Vegan Cocktail Sausages (gluten-free)

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Make Vegan Cocktail Sausages at home from simple ingredients such as tofu, gluten-free flour, starch, and seasonings!

These mini tofu hot dogs are great as and with other vegan appetizers during game day, potlucks, or parties!

They are comparable to cocktail wieners, or little smokies. So enjoy these meatless sausages covered in your favorite sauce or even as vegan pigs in a blanket.

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💡 The recipe in a nutshell
📋 Ingredients
🔄 Substitutions
💡 Variations
🍽 Equipment
👩🏽‍🍳 How do you make vegan cocktail sausages?
✨ Sprinkle's Expert Tips
🌭 Serving Ideas
🤔 Recipe FAQ
🥣 Storage & Reheating Instructions
🌱 More Vegan Recipes You'll Love
📖 Recipe
💬 Reviews

💡 The recipe in a nutshell

Vegan (eggless and dairy-free)
Gluten-free
Plant-based sausages made from scratch
Healthy homemade meat alternative
Smokey, crowd-pleasing and delicious

📋 Ingredients

To make gluten-free and vegan cocktail sausages from scratch you need the following ingredients:

Extra-firm tofu
Tapioca starch
Cassava flour (if you don't care for gluten free, you can use regular all-purpose too)
Avocado oil, or other vegetable oil of choice
Agave syrup
Tomato paste
Tamari, or soy sauce
Liquid smoke
Salt, or alternatively miso paste
½ teaspoon of each: black pepper, smoked paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, yellow mustard

See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.

🔄 Substitutions

Tofu: If you prefer a different base for your tofu sausages, you can use seitan or a combination of beans and vegetables. Adjust the seasonings as needed to suit the new base.
Tapioca Starch: Cornstarch or arrowroot powder can be used as a substitute for tapioca starch.
Cassava Flour: If you don't have cassava flour, you can use rice flour, potato starch, or regular all-purpose flour. Keep in mind that this may affect the texture slightly.
Avocado Oil: Any neutral-flavored vegetable oil, like canola or sunflower oil, can replace avocado oil.
Agave Syrup: Maple syrup, brown rice syrup, or another liquid sweetener of your choice can be used instead of agave syrup.
Tomato Paste: You can substitute tomato paste with tomato sauce or ketchup. Adjust the quantity to achieve the desired consistency.
Tamari: Coconut aminos or regular soy sauce can be used if gluten isn't a concern.
Liquid Smoke: If you don't have liquid smoke, try smoked paprika or smoked salt for a smoky flavor. You may need to adjust the quantity to taste.
Salt or Miso Paste: Use miso paste as a replacement for salt, or vice versa. Adjust the quantity to control the saltiness.
Spices: Feel free to adjust the spice quantities or types based on your preferences. If you like your tofu sausages spicier, add more black pepper or paprika, for example.
Plastic Wrap: As mentioned in the recipe notes, you can use parchment paper instead of plastic wrap for wrapping the wieners.

Remember, substitutions will bring their own unique flavors and texture to your vegan cocktail sausages. Enjoy exploring different variations and discovering your favorite twist on our recipe!

💡 Variations

There are countless creative variations you can try for vegan cocktail sausages to add different flavors and textures. Here are some great ideas to inspire your culinary experimentation:

Little Smokeys: Toss the wieners in your favorite vegan barbecue sauce before serving for a smoky and tangy twist.
Spicy Sriracha Wieners: Add a touch of Sriracha sauce or hot sauce to the mixture for a spicy kick.
Herb-Infused Tofu Sausages: Add chopped fresh herbs like rosemary, thyme, or sage for a herby aroma.
Cheesy Wieners: Mix in vegan cheese shreds for a gooey, cheesy center.
Buffalo Style Mini Sausages: Toss them in buffalo sauce and serve with vegan ranch dressing for a spicy, tangy treat.
Mushroom and Onion Wieners: Sauté chopped mushrooms and onions, then mix them into the tofu mixture for added umami and flavor.
Vegan Bacon-Wrapped Wieners: Wrap the tofu sausages in vegan bacon after steaming for a smoky, savory combination.
Gourmet Wieners: Use high-quality ingredients like truffle oil, saffron, or porcini mushroom powder for an upscale, gourmet twist.
Nut-Stuffed Cocktail Sausages: Stuff the vegan cocktail sausages with chopped nuts or seeds for added crunch and nutty flavor.
Fruit-Glazed Wieners: Brush the wieners with a fruit glaze made from fruit preserves or jelly for a sweet and savory contrast.

