I prefer to make my own food, it’s cheaper, healthier and tastes better because I can use my favorite ingredients. I don’t eat vegan substitutes very often because they’re not healthy and they’re also really expensive in my country. Searching for the perfect vegan bacon recipe I found many amazing recipes, some people use coconut or even eggplant to make facon (or fake bacon), but I thought the tempeh bacon probably taste better and it’s really delicious.
Although this is not the healthiest food in the world, at least, is much healthier than regular bacon and also has less fat and is cholesterol-free.
I used store bought tempeh, but if you make your own tempeh, good for you! I rarely buy tempeh, actually this was the second time I used it. The first time I made these awesome vegan tempeh meatballs. If you have a good homemade tempeh recipe, please share it in the comments!
This vegan tempeh is really easy to make, you just have to slice the tempeh, mix the marinade ingredients, soak the tempeh slices in the marinade for 1 or 2 minutes and fry them, that’s all! You can also bake it if you want.
The best oils for frying are those that can be heated to high temperatures before burning. I usually use extra virgin olive oil, but coconut oil is also great. Please avoid refined oils, they’re bad for your health.
To make the marinade you need: soy sauce or tamari, extra virgin olive oil (or other non refined oil), agave syrup (or any other liquid sweetener), red hot sauce, liquid smoke or smoke powder, ground cumin and black pepper.
You can use any hot sauce you like (Tabasco is great) or even you can add cayenne powder. I know the liquid smoke or smoke powder is not a healthy ingredient, but it’s necessary to get the real bacon taste. If you can’t find it, use barbecue sauce instead (you’ll probably need to add more).
There are so many recipes you can make with the tempeh bacon, but I used it to make the beautiful vegan Cobb salad you can see in the picture below, I’ll share the recipe soon!
Don’t forget to leave a comment or tag a picture #simpleveganblog on Instagram or Twitter if you make this tempeh bacon, we love your pictures and comments!
Tempeh Bacon
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 5 mins
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 10 1x
- Category: How-To
- Cuisine: Vegan, American
This tempeh bacon is not the healthiest food in the world, but is much healthier than regular bacon and also has less fat and is cholesterol-free.
Ingredients
- 8 oz tempeh (250 g)
- 1 tbsp tamari or soy sauce
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil for the marinade + extra virgin olive oil to taste for frying the bacon
- 1 tbsp maple or agave syrup
- 1/2 tsp red hot sauce or 1/2 tsp paprika
- 2 tsp liquid smoke or smoke powder (optional)
- 1/2 tsp ground cumin
- Pinch of salt and ground black pepper
Instructions
- Slice the tempeh as thin as you can without it falling apart.
- Mix the rest of the ingredients (except the salt) in a bowl. Soak the tempeh slices in the marinade for 1 or 2 minutes.
- Heat extra virgin olive oil in a saute pan and when it’s hot, add the tempeh and cook for 1 or 2 minutes each side over high heat until both sides are browned and crisp.
- Lay cooked tempeh on paper towel to cool. Add salt to taste.
Notes
Recipe adapted from Healthy Happy Life
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/10 of the recipe
- Calories: 75
- Sugar: 1.3g
- Sodium: 109mg
- Fat: 5.3g
- Saturated Fat: 0.9g
- Carbohydrates: 3.6g
- Protein: 4.4g
Was looking for something fun to eat with my homemade vegan slaw and found this recipe. I have made many tempeh bacon recipes but not one with cumin, which was a nice addition. Very tasty, especially with a tangy slaw.
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LOVE this recipe. I’ve made it multiple times. I would love to try it with smoked paprika as others have suggested when I run out of liquid smoke.
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Delicious and easy. Would make again.
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Hi Kathy! Thanks a lot 🙂
I am wondering why you are saying that tempeh is not the healthiest thing in the world ? When I ate a macrobiotic diet years ago – tempeh was considered a very healthy staple to the diet. Thx
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Hi Donna! No, tempeh is super healthy, what it’s not that healthy is the tempeh bacon if you fry it 🙂
Why do you say this is not so healthy- tempeh is an excellent food source and this is delicious!
