Our vegan bacon is made with tempeh. This tempeh bacon is sweet, smokey and salty, without the guilt of real bacon. We love to use this tempeh bacon on our BLTs and sandwiches. It’s also the perfect side to our morning breakfast tofu tacos.

What is Tempeh

Tempeh is actually soybeans fermented into a cake or block. The flavors are nutty and earthy. The texture is chewy and fulfilling. Tempeh can be used on salads, meat substitutes and on sandwiches. We previously used tempeh as a topping for an udon soup as well. It’s pretty versatile and easy to work with.

Soybeans are one of the top genetically modified foods on the planet. We try our best to purchase non-GMO tempeh. Though, a personal preference we still recommend buying non-GMO whenever possible.

Making Vegan Bacon

Vegan bacon that is sweet, smoky, and salty. Made with tempeh.

Ingredients

6 oz Tempeh block, sliced thin
3 tbsp Liquid aminos
1 tbsp Maple syrup
1 tsp Liquid smoke
Large sealable bag

Equipment

Cutting board
Knife

Total cost: 9 USD

Duration

Total time: 2 hours 20 minutes

Slice the tempeh
uncooked tempeh sliced
Cut the tempeh block into slices.
Make the marinating liquid
In a large resealable bag, add all of the liquid ingredients. Mix until combined.
Place the slices into the liquid
Tempeh and Liquid in a bag
Place all of the tempeh slices into a sealable bag. Make sure each of the slices is in contact with the liquid.
Remove as much air as you can before sealing.
Marinate
After marinating for at least two hours the tempeh is ready to cook! Once the pan is preheated, add some cooking oil to the pan. Adding a good amount of oil to the pan will allow the tempeh to absorb the fat, giving it a more bacon-like feel. If you are watching calories or trying to reduce oil intake, you could also sear it in a non-stick pan with little to no oil.
TIP: Marinate overnight for best results
Cook
Frying Tempeh Bacon
Carefully place the bacon in the pan and allow it to sear for one to two minutes each side. You want them to have a deep golden brown color. Remove from the pan and serve immediately.