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July 9, 2025

Taste the best of Town

Taste the best of Town

My Favourite Vegan Tempeh Bacon

Two small baking sheets are lined with parchment paper and strips of vegan tempeh "bacon."

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That is my favourite tempeh “bacon” recipe, a salty and smoky staple in my sandwiches, wraps, salads, breakfast plates, and so on. This tempeh is flexible, straightforward to make, and an incredible supply of vegan protein.

Two small baking sheets are lined with parchment paper and strips of vegan tempeh "bacon."

Staple meals and vegetable bases Keep on!

For those who missed this weekend weekend read article, I caught the flu on Saturday. I am bouncing again, thanks partly to the Tamiflu I certified for once I went to the ER. However the first few days had been tough, and I additionally did not really feel like myself within the days main as much as the sickness.

So I used to be extraordinarily grateful to have a few of my favourite vegan tempeh bacon in my fridge.

My batch of tempeh bacon made home made vegan BLTs straightforward once I did not have the power to make one other lunch. And it was a concentrated supply of vegan protein I might crave for homemade soup as I recovered.

Bacon tempeh is one thing I casually seek advice from on a regular basis on this weblog. simply accomplished tofu scramble? Add some tempeh bacon. Whisk potatoes or Brussels sprouts hash? Bacon tempeh to the rescue. Need to add taste and a splash of taste to an in any other case easy salad? It is bacon tempeh.

However I by no means actually shared my go-to recipe or course of for making tempeh bacon right here. As I flip to this recipe greater than ever, I believed it was time to share.

Green asparagus spears were topped with a crumbled herbal tempeh "bacon."

What’s Bacon Tempeh?

Good query. Bacon tempeh is a bit like “nooch” or cashew cheese in that it’s a meals that lifelong vegan eaters typically mindlessly seek advice from.

Folks new to plant-based consuming, alternatively, could also be confused after they hear about it.

“Bacon” tempeh is a tempeh preparation that evokes bacon in its salty and smoky taste profile. It may be utilized in recipes much like common bacon: crumbled, chopped or in strips.

What’s tempeh?

For these of you unfamiliar, tempeh is a soy-based vegan protein.

In contrast to tofu, which can also be made out of soybeans, tempeh is dense and has some texture. It is possible for you to to inform that it’s made out of an entire bean cake. Alternatively, the tofu is done from floor beans, boiled, remodeled into soy “milk”, then coagulated.

Tempeh has an earthy taste. It may be bitter, which is lessened in case you steam it earlier than marinating and cooking it.

Lately, I nearly at all times steam my tempeh earlier than cooking it. Nonetheless, I do not discover steaming to be a vital step in making tempeh bacon. The tempeh is sliced ​​so skinny and marinated with a lot taste right here that you just will not catch any bitter taste within the completed strips.

Well being Advantages of Tempeh

Tempeh is without doubt one of the most nutritionally wealthy natural substances. Above all, it is a wonderful supply of vegetable protein.

A 3-ounce serving of tempeh accommodates about 17 grams of protein. Like a dietitian, I counsel lots of my diet shoppers to purpose for round 20 grams of protein per meal (a suggestion that may be elevated or decreased relying on an individual’s distinctive wants). 17 grams is a big contribution to the protein content material of any plate!

Tempeh can also be supply of dietary fiber, which might profit coronary heart and digestive well being. And it accommodates a small quantity of zinc, which is related to sturdy immune perform.

Tempeh is low in sodium and saturated fats, and it is cholesterol-free. This makes it a wonderful supply of protein for these coping with coronary heart situations or excessive blood lipids.

A glass jar has been filled with a dark brown marinade.

Easy methods to make bacon tempeh

Thankfully, the method of creating bacon tempeh is straightforward.

You may begin by mixing a 5-ingredient marinade. Subsequent, you’ll lower your block of tempeh into strips.

Tempeh can take completely different types, relying on the place you purchase it. In america, it’s normally bought in 7.5 or 8 oz rectangular blocks.

I prefer to slice my tempeh widthwise alongside these blocks, into quick strips. For those who desire, you may as well slice it lengthwise.

Anyway, I like to recommend strips about 1/4 inch thick.

A close-up image of a vegetable protein, which is marinated in a dark amber colored sauce.

As soon as your tempeh has been sliced, you have to to dip it into the marinade.

