Welcome to Making Mondays, dear Readers!
On Mondays I will be posting tutorials for making staples and this is the first in the series. Let's get started today, and replacing bacon is a great place to start!
This meatless, vegetarian, and vegan bacon is made from tofu but is elevated to sheer baconness with the air-frying. If you don't have an air fryer then bake them in the oven with a few tablespoons of oil until as crisp as you like.
The steps are basic and easy; the recipe is ready in about 20 minutes, including the air-frying.
You can use tofu that ranges from medium-firm to extra-firm. Probably won't work with silken or soft, but the other fresh tofus are up for the transformation.
I use full-sodium tamari, but reduced-sodium works, too, or even straight up soy sauce.
Liquid smoke is found in any grocery store, but if you are avoiding liquid smoke, let me know; you can use black cardamom, but it would take a few extra steps.
Add these to BLTs, eat them out of the pan (as I do) or mince and top salads - your choice!
Below is the step by step.
Enjoy!
Making Vegan Bacon
Makes 18 to 25 strips
Preheat air-fryer or oven to 400F
1. Tofu: Press the tofu. Cut into thin slices, about 20 to a pound, but more if you can hack it.
1 pound regular tofu (not soft or silken)
Oil spray
2. Cook the tofu in a lightly oiled pan over medium heat until golden on both sides, about 8 minutes. Repeat with the rest of tofu.
3. Nutritional yeast: Add all the cooked tofu back into the pan. Add the nutritional yeast and toss for 1 minute.
3 tablespoons nutritional yeast flakes
4. Sauce: Combine the tamari and the liquid smoke. Add the mixture to the pan. Toss while adding. Remove from heat when the sauce evaporates
1/4 cup tamari or soy sauce
1 teaspoon liquid smoke
5. Spray the air-fryer basket with oil (or add 2 tablespoons oil to a baking sheet if using the oven). Add the tofu strips and spray again with oil (flip the tofu in the oil if using the oven) Bake until crips, 5 minutes for air-fryer (about 8 minutes for oven - flip at 4 minutes for the oven)
© 2020 Copyright Zsu Dever. All rights reserved.
Pin it!
This recipe came just in time to turn the vegan ham sandwiches I was making for lunch today into club sandwiches. The bacon turned out crispy and delicious. Loving all the air fryer recipes! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteYou work fast, Eve-Marie! Love the club direction with the bacon. I appreciate the feedback, as always! I'll keep the air-fryer recipes coming, too. It's faster and cooler in the kitchen that way. Thank you!!
DeleteOooh, yum! Tempeh bacon is my favourite, but tofu bacon comes second. I don't like most of the store-bought vegan bacon options. Tempeh or tofu will always have my heart.
ReplyDeleteI feel that, Susan. I love tempeh bacon, too, but tofu was the first bacon we ever made at home. Tempeh bacon only came in packages at the store; boy, that's a throw-back!
DeleteThis looks awesome. Love the idea of adding the liquides after cooking the tofu and then a quick visit to the air fryer. Genius.
ReplyDeleteSo happy to see you back blogging. in2insight
So thrilled to hear from you! I think of you each time I write one of these faster recipes, and what you said about getting in and out of the kitchen as fast as possible! I'm excited to see you are around! Hope all is well with you and yours :)
Delete