Homemade Vegan Tofu Bacon Strips (Gluten Free)
Today we are making Homemade Vegan & Gluten Free Tofu Bacon Strips! This delicious recipe is perfect for anyone looking to add some smoky, savory goodness to their meals while keeping it plant-based and gluten-free. Whether you’re a seasoned vegan or just exploring the world of meatless alternatives, this tofu bacon alternative is the perfect vegan substitute to use in all the ways you would normally use bacon!
Plant-based meats have gotten super popular in the last decade, with vegan bacon alternatives including both at-home recipes and “fake bacon” meat products. When it comes to a plant-based bacon product, I’ve seen oyster mushroom bacon, coconut bacon, tempeh bacon, rice paper bacon and so many other options using whole foods for a plant-based diet.
This recipe uses a few versatile ingredients. You’ll need some extra-firm tofu, which serves as the base for our bacon strips. We’ll marinate it in a mouthwatering blend of liquid smoke, soy sauce, maple syrup, and a touch of smoked paprika. This marinade infuses the tofu with that irresistible smoky flavor and that delightful crispy texture that makes bacon so beloved.
Once marinated, we air fry until crispy, and you’ll have yourself a batch of this crispy vegan bacon recipe ready to elevate your sandwiches, salads, or breakfast dishes. Whether you’re serving them alongside scrambled tofu or stacking them in a BLT, these homemade tofu bacon strips are a game-changer for your plant-based cooking repertoire!
Why You’ll Love These Homemade Vegan Tofu Bacon Strips
Breakfast Made Plant-Based: Bacon is a popular breakfast item in America, and making this recipe at home gets the same smoke flavour. Using these bacon strips is a good choice for a breakfast sandwich that would normally use real bacon, but without any animal products! It’s also high in protein because it’s made of tofu, and it uses a few basic ingredients to make a marinade that you coat the tofu with. Then we air fry it to make it crispy and chewy!
Substitutions
Extra-Firm Tofu: Use extra-firm tofu for this recipe. Other tofu varieties are not as firm, and we want the firmest type to make the crispiest and chewiest tofu.
Smoked Paprika: Substitute this with regular paprika instead. Smoked paprika, also known as pimentón, has an extra smoky flavor. It’s made from dried and smoked red peppers, and is reminiscent of barbecue or wood-fired cooking. Regular paprika (sweet paprika) uses dried sweet peppers, and doesn’t have that smoky flavor.
Liquid Smoke: Do not substitute liquid smoke with any other ingredient. Liquid smoke is a flavorful ingredient that’s often used in cooking to add a smoky, barbecue-like taste to dishes without the need for an actual smoker or open flame. It’s typically made by condensing the smoke produced during the burning of wood, usually hickory, mesquite, or other hardwoods, into a liquid form.
Pasta Sauce: Choose an herbed pasta sauce, plain tomato sauce or tomato paste. Tomato paste won’t contain spices like pasta sauce would, which is why I prefer pasta sauce. It contains some more spices and herbs, which adds additional flavor.
Maple Syrup: Use pure maple syrup, where the only ingredient on the label is just maple syrup. You can also use agave nectar instead.
Tamari: Tamari is a gluten-free, lower in sodium substitute for soy sauce. You can substitute this with soy sauce, but it will be saltier and also contain gluten.
Homemade Vegan Tofu Bacon Strips Recipe Notes
- Wondering how to use vegan bacon? Make a vegan BLT sandwich with vegan mayo, lettuce, tomato and these bacon strips!
- You can cut up these strips to make vegan bacon bits!
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If you make these Homemade Vegan Tofu Bacon Strips, then leave a comment and star rating! Don’t forget to tag your photos @peanut_palate on Instagram. Enjoy!
Homemade Vegan Tofu Bacon Strips (Gluten Free)
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
- ½ tsp liquid smoke
- 1 tsp pasta sauce
- ¼ tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp pure maple syrup
- 2 tbsp tamari
- ⅛ block extra-firm tofu
Instructions
- Cut the ⅛ of the tofu block into thin-medium slices, such as in the photos.
- Mix together all the ingredients, aside from the tofu, in a small, shallow dish.
- Layer the tofu evenly in the dish, making sure the mixture covers the tofu fully.
- Allow the marinade to sit for at least 2 hours, or preferably overnight.
- After at least two hours, place the tofu slices in a single layer in an air fryer. You can use a baking sheet or parchment paper in an air fryer for easy removal later.
- Air fry at 390 degrees F for 10 minutes, flipping around halfway through.
- Once the tofu is ready, remove from the air fryer and use bacon as you would in any recipes!
Notes
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Storage
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two days.
