield Organic as a member of their Clean Plate Club. I received a Walmart gift card as a part of this month’s campaign in order to complete the assignment.  As always, the opinions here are all my own!

My journey into organic eating has gone something like this:

"What's organic?"

:: Learn some stuff. Have a mild panic attack about where our food has been coming from for the past 25 years. ::
"Oh, organic is important. Let's eat ALL organic food."

:: First trip to a very pricey market that is well-known for having a large organic selection. ::
"Um, we can't afford to eat organic. Let's be choosy about our organic purchases."

:: Life happens. Moves happen. New jobs happen. We open new businesses. ::

"Never mind. This is going to bankrupt us."

:: Get pregnant. Have a baby. ::

"EVERYTHING NEEDS TO BE ORGANIC."

:: Venture back to the pricey mostly-organic market. Remember why we can't shop there. Consider getting a second, third, fourth job.::

"There MUST be a happy medium!!!"

If this story sounds anything like your own, I'm here to tell you... there IS a way to eat more organic food without going broke.

Walmart may not be the first place that comes to mind when you think of shopping for organic food, but they are making an effort to expand their organic selections while keeping their price points in check in order to make those products easily accessible for all.

This month, Stonyfield & Walmart are partnering to show how you can eat organic affordably, and they've asked Clean Plate Club members to go shopping and share their favorite finds!

I have to tell you, as much as I visit Walmart {I live pretty close to one so we stop in pretty frequently}, I have never noticed just how many organic products they have in stock until my last trip! I was pleased to find that not only do they carry some of my favorite organic brands like Stonyfield, Tessmae's, and Organic Valley, but they also have their own Great Value/Marketside brand products like quinoa, fresh produce, canned beans and even chocolate chips {!} in organic options with their signature budget-friendly price tags.

I bought everything from frozen,wild-caught Key West Pink Shrimp to organic veggies to natural cleaning products, and the bill came out to no more than I would have spent shopping around as I do weekly {I usually visit more than one store for different needs}, but WAY less than I would have spent at a "health food market." Since Walmart is a one-stop shop, it makes it so convenient to stop in for, say, shampoo and new batteries, and know that you can also pick up organic grocery essentials in the same trip.

I don't know why it's taken me so long to really look at Walmart's organic offerings, but I'm glad I finally discovered that it is entirely possible to keep more of my paycheck and lose less of my mind worrying about how to afford organic products! 😉

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

I picked up a bag of organic carrots while I was at Walmart, and also discovered that they have a pretty good selection of gluten-free products, which I'm always seeking out for my husband. When I spotted these gluten-free hot dog buns, a light bulb went off in my brain: Carrot Dogs!

I remembered seeing a recipe for "carrot dogs" in a recent issue of Cooking Light and they looked so intriguing that I definitely wanted to give them a try with my own spin on spices and toppings.

These Tex-Mex style "carrot dogs" were the outcome of my experiment, and I couldn't be happier with how they turned out! Thick, organic carrots are coated in a cumin & smoked paprika mixture and roasted until tender. The result is a toothy bite with a smoky finish -- almost like a real hot dog, but suitable for meatless Monday! The toppings -- shredded Mexican cheese blend, homemade pico de gallo, and a creamy Cilantro Garlic Yogurt Sauce -- really drive the Tex-Mex flavors home. Add a few jalapenos for an extra kick and serve on your favorite hot dog buns.

These might become a healthy summertime favorite, so stock up on those organic carrots at Walmart... at least you know they won't break the bank! 😉

Tex-Mex “Carrot Dogs”

The Kitchen Prep

Tex-Mex “Carrot Dogs” with Cilantro Garlic Yogurt Sauce — A completely meatless version of a summer favorite! Smoky roasted carrot “hot dogs” are loaded with homemade pico de gallo, a sprinkle of cheese and drizzled with a truly addictive Cilantro Garlic Yogurt Sauce. Don’t knock it ’til you’ve tried it! 

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 mins

Cook Time 35 mins

Total Time 50 mins

Course Lunch, Main Course

Cuisine American

Servings 6 servings

Ingredients

  

• 6 thick organic carrots, peeled with ends trimmed*
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• ½ teaspoon cumin
• Sea Salt

For pico de gallo

• ½ cup diced red onion
• ½ cup diced tomato {I used pearl tomatoes}
• Juice from ½ a lime
• Sea Salt

For Cilantro Garlic Yogurt Sauce

• ½ cup Stonyfield Organic Whole Milk Greek Yogurt**
• Juice from ½ a lime
• ¼ cup fresh cilantro {I just ripped off a handful}
• 1 medium garlic clove
• ¼ teaspoon salt

Additional Ingredients/Toppings

• 6 Hot Dog Buns toasted
• Shredded Mexican Cheese Blend
• Pickled or fresh jalapenos

Instructions

 

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Line a baking pan with foil. Place carrots on baking sheet. Set aside.
• In a small bowl, whisk together oil, smoked paprika and cumin. Pour the oil mixture over the carrots and roll them back and forth to coat them evenly. Sprinkle with sea salt to taste.
• Roast carrots for 30-35 minutes until they're fork-tender.
• Make the pico de gallo: In a small bowl, combine the diced onion, tomato, juice from half a lime and a sprinkle of sea salt. Set aside until ready for assembly.
• Make the Cilantro Garlic Yogurt Sauce: In the bowl of a food processor, pulse together yogurt, cilantro, garlic, lime juice and salt until smooth, stopping to scrape down the sides occasionally. The sauce should be thin enough to drizzle but not runny. Scoop into a bowl and refrigerate until ready to use.
• To Assemble Carrot Dogs: Place a roasted carrot {or two if they're thinner} in a toasted bun. Top with Mexican cheese blend, pico de gallo, and a drizzle of yogurt sauce. Add pickled or fresh jalapenos on top, if desired.

Notes

Inspired by Cooking Light Magazine.

*Thicker carrots work best for this recipe. If your carrots are on the thinner side, adjust the cook time by cooking for about 20-25 minutes so they don't burn. You can also use more than one carrot per carrot dog if they're not as hearty.

**You can sub out Whole Milk Greek for 0% Greek if desired.