Homemade vegan carrot lox is a show-stopper. This dish is just as smoky and flavorful as the real thing. Get ready to surprise your friends at your next weekend brunch!
Seafood is one of those foods that prevents me from going fully vegan. I just love it. And especially smoked salmon.
My dad used to make smoke whole sides of salmon in a smoker in our backyard.
I’ll never forget the time my dog got a hold of one of those giant salmon pieces before my dad could get it into the smoker (but after a 24 hour brine). They were chasing each other around the yard with the salmon hanging out of my dog’s mouth. Hilarious, yes, but also nerve-wracking (what about the smoked salmon??)
I’m not sure what became of that particular piece of fish, but I can tell you that making homemade lox is no easy project. It takes at least an overnight brining the salmon in brown sugar and salt. Then, you have to set up the whole smoker. At my house, this step often involved searching for a missing part that my dad swore was there last time he used the smoker.
And then, the salmon has to sit in a bath of cold smoke for another 4 (or more) hours, while you check to ensure that little pucks of sawdust are continuously dropping into the smoker.
Sure, smoked salmon is tasty, but is it really worth all of that work? This recipe, for vegan carrot lox, takes less than an hour and packs all the same delicious smoky flavors.
Plus, of course, it’s fully vegan! So for those of you like Lexi and Beth who don’t eat seafood, it’s a fantastic alternative to regular lox. Although it’s one of the last recipes we’re sharing this year, it’s definitely a favorite!
How to Make Vegan Carrot Lox
There are only a few simple ingredients in this recipe. And no fancy equipment. All you’ll need is a vegetable peeler, an 8×8 inch baking dish and your oven.
Peel the Carrots into Ribbons
The first step is to peel your carrots down into thin ribbons that resemble thin pieces of lox. You can do this easily with a regular vegetable peeler.
Or, you can use a handy mandolin to get super paper-thin strips. Both tools work equally well. Just be sure to use a hand protector if you’re using a mandolin. Safety first!
Make the Vegan Lox Brine
Next, add the flavorings to your thin carrot ribbons. Here’s how we build the smoked salmon flavor in this vegan lox recipe:
- Soy sauce is the secret to subtle, umami saltiness. It’s not overpowering in this recipe at all. If you’re gluten free, opt for tamari.
- Maple syrup adds a touch of sweetness. It also helps to coat the carrot ribbons like a glaze.
- Rice vinegar bring some acid to this vegan lox dressing. No recipe is complete without a hit of acid!
- Liquid smoke is the ultimate secret ingredient. A little goes a long way, so be sure to measure this one out. You can find liquid smoke at many grocery stores and online.
Slow Roast the Carrots
Once you’ve coated your slippery carrot ribbons well, put them in a small baking dish. Cover the dish with aluminum foil. This will ensure that the carrot lox get nice and soft, rather than crispy.
Roast them for 20 minutes, which should be plenty of time for the carrots to soften up. Then, drop the oven temp to 350°F and remove the tin foil cover.
Stick the baking dish back in the oven for another 10 minutes. This will help dry out some of the excess sauce in the baking dish. The carrots may get a tiny bit crispy on the edges, so if you want to avoid crispiness altogether, you can skip this step.
Dress the Carrot Lox & Serve
Finally, dress your carrot lox with plenty of fresh dill. You’ll have a beautiful orange and green dish to offer your brunch guests!
We love to spread a toasted bagel with a generous amount of vegan cream cheese. Then, add a sprinkle of briny capers, sliced tomatoes, vegan lox, and a squeeze of lemon juice.
If you have a few extra minutes, whip up a batch of homemade quick pickled onions for an extra pop of color and flavor.
This easy vegan recipe also makes an impressive (read: looks fancier than it is) topping for a crostini appetizer. Or, make cute vegan tea sandwiches with thin pieces of bread and vegan cream cheese.
More vegan brunch favorites
You can’t ever have too many brunch recipes. Here are a few more favorites in the Crowded Kitchen.
- Crispy Vegan & Gluten Free Waffles
- Vegan Frittata
- High Protein Vegan Breakfast Bowl
- Vegan Tofu Shakshuka
- Spicy Breakfast Potato Tacos
Have another delightful way to serve vegan carrot lox? Show us your creations by tagging us on Instagram @crowded_kitchen!
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Homemade vegan carrot lox. This dish is just as smoky and flavorful as the real thing. Get ready to surprise your friends at your next weekend brunch!
Ingredients
- 4 large carrots (the bigger, the better)
- 1 tbsp soy sauce or tamari
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 2 tsp maple syrup
- 1 tsp rice vinegar
- ½ tsp liquid smoke
- 1 bunch fresh dill fronds, chopped
For Serving
- Bagels
- Capers
- Pickled red onion
- Sliced tomatoes
- Vegan cream cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- Use a peeler or mandolin to peel the carrot into thin strips
- Toss the carrots with the soy sauce, salt, maple syrup, rice vinegar, and liquid smoke in an 8×8 inch baking dish.
- Cover the dish with tin foil and roast for 20 minutes.
- Drop the oven temperature to 350°F. Remove the dish from the oven and toss the carrots to coat again in the sauce. Return to the oven for 10 minutes to dry out a bit. When finished, toss the carrots with the dill fronds.
- Serve with vegan cream cheese, capers, pickled red onion, sliced tomatoes on toasted bagels.
Keywords: vegan carrot lox
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