Actually Tasty AND Healthy Tofu Bacon

White plate with strips of tofu bacon on top.

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!

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Diet Vegan, Vegetarian

Keyword easy tofu recipe, High protein recipe

Prep Time 30

Cook Time 15

Total Time 45

Servings

Calories 190kcal

Author Lauren McNeill, RD

Equipment

Large pan

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

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!

Notes

Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days! If you want to make sure it's crispy again when reheating, I recommend heating it on the stovetop, air fryer or in the oven at 450 F for 5-10 minutes!

Nutrition