From Carrots to Coconut! – One Green Planet

For a vegan, bacon’s crispy, chewy texture and salty, smoky flavor can be lacking in a plant-based diet, yet craved for.  Never fear, as with almost all meat and dairy products, there is a plant-based, cruelty-free version that with not leave you wanting.

Bacon shows up in all kinds of dishes from quiches and omelets to salads and soups, and the same can be true for vegan versions. Folks get pretty creative when it comes to making vegan bacon and it can now be found made from some impressive and varied foods.  There’s carrot bacon, coconut bacon, barley bacon, and tofu bacon, and all of them are as versatile and as delicious!

Some of these awesome OGP recipes show you how to make your vegan bacon while others give you great ideas on how you can use it afterward!

We also highly recommend downloading the Food Monster App  — with over 15,000 delicious recipes it is the largest plant-based recipe resource to help you get healthy! 

1. Spinach Salad With Barley Bacon

Source: Spinach Salad With Barley Bacon/One Green Planet

This Spinach Salad With Barley Bacon by Zsu Dever is bursting with flavors and fun ingredients.  Porcini mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes, zucchini, and leeks are piled together on a bed of nutrient-rich spinach.  Barley, being dense and a little chewy, makes for a great ‘bacon bits’ alternative. The barley is first cooked and then fried to get it nice and crispy.

2. Breakfast Sandwich With Tempeh Bacon

Source: Breakfast Sandwich With Tempeh Bacon/One Green Planet

Sometimes a hefty sandwich is just what you need to start your day.  Try this Breakfast Sandwich With Tempeh Bacon by Brittany Mullins for a mega breakfast meal.  Creamy avocado, almond butter, sautéed kale, and tempeh bacon are served on a fat-toasted English muffin.  You could also serve it on your favorite toast.

3. Baked Smoky Carrot Bacon

Source: Baked Smoky Carrot Bacon/One Green Planet

Use this Baked Smoky Carrot Bacon by Lisa Andersson and Erik Huss in tofu scrambles, on sandwiches, or chopped up into a salad.  Carrot bacon is easy to make and is very versatile.  With just a few simple ingredients, you can have a snack that is crispy, smoky, and delicious.

4. Vegan Quiche Lorraine

Source: Vegan Quiche Lorraine/One Green Planet

A slice of this Vegan Quiche Lorraine by Lena Novak would make such a luxurious breakfast or a great protein portion of the main meal.  This quiche is made with tofu, cauliflower, and cashew cream.  The bacon is made from tempeh and the crust is gluten-free.  This is a crowd-pleaser of a dish.

5. Root Vegetable Chowder

Source: Root Vegetable Chowder/One Green Planet

This Root Vegetable Chowder by Annie Kimmelman is perfect for a rice paper bacon accompaniment.  Chowder is a thick and hearty soup to be enjoyed on a chilly evening.  This chowder is made with turnips instead of the classic potato for a  bit of a different taste profile. The bacon is made from rice paper marinaded in tamari, liquid smoke, nutritional yeast, and paprika, giving that signature smoky hint.

6. Tofu and Coconut Bacon Caesar Sub

Source: Tofu and Coconut Bacon Caesar Sub/One Green Planet

No one’s messing around with this sandwich.  Check out this Tofu and Coconut Bacon Caesar Sub by Rosie Newton and Dillon Sivyour if you are looking for a hearty lunch. This sub is piled with delicious ingredients.  However, if you are off bread, you can take all those ingredients and just make yourself a mega salad.

7. Vegan Bacon – Pea Pasta Salad with Basil Ranch

Source: Vegan Bacon – Pea Pasta Salad with Basil Ranch/One Green Planet

This Vegan Bacon – Pea Pasta Salad with Basil Ranch by Anna Sue is a wonderful summertime dish that is perfect for sharing at picnics or potlucks.  The classic combination of pea and bacon is celebrated here.  You can buy vegan bacon bits, or have a go at making your own.

8. Tofu Bacon

Source: Tofu Bacon/One Green Planet 

Here is a really simple Tofu Bacon recipe by Stephanie Davies.  This is a versatile beacon that you can chomp on in slices or chop up to still in or sprinkle on your favorite salads, soups, or pasta dishes.  Smoky, crispy, and chewy all at the same time.

9. Shiitake Bacon!

Source: Shiitake Bacon!/One Green Planet

Shiitake Bacon! by Tami Noyes is wonderful on top of grits, baked potatoes, or just to munch on.  The shiitake mushrooms soak up all the ‘bacon’ flavors and then are baked until crispy.  Shiitake mushrooms have a naturally dense and chewy texture making them the perfect candidates for vegan bacon.

10. Spaghetti Carbonara

Source: Spaghetti Carbonara/One Green Planet

Rice paper bacon makes an appearance again in this vegan version of classic Spaghetti Carbonara by Kirsten Kaminski.  Sprinkle your bacon bits onto pasta that is covered in the creamiest, cheesiest vegan carbonara sauce you could ask for.

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