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Tofu Bacon

Vegan tofu bacon is a delicious alternative to traditional bacon with all the flavors you’d expect from bacon. You can add these tasty strips to your favorite salad, soup, or breakfast sandwich.
5 from 2 votes
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Prep Time: 1 hour
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 16 pieces
Calories: 110kcal
Author: Sarah McMinn

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces extra firm tofu pressed
  • ½ cup soy sauce
  • ¼ cup water
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 2 tablespoons vegan Worcestershire
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup
  • 1 tablespoon liquid smoke
  • teaspoon pepper

Instructions

  • In a bowl mix together the ingredients for the tofu bacon marinade.
  • Cut the tofu slab in half, lengthwise and then into ⅛" strips. Place in a shallow container. Top with the marinade, making sure tofu is completely covered and place in the refrigerator and marinate for at least 1 hour.
  • Bake the Tofu - Preheat the oven to 375F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Carefully place the tofu on the baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes. Flip, brush on the extra marinade and, bake for an additional 10-15 minutes. Keep a careful eye out for burning. The tofu will burn quickly.
  • Fry the Tofu - If you want, you can fry the tofu rather than bake it. To do this, heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a large cast-iron skillet, Once hot, add tofu and pan-fry for about 5 minutes per side, until browned and crispy. Remove from skillet.

Notes

Serving and Storing - You should serve the bacon hot from the oven or skillet. It goes great with toast or bagels in the morning. But it also tastes great with Tomato Soup or a large Caesar Salad for lunch or dinner. Before storing, allow the vegan bacon to cool completely. Once the strips are cool, place the bacon in an airtight container or bag. You can store tofu bacon for up to 3 days in the refrigerator. I don’t recommend freezing the bacon because tofu generally doesn’t freeze well. To reheat, place in a skillet and turn the burner to medium low heat. Flip as needed to prevent burning.
Recipe Tips 
  1. Use extra firm tofu and cut it thin! If you use a softer tofu, it won’t hold together well and won’t crisp up very nicely.
  2. Once you flip the bacon in the oven, make sure you check it every few minutes as it can burn quickly. The tofu bacon should turn a nice golden brown when done.
Variations - If you prefer, you can fry the bacon rather than bake. To fry, heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a cast iron skillet. Once the oil is hot, carefully place the strips in the pan. Fry each side for about 5 minutes. The tofu should turn brown and crispy. This results in crispy bacon. However, it is also more oily.
Frequently Asked Questions
  • What type of tofu should I use? Look for extra-firm tofu that is not water-packed, such as Trader Joe’s High-Protein Tofu or Super Firm Sprouted Tofu. These types of tofu do not have excess water and do not need to be pressed.

Nutrition

Calories: 110kcal | Carbohydrates: 52g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 5g | Sodium: 3826mg | Potassium: 1039mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 23g | Vitamin A: 3195IU | Vitamin C: 15.3mg | Calcium: 169mg | Iron: 5.7mg