Hi Deborah! I wasn’t talking about tempeh, I was talking about liquid smoke 🙂
use smoked paprika instead…that’s what i use …
Hi Matthew! Yes, it also works great 🙂
Can I freeze it after marinating then thaw and fry as needed? We have been making Fakin Bacon BLTs and I keep the LightLife product in the freezer. The Fakin Bacon is expensive so would like to make my own.
Hi Patb! I’ve never frozen it myself, so I’m not sure, but I think it could work…
That’s all good “name here”. My comment is to “can’t you be nice”. Say it in a nice way….hey…we are all learning and you are not better than anyone else…negative thoughts cause ill….think about it….and be kind……………
Professionals are held to different standards than the public. If you’re claiming to give out information that directly affects people’s health and wellbeing, it better be accurate and not adverse to their health. Smoke point is a given when advising people on oil choice.
Not sure what you mean by “professional”. A food blogger is in no way a health professional on their own unless the author has other credentials making them so.
She isn’t claiming that this is healthy. Pretty sure this recipe won’t give anyone cancer, but feel free to just not make it if you feel it doesn’t fit in with your lifestyle.
Yeah I’m considering people’s health and well being and NOT giving them cancerous foods. If you work in the industry and are advising people on this, it is imperative that you give them accurate and healthful advice.
Delicious! I steamed first to lessen tempeh bitterness and fried. A real treat. Any hints as to how to slice it thinner?
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Hi Kathy! Thanks a lot 🙂 Use a mandoline, it’s awesome.
What thickness do you suggest with the mandolin?
I use smoked paprika instead of liquid smoke in my recipes and it tastes even better.
Hi Annie! Yes, it also works great 🙂
The flavor was spot on , wish it was crispier, going to put in dehydrator to try and crisp up, looking forward to a blt sandwich, mmm
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Hi Deborah! Have you fried it? Try to slice it even thinner 🙂
Tasty, but next time I’ll omit the cumin. It overpowered the other flavors and didn’t taste authentic to me.
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Hi Danielle! I think bacon is usually made with cumin, but it’s up to you 🙂
Wow, I just made this and it’s so good. Love that marinade! Gonna go make a BLT now!
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Hi Emilie! I’m so glad you liked it 🙂 Hope you enjoy your BLT!
This recipe was a hit with the kiddos!! They barely noticed that it wasn’t bacon and they asked for me to make this recipe again. We put the Tempeh on sandwiches.
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Hi Alancia! So glad they enjoyed it 🙂
Delicious! I made this tonight and loved it! Does it taste like animal bacon? No. Does it satisfy that craving without harming animals? YEP!
This was so quick and easy to make – it’s definitely a recipe that’ll be made over and over again! <3
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Hi Yvie! Thanks a lot 🙂 So glad you enjoyed it!
Just exactly what I was looking for, making a plant based Reuben casserole for dinner. This fakin’ bacon added the perfect umami. We don’t use oil and I didn’t miss it in this recipe at all. Thanks Iosune for sharing.
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Hi Rachel! You’re so welcome 🙂 Sounds great!
Thanks so much for this easy bacon sub recipe!
I have yet to make it, but when I do I will replace the hot sauce and smoke products with organic smoked paprika. I just have to pick up some organic tempeh.
Hi Janet! You’re so welcome 🙂 Hope you enjoy it!
This tasted so good and was very easy to make.
★★★★★
Hi Lorianne! I’m so glad you liked it 🙂 Have a nice day!
If I make this the night before, what’s the best way to keep it crisp for the next morning?
Hi Kathy! It’s best when fresh, but I keep it in a sealed container in the fridge and then reheat it in a pan with a little bit of oil. Hope it helps!
Thanks for the recipe. As I began my vegetarian lifestyle journey this assisted my bacon craving. I made some fried potatoes with yellow peppers, variety of spices and drizzled this marinate. Deliciousness to the max.
Hi Ramona! You’re so welcome 🙂 So glad you enjoyed it!