Vegan Ny System Hot Wieners

Call me crazy, but I somehow felt the need to veganize these wretched things!! And ya know, they turned out quite amazing, if I do say so myself... For those of you who have not had the pleasure, "Hot Wieners" are a Rhode Island classic. Anyone who's ANYONE in little RI has gorged themselves late-night on these dogs, which consist of a hot dog served on a STEAMED bun, then topped with quite a "distinct" flavor of meat sauce, mustard, raw minced onions and celery salt. My inspiration for the "meat" sauce was from Guy Fieri's recipe for: Hot Weiners Rhode Island Style! I lowered his amount of cinnamon, AND his amounts for chili powder and paprika because they seemed a bit much for vegetarian crumbles. DO NOT omit the raw onions, yellow mustard OR the celery salt. This is what makes these dogs a classic Rhode Island treat, whether it's vegan or not!!

• Ready In: 35 mins
• Serves: 10
• Yields: 20 hot dogs

Ingredients

• 2  tablespoons margarine
• 1  yellow onion, minced
• 2  tablespoons chili powder
• 2  tablespoons paprika
• 1⁄2 teaspoon allspice
• 1⁄2 teaspoon curry
• 1  teaspoon dry mustard
• 1⁄2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 12  ounces  soy crumbles (I used Boca brand)
• 1⁄2 cup water, more if needed
• 20  tofu hot dogs (I like Smart Dogs)
• 1  teaspoon salt
• 20  hot dog buns
•  minced yellow onion, for topping
•  celery salt

Directions

1. In a medium saute pan over medium heat add, margarine and 1 minced onion.
2. Saute till translucent, but do not brown.
3. Next add chili powder, paprika, allspice, curry, dry mustard and cinnamon. Then add veggie crumbles, stir thoroughly and cook for 5 minutes, add water and simmer over medium to low heat for 30 minutes, adding more water if pan gets dry.
4. Bring water in sauce pot to a boil, add slat, remove from heat and throw in the veggie dogs for 3-4 minutes.
5. Serve dogs in steamed buns, topped with "meat" sauce, mustard, minced onion and a shake or two of celery salt.