Feel free to mix and match these flavor variations and play with the recipe. Experimenting with different ingredients and flavors is part of the fun!

Did you whip up a fantastic variation? Don't forget to drop a comment at the bottom of the blog post! I'm all ears and absolutely thrilled to hear about your culinary adventures.

🍽 Equipment

To prepare vegan cocktail sausages, you'll require several pieces of equipment. Firstly, a tofu press is recommended to effectively drain excess liquid from the tofu, although it's not mandatory.

You'll also need a food processor or blender to mix and process the ingredients. To shape the tofu sausages, use plastic wrap or parchment paper.

A bamboo steamer will be necessary for steaming the wieners, and make sure your skillet is at least 1 inch wider than your steamer!

Find product links in the recipe card below.

👩🏽‍🍳 How do you make vegan cocktail sausages?

Making vegan cocktail sausages at home is super easy! This recipe is on the base of tofu, so start by preparing your tofu: drain and press it in a tofu press for at least 1 hour, best overnight.

Adding all ingredients for vegan cocktail sausages into a food processor.

1. Add all ingredients to a food processor, and process until thick paste forms.

Hands holding a small rectangle of plastic wrap.

2. Cut 8 eight 4x4.5-inch squares of plastic wrap and place them on your counter (which is approximately 10.5 cm x 11.5 cm).

Oiled hand holding vegan cocktail sausage dough formed into a ball.

3. Scoop about 1 tablespoon of the tofu mixture and roll it gently into a ball using slightly oiled hands. Place the ball on one of the plastic wrap rectangles. Repeat with 7 more balls.

Rolling vegan cocktail sausage dough ball into the plastic wrap to form into sausage shape.

4. Then roll each ball tightly into the wrap while slightly pressing with your fingers to create a short log/cocktail sausage shape. With the palm of your hand, gently roll the sausage back and forth to lengthen it.

Hands twisting the ends of the plastic wrap tightly to create a short cocktail sausage shape.

5. Then twist the ends of the wrap tightly to seal them. It will look kind of like wrapped candy. As an alternative, you can also use sausage molds. You can watch this video, where I show you how it is done.

Prepared and uncooked vegan cocktail sausages assembled in a bamboo steamer.

6. Place the sausages in a small to medium-sized bamboo steamer basket. To protect your steamer from taking on any food flavors, always lay it out with a small piece of parchment paper and put food on top of it.

Repeat

Start by cutting out more plastic wrap rectangles and repeat everything until you have used all of the tofu mixture and formed into small tofu sausages. You should end up with approximately 32 vegan cocktail sausages.

Hands putting a bamboo steamer into a skillet with hot water.

7. Fill a shallow pan with 1-2 inches of water (which is 2.5 - 5cm). The pan should be at least 1 inch wider than your bamboo steamer. You don't want it to touch the sides of the pan to prevent it from burning. Bring the water to a boil. place the bamboo steamer basket into your pan and steam the sausages for 12 minutes and do not open the lid.

Hands unwrapping the freshly cooked vegan cocktail wieners.

8. Remove from heat, open the lid, and let cool for 5 minutes. Unwrap each sausage while still warm and transfer them to a plate. Use further as desired (grilling, frying, cooking), serve warm, or store in the fridge for up to 5 days.

freshly steamed vegan cocktail sausages still wrapped in plastic

✨ Sprinkle's Expert Tips

Press the Tofu: Pressing the tofu to remove excess water is essential. Use a tofu press or wrap the tofu in paper towels and place a weight on top for at least 1 hour or longer.
Experiment with Flavors: Don't be afraid to experiment with different herbs, spices, and flavorings to create unique variations. This can make your sausages stand out.
Wrap Securely: When wrapping the sausages in plastic wrap or parchment paper, make sure they are wrapped securely to maintain the desired shape. Twist the ends tightly for a candy-like appearance.
Grill or Fry for Flavor: After steaming, enhance the flavor by grilling or frying the sausages briefly. This adds a smoky or crispy texture.
Presentation: Pay attention to the presentation of your sausages. Serve them in an appealing manner on platters, skewers, or small buns for mini sandwiches.
Taste Testing: Continuously taste the mixture and adjust seasonings to achieve the desired taste profile during your preparations! There is nothing worse than putting all this effort into making your very own vegan cocktail sausages from scratch, just to find out the seasoning is off in the end.

