Crispy with maple and smokey goodness, this tempeh bacon recipe is perfect for breakfast, sandwiches, and crumbled on salads, rolled up in a wrap with veggies. Use an air fryer, a skillet, or the oven to make perfect vegan bacon every time.
Since transitioning to a plant-based diet, I love making tempeh bacon and using it for various recipes. Although tempeh bacon is sold in stores, homemade tempeh bacon is oil-free and tastes better than store-bought. This tempeh bacon recipe combines maple and smoky flavors with the crunch of real bacon.
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But don’t let that deter you! vegan tempeh bacon tastes like vegan bacon, nothing like real bacon.
As a result, the texture and taste of tempeh bacon are fabulous on a sandwich, on top of a salad, in a wrap, or as a side dish for that favorite vegan breakfast.
What is Tempeh?
Tempeh is a traditional Indonesian food made from soybeans that have been fermented or broken down by microorganisms.
Following fermentation, the soybeans are pressed into a compact cake commonly consumed as a vegetarian source of protein.
In addition to soybeans, tempeh may also be made from other bean varieties, wheat, or a mixture of soybeans and wheat.
Is Tempeh Healthy?
Tempeh is a fermented soy product that’s a popular vegetarian meat replacement.
However, vegetarian or not, it can be a nutritious addition to your diet.
High in protein, prebiotics, and a wide array of vitamins and minerals, tempeh is a versatile ingredient with various health benefits.
According to Healthline, tempeh boasts an impressive nutrient profile. It is high in protein, vitamins, and minerals but low in sodium and carbs.
A 3-ounce (84-gram) serving of tempeh contains these nutrients:
- Calories: 162
- Protein: 15 grams
- Carbs: 9 grams
- Total fat: 9 grams
- Sodium: 9 milligrams
- Iron: 12% of the RDI
- Calcium: 9% of the RDI
- Riboflavin: 18% of the RDI
- Niacin: 12% of the RDI
- Magnesium: 18% of the RDI
- Phosphorus: 21% of the RDI
- Manganese: 54% of the RDI
What Does Tempeh Taste Like?
Tempeh has a dry and firm but chewy texture and a slightly nutty taste. It can be steamed, sautéed, or baked and is often marinated to add more flavor.
Much like other meatless sources of protein, such as tofu and seitan, tempeh is a popular choice among vegans and vegetarians because it’s packed with nutrients.
Tempeh Bacon Ingredients
- Tempeh: I like using Lifelight brand tempeh.
- Soy Sauce: Soy sauce gives the marinade an umami flavor.
- Maple Syrup: Maple syrup gives the marinade a sweet and bacony flavor.
- Sriracha: A little Sriracha enhances the flavors of the tempeh bacon.
- Liquid Smoke: I used hickory flavor liquid smoke, but there are other flavors available.
- Black Pepper: I prefer using fresh black pepper.
Tempeh Bacon Ingredient Substitutions
- Instead of tempeh, you can make vegan bacon from coconut, tofu, soy paper, carrots, and eggplant.
- Tamari and liquid aminos are gluten-free options for soy sauce.
- Date syrup or agave provides
- Agave or date syrup has a similar sweetness to the marinade.
- Choose any hot sauce you enjoy!
- Try a flavor liquid smoke, or substitute smoked paprika.
How to Make Tempeh Bacon
- One of the first mistakes people make when cooking tempeh is that they don’t boil it first! Yes, boil it!
- First, remove the tempeh from the package and cut it in half, making two equal-sized squares.
- Then, place the tempeh pieces in a pan and cover them with water. Bring to a boil, and cook for 15-20 minutes.
- Remove the tempeh from the boiling water to cut into thin slices, like bacon, and marinate.
Why Boil Tempeh?
- Boiling removes the bitter taste from the tempeh.
- It softens the tempeh to make it easier to eat and enjoy.
- And boiling allows for better saturation of marinate.
Once the tempeh is cut into thin strips, place it in the tempeh bacon marinade.
Tempeh Bacon Marinade
When marinating is done properly, only a small amount of marinade remains in the container. But don’t throw that marinade away. Instead, keep it to add additional flavor after cooking.
How to Cook Tempeh Bacon
For crispy tempeh bacon, I prefer the air fryer. But the oven or a skillet offers other options.
Air Fryer Cooking
- Preheat the air fryer to 370 degrees.
- Spray water in the base of the air fryer.
- Add the marinated strips of tempeh and reserve extra marinade.
