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 tempeh preparation that evokes bacon in its salty, smoky flavor profile. It can be used in recipes similarly to regular bacon: crumbled, chopped, or in strips.
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.
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.
I love that Lightlife Tempeh helps me meet my daily protein needs and is made with only three ingredients: soybeans, water, and rice. And because tempeh is fermented, I reap tons of gut health benefits, too.
“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.
Raw tempeh should be handled with care before cooking, just like raw chicken, beef, or shellfish, so that bacteria doesn't get on ready-to-eat ingredients. To be eaten safely, raw or unpasteurized tempeh must be thoroughly cooked.
Yes, vegan bacon is typically lower in saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium than regular bacon. It also often contains fewer calories and is free of animal products.
Perhaps the only downside to tempeh is its calorie count is higher than tofu's, but the nutrients it packs more than make up for this. But tofu is not without its advantages.
Start by sticking to a single three-ounce serving a few days per week, and slowly increase your intake as tolerated. Because tempeh is made from soybeans, those with a soy allergy should avoid tempeh altogether.
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.
"A 3-ounce serving of tempeh provides 17 grams of protein to fuel you," says Amy Gorin, MS, RDN, a plant-based registered dietitian and owner of Plant-Based Eats. The protein in tempeh is almost as much as steak, but is easier on your kidneys than consuming animal protein.
However, the rest of the nutritional benefits of tempeh like its protein and fibre content, the remnants of microorganisms, its micronutrients like iron and calcium and so on, are all maintained after cooking. Cooked or pasteurised tempeh is more reliably safe to eat too, so on balance we think it's the better choice.
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.
Tempeh Products - LightLife® Tempeh is a plant-powered protein starring fermented soybeans, which give it a light, nutty flavor and satisfying, firm texture. In Indonesia, Tempeh has been celebrated as a favorite food for centuries.
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