by This Actually Tasty AND Healthy Tofu Bacon has all the salty, umami flavors of bacon and is crispy, but uses extra firm tofu! Made by using a super simple marinade of soy sauce, maple syrup, and liquid smoke, and only takes 15 minutes of active cooking time, it’s about to be your new favorite protein-packed Healthy Vegan Caesar Salad or sandwich addition!
One thing about me? I LOVE LOVE LOVE a BLT. And obviously, the main component of a BLT is bacon, so when I went plant-based, I needed to find a good alternative to. Cue this vegan tofu bacon recipe that’s actually tasty and also happens to be actually healthy.
And as a Registered Dietitian, I’m all about making quick and easy protein options that you actually enjoy, which is why I share so many delicious tofu recipes! And since I’m kind of the queen of tofu (like, hello, have you tried my 30-Minute Teriyaki Tofu Stir Fry?!) making an easy homemade vegan bacon was kinda a no-brainer!
The Tofu Bacon You’ll Actually Crave
I tested this vegan bacon alternative so many times to make sure that you’ll actually be drooling at the thought of it. Here’s why you’ll love it:
- The mixture of sweet, smoky flavor is the perfect balance for this vegan bacon
- Because tofu is the base, we get a great amount of protein, at about 15g per serving!
- Unlike real bacon, this veggie bacon uses olive oil, which is an unsaturated, aka heart-healthy, fat! We also use way less fat than what’s in real bacon.
- We cook the tofu bacon until it’s niiiiice and crispy, meaning it has an amazing texture that’s SO good, especially on my 20-Minute Dairy Free Caesar Pasta Salad!
From My Test Kitchen To Yours
This veggie bacon comes together with just a few simple ingredients for the marinade and sliced tofu!
One of the main ingredients that adds to the flavor is liquid smoke. It adds a depth of flavor that’s hard to achieve with any other ingredients! BUT, if you don’t have any, you can totally still make this plant-based bacon recipe, it just won’t be quite so heavy on the ‘smoky’ bacon flavor!
I also used maple syrup for that classic smoky maple bacon tofu flavor, but if you don’t have maple syrup, I’ve also tested the recipe with honey and just good ol’ fashioned regular sugar, and they both work, too!
I tested this recipe using both firm tofu and extra firm tofu, and the extra firm tofu won by a landslide, since it soaks up way more flavor! I highly recommend using extra-firm tofu if you can in this recipe.
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My Secrets for Perfectly Crispy Tofu Bacon
If you’re as big of a fan of crispy tofu bacon strips as I am, listen up, because I tested this recipe a bunch of different ways to make sure you get the crispiest results!
- If you have the time, squeezing out extra water from your tofu will help it to soak up allllll of that good flavor from the marinade! Just wrap it in a paper towel and press down on it on the counter to give it a good squeeze!
- If you have issues with the tofu sticking to the pan, make sure you’re letting it crisp up enough on each side before flipping!
- Don’t be afraid to use oil! Even as a Dietitian, I use oil in almost all of my cooking because it carries so much flavor, and you really can’t crisp anything up without it!
Actually Tasty AND Healthy Tofu Bacon
Ingredients
- 1 block extra firm tofu
- 2 tbsp maple syrup
- 1.5 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp liquid smoke
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Equipment
Instructions
- Start by pressing your block of tofu. It's pretty important here that we use extra firm tofu and that we press it, because the less water that's in the tofu, the more all of those delicious, bacon-y flavors will soak in. If you've never pressed tofu before, simply wrap it in a clean tea towel or paper towel and press lightly to get some excess water out. We only need to do this for a few seconds.
- Next, slice the tofu into thin slices. I chose to slice the block lengthwise to yield longer strips, but do whatever you prefer!
- Mix together the marinade in a large bowl. Add the tofu slices and stir to make sure the tofu strips are coated in the marinade. Refrigerate for 30 minutes. The longer these sit in the fridge, the better, so if you're in a rush, I recommend a minimum of 10 minutes.
- Once the tofu has marinated, heat a large pan over medium heat with the olive oil. Lay the tofu strips evenly on the pan and pour any remaining marinade over top.
- Let cook for 15 minutes, flipping half way between, or until golden brown on either side. Remove from the heat, serve on a sandwich, in a wrap or on top of a salad and enjoy!
This is so good!!! Just like I remember bacon (after 7 years of being vegan). I accidently had mine marinating for 2 days in the fridge before cooking and just layed the slices out on an oven tray covered with baking paper and I brushed the remaining marinade over the pieces and bake at 200 – 205 degrees for about 27 mins. instead of frying to save on using more oil. The only downside of this is that is was so addictive!!!! – so there wasn’t much left to use or share with anyone else by the time I had tasted, retasted, retasted etc….. :/ ;)…..Thank you for this great recipe….a definite keeper!!!
Oh I’m so happy you enjoyed it, Rosie!! I absolutely love this one too!