- Cook in batches in a single layer at 370 degrees for 7 minutes; flipping each strip after 3 minutes.
- Return cooked pieces into the container with the extra marinade.
- Repeat until all the pieces are cooked.
Baking
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
- Line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper.
- Place the tempeh bacon strips in a single layer, leaving a little space between each strip.
- Cook at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes until tempeh is browned.
- Now, return the cooked tempeh to the container with the extra marinade.
Skillet
- In a large skillet, heat the pan to medium-low.
- Place the tempeh strips in the pan, not overlapping each other.
- As the bacon is cooked, flip the pieces over every 5-7 minutes, adding small amounts of the marinade into the pan as the bacon cooks and browns, until all the marinade is absorbed.
Recipes to Make with Tempeh Bacon
- Make a salad and add vegan bacon strips, or cut them up as bacon bits.
- Or make a Vegan BLT
- Add to the top of a vegan pizza
- Put inside a vegan breakfast burrito
- Make a vegan quiche and include it in the tofu batter
- Serve on the side of a Southwest Tofu Scramble
- Crumble for bacon bits
- Mix into a baked potato for added bacony flavor
Recipe FAQs
It is all about the marinade and the combination of smokey and maple flavors.
One teaspoon of liquid smoke is replaced with smoked paprika, adobo chile sauce, and chipotle powder. For example, a teaspoon of smoked paprika = ½ teaspoon liquid smoke.
The best option for crispy tempeh bacon is to air fry it.
Tips
- Boiling the tempeh pieces before cutting and marinating them ensures the marinade flavors will absorb into the tempeh.
- Marinate overnight for the best results; the longer, the deeper the flavors.
- Turn the covered container over throughout the marinating process to soak up the majority of the marinade.
- The more marinade the tempeh absorbs, the deeper the flavors.
Try this tempeh bacon recipe for a delicious breakfast, sandwich, or salad topping!
More Delicious Vegan Recipes to Try!
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📖 Recipe
Tempeh Bacon
Crispy with maple and smokey goodness, this tempeh bacon recipe is perfect for breakfast, sandwiches, and crumbled-on salads rolled up in a wrap with veggies. Use an air fryer, a skillet, or the oven to make perfect vegan bacon every time.
Instructions
Remove tempeh for the packages and cut each piece in half.
Place in a large saucepan and cover in water.
Boil for 20 minutes.
Drain water and set it aside to cool.
Set cooled tempeh on a cutting board and cut into identical thin strips like bacon.
In a refrigerator-safe container, whisk together the tempeh bacon marinade, and pour a small amount into the container’s base.
Then, add the sliced tempeh pieces, pour more marinade over the top, and repeat until all the tempeh and marinade are in the container.
Cover and refrigerate overnight.
I always flip it over in the refrigerator every time I go in the refrigerator for anything.
Air Fryer Cooking
Spray water in the base of the air fryer.
Add the marinated strips of tempeh and reserve extra marinade
Cook in batches in a single layer at 370 degrees for 7 minutes; flipping each strip after 3 minutes.
Return cooked pieces into the container with the extra marinade.
Repeat until all the pieces are cooked.
Baking
Line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper.
Place the tempeh bacon strips in a single layer, leaving a little space between each strip.
Cook at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes until tempeh is browned.
Now, return the cooked tempeh to the container with the extra marinade.
Skillet
In a large skillet, heat the pan to medium-low.
Place the tempeh strips in the pan, not overlapping each other.
As the bacon is cooked, flip the pieces over every 5-7 minutes, adding small amounts of the marinade into the pan as the bacon cooks and browns, until all the marinade is absorbed.
Notes
- Boiling the tempeh pieces before cutting and marinating them ensures the marinade flavors will absorb into the tempeh.
- Marinate overnight for the best results; the longer, the deeper the flavors.
- Turn the covered container over throughout the marinating process to soak up most of the marinade.
- The more marinade the tempeh absorbs, the deeper the flavors.
Nutrition
Calories: 129kcalCarbohydrates: 9gProtein: 11gFat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gSodium: 327mgPotassium: 268mgFiber: 0.2gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 4IUVitamin C: 0.4mgCalcium: 72mgIron: 2mg
Hi! My name is Kathy, I am a retired high school English teacher & vegan enthusiast and blogger. My entire blog is fully plant-based vegan. I truly believe what we eat & how we live determines our health & the preservation of our planet! 🙂
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