I normally marinate my tempeh in a glass storage container with an airtight lid. I find yourself storing the tempeh within the fridge whereas it marinates, anyway, and the tight-fitting lid on this container makes it straightforward for me to shake the tempeh gently to disperse the marinade.

Nonetheless, it is also good to marinate the tempeh in a shallow, rectangular or sq. baking dish, then cowl it with a material, foil or plastic wrap whereas marinating.

Strips of a vegan protein are lined up in a baking dish, marinated in a deep amber marinade.  The dish lies on a white surface.

Lined tempeh can marinate for as little as 2 hours or as much as 48 hours within the fridge. I nearly at all times let it marinate in a single day, since tempeh absorbs probably the most taste that manner. If two hours is the time you’ve gotten, 2 hours will likely be sufficient.

Subsequent, you may cook dinner the tempeh bacon in a 400°F oven for about 20-25 minutes, flipping the strips as soon as midway by cooking.

A sheet of white parchment paper was used to cook dark brown vegan tempeh slices "bacon."

When the tempeh bacon comes out of the oven, it must be browned, crispy across the edges, and prepared for all of your bacon-worthy vegan recipes.

Easy methods to Serve Tempeh Bacon

What would possibly a few of these recipes be?

I really feel like I take advantage of my tempeh bacon in and on nearly all the things. It seems incessantly in my sandwiches and envelope at lunch. That is nice crumbled over soup or vegan salad.

Bacon tempeh is the right accompaniment to tofu scramble, after all, and it really works nicely with so many different breakfast dishes. I prefer to put it on avocado or hummus toast specifically.

Listed here are another recipes your tempeh bacon would possibly like to reside in:

Salads

Soups

Breakfasts

Pasta

Sandwiches and wraps

After all, that is simply what involves thoughts. There are such a lot of different potentialities for tempeh bacon.

Additionally keep in mind that somewhat than utilizing it in a correct recipe, you may merely add tempeh bacon to any meals or meal that would use somewhat plant protein.

As you may see under, I actually prefer to crumble it over steamed, roasted or freshly sautéed greens. It might be broccoli or broccolini, garlic chard or spinach, steamed asparagus ideas, sautéed zucchini or a massaged kale salad.

A round, white plate contains freshly cooked asparagus tips.  It lies on a white surface.

Easy methods to retailer tempeh bacon

Bacon tempeh might be saved in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 5 days, or you may freeze it for as much as six weeks. It retains very nicely!

To reheat, you may heat the tempeh bacon strips over low warmth in a nonstick skillet. You may as well warmth them in your air fryer or oven at 350 for about 5 minutes.

Rejoice Tempeh

Over time, tempeh has grow to be my favourite vegetable protein. I am at all times in search of new methods to get pleasure from it, and I will preserve sharing my experiences right here.

Within the meantime, a number of of my different favourite easy tempeh preparations:

Two small baking sheets are lined with parchment paper and strips of vegan tempeh "bacon."

Preparation time: 5 minutes

Cooking time: 25 minutes

Marinating time 2 hours

Whole time: 2 hours 30 minutes

Yields: 4 parts

  • 6 soup spoons Bragg Liquid Aminessoy sauce or tamari (90mL)
  • 1/4 Chopped off apple cider vinegar (60mL)
  • 1 1/2 soup spoons avocado oil
  • 4 espresso spoons Maple syrup
  • 2 espresso spoons smoked paprika
  • 8 ounces tempeh, sliced ​​crosswise into skinny strips (1/4 inch) (225g)
  • Organize the tempeh strips in an oblong dish or storage container. It’s good if they need to overlap somewhat.

  • In a small mixing bowl, whisk collectively the tamari, vinegar, oil, maple syrup and paprika. Pour this marinade over the tempeh strips. Tilt the container to coat all of the strips with the marinade. Cowl the container and switch it to the fridge for not less than 2 hours and as much as 48 hours.

  • Preheat your oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Take away the tempeh strips from their marinade and place them on the baking sheet.

  • Prepare dinner the tempeh strips for 10 minutes, then flip and cook dinner for an additional 10-Quarter-hour, or till golden brown and crispy across the edges. Use in recipes or retailer in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 6 days.

I completed the final of my batch of tempeh bacon a number of days in the past, however I have already got plans to begin marinating one other one this weekend (hopefully I am making tofu or scrambled chickpeas ). That is a type of meals that I make nearly each week, not planning on stopping anytime quickly.

Possibly it can grow to be a staple protein for you, too, which you could flip to once you want fast, tasty diet. I hope!

xo

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