🌭 Serving Ideas

What goes with cocktail sausages? They taste great on their own, but are super versatile! You can dip them in sauces, cook, grill, or fry them. You can even serve them in or with other meals, as sides or as appetizers!

Vegan pigs in a blanket served in a pan with onion dip.

Here are some of our favorite serving ideas:

Make pigs in a blanket or vegan sausage rolls with them!
Dip or coat in your favorite sauces. We love these sausages in combination with: BBQ, chipotle sauce, buffalo sauce, sweet chili sauce, mayonnaise, aioli, ketchup, or mustard.
Grill and enjoy! We love to thread the wieners onto small skewers. They are great with grilled tteokbokki or vegetables.
Add to your favorite vegetable stew, soup, or stir-fry.
Serve as is, or as part of a charcuterie board.

Serve with your favorite salad! We love them in combination with our German potato salad and taco pasta salad.
Tofu Hot Dogs - Use them as a filling for small hot dogs or slider buns and add your favorite toppings and condiments!

🤔 Recipe FAQ

Can I shape these into regular size sausages instead?

Yes, you can. Just remember, depending on how big your steamer is, you might need to steam 3-4 sausages at a time. However, the good news is that the steaming time remains the same unless you're going for gigantic sausages!

Can I use something else than plastic wrap?

Yes, if you want to skip the plastic, use parchment paper. It just won't give it such nice sausage-like-looking endings as the plastic wrap does, but it works too!

Can I use regular flour instead of cassava?

Yes, regular all-purpose flour works too, but remember that would not be gluten-free anymore.

Can I steam them in an Instant Pot and if so for how long?

I have not tried it myself, but I am sure you can steam the tofu sausages in an Instant Pot following the same method. The suggested steaming time of 5-7 minutes should work well for small tofu sausages.

Can I use okara instead of tofu?

This is a great question! Okara is the pulp leftover from making soy milk or tofu, and it has a similar texture to tofu. I do think you could use okara instead of tofu.

However, it may have a slightly different taste and may require some adjustments to achieve the desired consistency and flavor. Let me know if you try this!

The mixture is very sticky. Is this normal?

Yes, it's normal for the tofu sausage mixture to be sticky due to the moisture content. Wet your hands slightly with cold water to prevent it from sticking to your hands.

Can I sauté or grill the tofu sausages?

Yes, you can sauté or grill the tofu sausages to add a delicious crispy exterior and enhance their flavor.

🥣 Storage & Reheating Instructions

Want to keep those yummy vegan cocktail sausages fresh? Here's how to do it right:

Refrigeration: The easiest way to store cooked cocktail sausages is in the refrigerator. Allow them to cool to room temperature before refrigerating. Place the sausages in an airtight container or a resealable plastic bag. Ensure that they are not overcrowded in the container to prevent them from sticking together.
Separation: To prevent sticking, you can place a layer of parchment paper or wax paper between sausages in the container.

They will remain fresh for about 3-5 days.

Freezing (Long-Term Storage): For longer storage, place the sausages in an airtight container or freezer-safe bag, removing as much air as possible. Label and date the container.
Flash Freeze: If you are freezing them, it's a good idea to flash freeze the sausages first. This means placing them on a baking sheet in the freezer until they are firm, then transferring them to an airtight container. This prevents sticking and makes it easier to remove only as many as you need.

Well-packaged cocktail sausages can stay in the freezer for up to 2-3 months without significant loss of quality. Please keep in mind that freezing tofu can alter its texture.

Thawing: When you're ready to use the frozen sausages, thaw them in the fridge. This gradual thawing helps maintain their texture.
Reheating: Reheat refrigerated or thawed sausages in the microwave, on the stovetop, or in the oven, depending on your preference and the desired texture.