Published: · Modified: by Shane Martin · This post may contain affiliate links.
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I love Tempeh Bacon! It’s sweet, savory, full of flavor and protein, and super easy to make. This vegan bacon is perfect for breakfast, brunch, or making a delicious vegan BLT.
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What Is Tempeh
Tempeh is fermented whole soybeans, packed with protein and it’s been around a long time. I know it doesn’t sound so exciting right now, but just wait until you try this tempeh bacon recipe.
Think of tempeh as the awkward second cousin of tofu. Tempeh is not very exciting or tasty on its own, but marinate it and there’s no stopping it. It’s a great and hearty meat substitute for vegetarians and vegans.
What Is Tempeh Bacon
It’s exactly how it sounds.
We take the tempeh, slice it, marinate, and cook it. Will it taste exactly like real bacon? No. How about the same texture as bacon? No. And, why? Because it’s not real bacon.
But, it will satisfy the senses and the urges you might have in a much healthier way. And, without the pork.
And, as an added bonus, this vegan bacon won’t clog your arteries and eventually kill you. #winning (I realize hashtags don’t work on websites)
Add all marinade ingredients into a small bowl and mix well to combine. Then, pour into a container large enough that the marinade and tempeh will just fit. Not too large, not too small.
Carefully slice the tempeh into thin strips and place in the marinade, and make sure each piece is coated. Marinate for at least 20 minutes. If you can wait, let the tempeh marinate in the fridge overnight.
Place the tempeh in the oven and bake for 15 minutes. Remove the tempeh bacon from the oven, flip over, evenly pour the remaining marinade on the tempeh. Place it back in the oven and cook for another 15 minutes or until most of the marinade has evaporated. The cooking time will depend on the oven.
Remove the tempeh bacon from the oven and serve immediately.
How To Cook Tempeh Bacon
You can bake or pan fry. But, obviously, I prefer baking it.
Baking it is less messy and requires no oil. Which is what I’m about here at Shane & Simple.
What To Serve With Vegan Bacon
Vegan Blueberry Pancakes
More vegan pancakes
Tofu Breakfast Scramble
Overnight Vegan French Toast Casserole
Also, try my Oil Free Oven Roasted Potatoes and Vegan Sausage recipe if you’d more vegan breakfast dishes.
I hope you enjoy this tempeh bacon recipe. It’s…
Sweet
Savory
Smoky
Easy to make
Loaded with protein
Full of flavor
& Delicious
TempehTIPS: The longer the bacon marinates the more flavor it will absorb from the marinade. Also, tempeh tends to be a little bitter right out of the package. You and soften that by steaming or boiling it for 10-15 minutes.
Be sure and let me know if you try this recipe! Leave a comment, take a picture, post it onInstagramand tag the photo#shaneandsimpleso I can see your dish. If you want to be kept up to speed on all that’s going down with Shane & Simple and my latest recipesSUBSCRIBE HERE!
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Smoky Maple Tempeh Bacon
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This Tempeh Bacon is absolutely delicious and super easy to prepare. It’s sweet, savory, smoky, and delicious! Pile it high in sandwiches, on top of salads, or anywhere you’d normally put bacon.
Add all marinade ingredients into a small bowl and mix well to combine. Then, pour into a container large enough that marinade and tempeh will just fit. Not too large, not too small.
Carefully slice the tempeh into thin strips and place in the marinade, and make sure each piece is coated. Marinate for at least 20 minutes. If you can wait, let marinate in the fridge overnight.
Layout tempeh on baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes. Remove from oven, flip over, evenly pour the remaining marinade on the tempeh. Place tempeh back in oven and cook for another 15 minutes or until most of the marinade has evaporated. Cooking time will depend on oven.
Tempeh can have a somewhat “bitter” flavor to it, which I like. But, if you want a milder tempeh you can simply boil or steam it for about 10-15 minutes. Mellows it out.
Tempeh bacon is a good source of protein and fiber. It is also low in fat and calories, making it a healthy option for those who are watching their weight. Tempeh bacon is also a good source of iron and magnesium.
Temeph is made from fermentd soy beans and has a kind of nutty flavor. It's also got a great texture and really soaks up flavor! Olive oil: Since bacon has fat, it's good to add some olive oil to boost the rest of the flavors and help make the tempeh crispy.
Toasted sesame oil adds a subtle nutty flavor and richness that I love here. This is my favorite brand of toasted sesame oil. Liquid smoke is really what gives the tempeh that smoky bacon-esque flavor.
Tempeh contains the most fiber and more protein than tofu because it contains the whole bean. The soy protein in tempeh is more digestable because of the fermentation process.
Our Original Soy Tempeh is a super versatile superfood, with 18g of complete protein per serving. Try it in a rice bowl stir fry or over a salad for a quick, easy, delicious meal.
You should avoid tempeh if you have a soy allergy. There is some concern that soy may affect how your thyroid works or how you absorb thyroid medication. To be safe, you should talk to your doctor about eating tempeh or other soy products if you have a thyroid disorder.
“It's completely safe and healthy to eat up to two to three servings of soy products, such as tempeh, daily,” says Palmer. Of course, if you're allergic or sensitive to soy, you'll want to avoid it.
Source of protective antioxidants. Soy isoflavones are powerful antioxidants and as such, they help to minimise the damage called oxidative stress, done by molecules called free radicals. Studies suggest isoflavones help reduce this oxidative stress and that tempeh may be especially good in this regard.
It's these spores that appear as small dark spots on the surface of your tempeh. These spots are completely normal and totally edible, and they're a sign that your tempeh is fully mature. They don't affect the flavor at all.
Tempeh should be cooked before being eaten and should not be eaten raw. Prior to being cooked, tempeh has almost no nutritional value and doesn't have a very pleasant taste. Before adding tempeh to anything you should cook it to ensure you get the most flavor and nutrition out of your food.
Unlike animal-based proteins, tempeh gives you both protein and fiber, amounting to 4 grams of the nutrient per serving (roughly 14 percent of the USDA's recommended daily intake). "That's excellent when we're thinking about cardiovascular, digestive, and gut health," says Feller.
It is less processed than tofu, and has a slightly higher protein content. They both do contain some of the same nutrients such as iron, calcium, potassium and magnesium. Tofu may have more selenium and zinc, but Tempeh may have more B vitamins. Both are healthy and contain some of the same nutrients.
This does not mean your tempeh is '”off” or “moldy” in the bad sense of the word. These spots are where the Rhizopus has formed spores - a sign of the beginning of overripe tempeh. But don't worry, this is safe to eat. Some people even prefer the taste of mature tempeh.
Because of this potential, to ensure food safety, all tempeh should be pasteurized or cooked before it's eaten (FYI, pasteurization and thorough cooking are pretty much the same thing). This is why tempeh, though fermented, should not be considered a probiotic food. But don't worry!
Lightlife Tempeh is made with just 4 simple ingredients: Organic Soybeans, Lactic Acid, Water and Brown Rice. Find us next to tofu in the produce department.
Introduction: My name is Eusebia Nader, I am a encouraging, brainy, lively, nice, famous, healthy, clever person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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