IKEA Reworks Recipe Of Vegan Hot Dog So It Can ‘Snap’ Like A Real Sausage

No trip to IKEA is complete without grabbing its popular hot dog. After all, the furniture store’s iconic weiner has been part of its shopping experience for over four decades. Now, to cater to more guests, the brand has developed a plant-based hot dog that tastes more like the real thing.

One challenge in reimagining the hot dog for vegan consumers was creating a texture similar to the classic meat frank. Regular hot dogs usually come with a casing around the meat, allowing individuals to feel a “snap” when taking a bite.

Previously, the chain launched a veggie hot dog made from kale, lentils, quinoa, onions, and wheat protein, but is now enhancing the new iteration with the “snap,” hoping to mimic the sensory experience that one would get biting into a regular hot dog.

Plus, by offering a new vegan iteration, the firm hopes it can encourage more customers to choose the more sustainable option.

“We want to offer more plant-based alternatives with a lower climate impact. Choosing plant-based foods often impacts climate footprint less than animal-based options,” commented Helene von Reis, Food Manager at IKEA of Sweden.

“IKEA is driven by a vision to create a better everyday life for the many people. Through the food business, we can contribute to this by offering a tasty, healthier, and more sustainable food option,” she said. 

Those interested in trying out the new plant-based hot dog, which will launch in Europe soon, can look forward to a balanced taste of rice protein, onion, apple, salt, pepper, and smokiness that will give the frank its “characteristic sausage flavor.”

[via Plant Based News and The Takeout, images via IKEA]