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Craving bacon but want to eat plant based? Here are 3 delicious ways to make vegan bacon that are unbelievably smoky and delicious!
Craving bacon? Us too. Alex and I eat a mostly whole food plant based diet. So sometimes, we just need us some bacon. Now, we don’t eat 100% plant-based, so sometimes we just eat a little of the real thing. But if we’re looking to infuse bacon-y flavor into a vegetarian or vegan recipe, there’s an invention for that. It’s vegan bacon!
Vegan bacon can be made with lots of different ingredients. Alex and I have have three different methods that we like to use! Here’s an outline of the methods:
- Shiitake bacon using shiitake mushrooms! Great for adding flavor as a garnish.
- Coconut bacon using large unsweetened coconut flakes! Also good for adding flavor.
- Tempeh bacon using soy-based tempeh! This one has protein so it’s a more filling option.
Each method has different advantages and best uses. Alex and I actually use all three depending on what we’re making. Scroll down to read more about each one, then click “Get Recipe” to go to the recipe!
Vegan bacon: 3 ways to make it!
Ever tried making bacon out of mushrooms? The first method for vegan bacon uses shiitake mushrooms to make smoky, savory and delicious bacon-like slivers.
Method: Thinly slice shiitake mushrooms. Saute them in neutral oil, then add soy sauce, smoked paprika, and flaky sea salt.
Use For: The recipe makes a small quantity (about ½ cup). The small slivers are perfect for sprinkling on potato soup, adding to pizza, or throwing into a Cobb salad. A sprinkle would also be nice on a veggie burger.
Total time: 15 minutes
SCROLL DOWN for the recipe.
Large coconut flakes are perfect for making vegan bacon! They're infused with a spicy, smoky flavor that both crisps in the oven and maintains chewy parts, reminiscent of the crispy and fatty texture of bacon.
Method: Mix large unsweetened coconut flakes with olive oil, Sriracha, soy sauce and liquid smoke.
Use For: The recipe makes quite a bit (2 cups). The crunchy flakes are great for garnishing soups, throwing into a salad, or even banana pancakes.
Total time: 20 minutes
Our final method for making vegan bacon: tempeh! Tempeh is a soy product that has a firm texture and nutty flavor. Sliced into strips, it easily takes on the smoky flavor of bacon.
Method: Thinly slice the tempeh, then saute it with soy sauce, liquid smoke, cumin and cayenne.
Use For: Tempeh has lots of protein, so it's a more filling option than the first two methods. Because it's more substantial, this works great in a Vegan BLT Sandwich or alongside a Tofu Scramble.
Total time: 20 minutes
Ways to serve vegan bacon
There are lots of great ways to serve vegan bacon! Here are a few of our favorites:
- Salad. It’s perfect on main dish Vegetarian Cobb Salad, or maybe a BLT Chopped Salad?
- Pizza. Add it to our Cheese Pizza, Taco Pizza or Breakfast Pizza.
- Sandwiches. Try it on our Vegan BLT or Swiss Melt Sandwich.
- Veggie burgers. Wouldn’t vegan bacon be perfect on our Best Veggie Burger or Perfect Vegan Black Bean Burger.
- With a scramble. If you eat eggs try tempeh bacon with Fluffy Scrambled Eggs, or for vegan try our Easy Tofu Scramble.
- On soup. Vegan bacon crumbles are perfect on Easy Potato Soup or Vegan Corn Chowder.
More resources for eating plant based
A few more plant based resources for fitting vegan recipes into your everyday:
- Plant Based Diet for Beginners Everything you need to know about eating plant based, with lots of recipes!
- How to Go Vegan: Guide & Recipes Here’s how to go vegan: a beginners guide and all the healthy recipes you need. Plant based eating can be affordable, filling and delicious!
- 28 Day Plant Based Diet Meal Plan All the recipes you need arranged into a monthly plan (with printable planner)!
- Whole Food Plant Based Diet: Guide & Recipes Focused on whole food ingredients, this guide gives lots of WFPB diet resources.
- Guide to Plant Based Protein Here’s how to get full eating plant based recipes!
