You can make your own smoky, yummy, nutritious Smoky Tempeh Vegan Bacon yourself, the easy way! This tempeh bacon recipe is so simple to make; just mix up this 6-ingredient marinade, slice the tempeh thinly, marinate it, then pan-fry those savory strips into golden-brown deliciousness. Once you get the art of making vegan bacon yourself out of tempeh, you’ll be addicted to it! Make up a whole batch to enjoy on sandwiches, wraps, salads, and grain bowls all week long. One of my very favorite ways to feature this smokey tempeh vegan bacon is in my BLTA sandwich (see below). You can also crumble this tempeh bacon recipe into vegan bacon bits to top casseroles, salads, soups, and more!
What is tempeh?
Tempeh is an Indonesian traditional food made from fermented soy and grain. Tempeh can contain gluten, but you can also find many brands that are gluten-free. Tempeh is completed vegan, and it’s rich in protein and fiber, making it a perfect plant protein in your plant-based diet. You will always find a package of tempeh in my refrigerator, as it has a long shelf life and it’s so versatile in so many dishes! Learn more about how to use tempeh in the kitchen here.
Watch how I make this recipe in this live video in my IGTV Sustainable Eating Series here.
Smoky Tempeh Vegan Bacon
Total Time: 20 minutes (not including marinating time)
Yield: 4 servings 1x
Diet: Vegan
Description
Make your own smoky, yummy, nutritious Smoky Tempeh Vegan Bacon yourself, the easy way! Just mix up this 6-ingredient marinade, slice the tempeh thinly, marinate it, then pan-fry those savory strips into golden-brown deliciousness.
Instructions
- Make Smoky Marinade: Combine soy sauce, vinegar, maple or agave syrup, liquid smoke, sriracha sauce, and garlic powder in a shallow dish.
- Remove the tempeh from its packaging, and slice tempeh very thinly along the short side of the block.
- Place tempeh slices in the dish with marinade, cover with a tight-fitting lid, and gently turn the dish over to distribute marinade. Place the dish right side up in the refrigerator to marinate 1-2 hours. Half-way through this period, gently turn over the dish again to redistribute marinade.
- To cook tempeh bacon, add 1 tablespoon of sesame seed oil to a large skillet and heat over medium setting. Remove the strips of tempeh bacon from the marinade, and add to the skillet, cooking just until golden brown (about 4-5 minutes) on first side. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of sesame seed oil, and turn to cook the other side until golden brown (about 4-5 minutes).
- Remove and serve immediately.
- Makes about 36 thin strips (4 2-ounce servings each).
Notes
Use this recipe in my BLTA sandwich here.
To make this recipe gluten-free, use gluten-free tempeh and soy sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 154
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 287 mg
- Fat: 13 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Carbohydrates: 8 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 22 g
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