Vegan Tofu Bacon
This post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy.
Meet the dreamiest vegan bacon of your dreams, made from paper thin slices of baked tofu and seasoned with all the umami and smokey flavors you expect from a great bacon without any of the cruelty and cholesterol.
Vegan Bacon
Make an outstanding delicious BLT / a vegan bacon lettuce and tomato sandwich featuring the best tofu bacon, juicy heirloom tomatoes, crisp lettuce and avocado on a fluffy brioche bun for the ultimate summer sandwich. No saturated fat, no artery clogging cholesterol, just pure deliciousness protein packed goodness.
The Seasonings
- Shoyu – this is your salty umami base, you can use Tamari or any soy sauce instead, I just love the flavor of the shoyu the most.
- Liquid Smoke – use a whole tablespoon for a deep smoky flavor profile, it’s really the one flavoring that delivers for both the taste buds and your senses. By all means go wild and use even more of desired but DO NOT SKIP IT!
- Smoked Paprika – for both depth of flavor and an extra layer of soft smokiness. I always use the sweet variety as the spicy ones can be really overpowering and also bitter.
- Nooch – or nutritional yeast for extra umami and really just to be extra; it also helps with crispness during baking.
- Onion + Garlic – my aromatics of choice, use them in. their granulated form if available to prevent burning. If all you have is powders just use that but keep an eye on your tofu a little closer and maybe give it a shake halfway if it looks like it’s getting done fast.
- Dijon Mustard – a little bit goes a long way, it balances the savoriness of al the flavors with its subtle tang and adds a je ne sais quoi to the final dish.
- Maple Syrup – because we’re making baking and it needs a touch of sweetness for both flavor and to help with the browning and caramelization at the edges. You can use agave instead and even brown sugar if preferred.
- Olive Oil – this is the one recipe where I tell you that YOU NEED IT, be generous with it and finish with more on top before cooking. Since we are roasting at a very high temperature of 400″F, it’s very important to use your basic everyday olive oil here, not the special cold pressed extra virgin. Bacon is really the perfect balance between fat, salt and chewy crispness, so this is not the recipe to make SOS (salt, oil, sugar free). It is what it is, if you want it to be amazingly satisfying just follow the recipe directions below.
Slicing the Tofu
The most important thing here is that you start with either a Super Firm or Extra Firm block that doesn’t need any pressing and you slice it paper thin. I highly recommend using a mandolin slicer on the thinnest setting to get consistent super thin ribbons. Some of them will tear and break during seasoning and shrink during roasting, even sticking to each other. This is perfectly fine, it will give you different shapes and textures with some super crispy edges and some chewier meatier pieces where the slices overlap and stick to each other. It’s a beautiful thing, don’t try to make it perfect.
Vegan Bacon Bits Variation
If you’d like to make bacon bits instead you can use the same recipe, all the seasoning but instead of slicing the tofu you want to crumble it into tiny pieces using a potato masher for best results. Coat well and roast until golden brown to your liking giving them a toss half way making sure not to let them burn since those bits are tiny.
Favorite Tofu Recipes
- Vegan Chorizo Tofu Tacos
- Orange Tofu
- Vegan Kebab
- Tapenade Tofu Sandwich
- Shredded Tofu Chicken
- Tofu Taco Meat
- Italian Baked Tofu
- Marinated Grilled Tofu
- Vegan Bolognese
- Best Seitan
- Vegan Chicken Cutlets.
How To Make Tofu Bacon
Vegan Tofu Bacon
Ingredients
- 14 oz block super firm or extra firm tofu (sliced thin with a mandoline)
- 4 Tbsp shoyu
- 3 Tbsp olive oil + extra as needed
- 2 tsp sweet smoked paprika
- 2 tsp nutritional yeast
- 1 Tbsp liquid smoke
- 2 tsp granulated onion powder
- 1 tsp granulated garlic
- 1/2 tsp dijon mustard
- 1 Tbsp maple syrup
- 1 pinch sea salt flakes
Instructions
- Preheat oven to @400”F and prepare a large rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Pat dry the tofu block (DO NOT PRESS) and using a mandolin slice it thin on the tall and skinny side of the tofu and on the thinnest setting of the mandolin. You will get different size ribbons here that will bake beautifully with crisp edges and can be piled up high in a sandwich delivering both the crisp and chewiness we are after. (If you want perfect uniform slices you should use the second thinnest setting on the mandolin, the final texture will be more chewy overall bc of the thickness).14 oz block super firm or extra firm tofu
- In a shallow bowl mix together all the seasonings then coat the tofu in the mixture or marinade for later use. Do your best to get a nice coating all over and expect some tearing of the slices throughout because they are so thin.4 Tbsp shoyu, 3 Tbsp olive oil, 2 tsp sweet smoked paprika, 2 tsp nutritional yeast, 1 Tbsp liquid smoke, 2 tsp granulated onion powder, 1 tsp granulated garlic, 1/2 tsp dijon mustard, 1 Tbsp maple syrup
- Place the coated tofu on the baking sheet spreading it out as best you can but don’t worry about them overlapping and sticking to each other. They will shrink during baking and deliver beautiful texture. Finish with a light drizzle of olive oil and a pinch of salt flakes over the top (you will need to work in batches and use two baking sheets to fit all the tofu).1 pinch sea salt flakes
- Bake in the preheated oven for 18 to 20 minutes until golden brown and crisp to your liking. Keep an eye on it to make sure you don’t burn it unless that’s your intention. (Keep in my mind it’s going to continue to crisp up as it cools down).
- Allow it cool for a few minutes while you start assembling your sandwich.
- SERVE: make a lightly toasted brioche sandwich piled up high with the tofu bacon, juicy heirloom tomato, avocado, beautiful lettuce or tons of micro greens.
Video
Notes
- Vegan Bacon Bits Variation - If you'd like to make bacon bits instead you can use the same recipe, all the seasoning but instead of slicing the tofu you want to crumble it into tiny pieces using a potato masher for best results. Coat well and roast until golden brown to your liking giving them a toss half way making sure not to let them burn since those bits are tiny.
- Liquid Smoke - use a whole tablespoon for a deep smoky flavor profile, it's really the one flavoring that delivers for both the taste buds and your senses. By all means go wild and use even more of desired but DO NOT SKIP IT!
You never need to buy the package stuff ever again, this recipe is perfect with outstanding flavor and texture, saltiness, smokiness, this really checks all the boxes for the perfect summer BLT sandwich. Well done!