Best Crispy Vegan Tofu Bacon Recipe

4.67 from 3 votes

Best Crispy Vegan Tofu Bacon Recipe

The best crispy vegan tofu bacon recipe using a unique, no-marinating, oil-free, tofu-making process for intense, smoky, umami flavor for amazing vegan bacon.

Prep Time20

Cook Time40

Total Time1

Course: Breakfast, Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Diet: Vegan

Servings:

Calories: 27kcal

Author: Denise Perrault

Ingredients

10 ounces tofu firm or extra firm
¼ cup soy sauce
1 tablespoon maple syrup
1 tablespoon liquid smoke
2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper optional

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Prep the tofu. If your tofu has excess moisture, press it using a tofu press. Press the tofu for 10 minutes. Alternatively, wrap the tofu in a paper towel and place it between 2 plates, weighing the top down. If you are using extra-firm tofu, you can skip this step.
Blend the bacon. Quarter the block of tofu and add it, plus the rest of the ingredients, in a food processor or blender. Blend until the tofu is smooth.
Spread the tofu. Preheat the oven to 400 F. Line a baking tray with parchment paper. Use the back of a spoon or a spatula to spread evenly, about ¼ of an inch thick. Use a spatula or bench scraper to square the edges so they are not too thin and for more uniform slicing.
Bake the bacon. Place the bacon in the center of the oven. Bake for 25-30 minutes until the top lightly browns and becomes firm.
Flip the tofu. Once the bacon is brown on top, remove it from the oven. Lay a fresh piece of parchment paper over the tofu. Then add something flat such as a chopping mat or cutting board. Grab both ends of the bottom baking tray and the other layers and flip the baking sheet over.
Slice and separate. Carefully remove the top layer of parchment paper from the tofu. Slide the tofu back onto the baking tray (the parchment paper should be on the bottom). Slice the tofu into bacon-sized pieces and separate them.
Finish baking. Add the tofu back into the oven and bake for 5-10 minutes until it is crisp and brown.

Video

Notes

Vegan bacon lasts 4-5 days in an airtight container in the fridge. Freeze it for months by placing it in a container or freezer bag. Place the bacon in a single layer with parchment paper to separate so the bacon strips don't stick together.
The key to keeping the edges of the tofu from getting too brown is to make them as thick as the middle or slightly thicker. Using a blunt edge like a spatula will help keep the edges from tapering off.
If you make the bacon thicker, lower the baking temperature to 375 F. Bake the first side for 10 minutes or longer until it browns. Be sure to separate the slices to let the edges brown.
The bacon gets crispier as it cools, so try not to overbake or let it burn.
It’s highly recommended that you use parchment paper rather than a baking mat for making vegan bacon. Mats are great and more environmentally friendly; however, they generate moisture that may prevent the tofu from firming during the initial baking process. This can cause the tofu to fall apart after you flip it.

Nutrition