Smoked Tempeh Bacon

Smoked Tempeh Bacon is delicious for breakfast or on a sandwich. The secret to this deliciously smokey meat substitute is the marinade that requires only 3 ingredients.

When our daughter makes it home for a visit, we busy ourselves in the kitchen making all of her favorite vegan meals, and tempeh bacon is always on the list for breakfast.

Later in the day, I’ve seen her grab some off of the plate in the refrigerator for a snack. It is great on sandwiches too!

You’ll love this smoked tempeh bacon because it’s…

• Full of flavor
• Smokey
• Nutty
• Loaded with protein
• Perfect for sandwiches
• Super easy to make
• Delicious

Easy Tempeh Marinade

This smoked tempeh marinade requires only 3 simple ingredients. Whisk all ingredients in a bowl, add tempeh, and allow to marinate a few hours or even overnight.

• soy sauce
• liquid smoke
• maple syrup

The recipe card at the bottom of the page has the full list of ingredients with measurements and instructions.

How to make smoked tempeh bacon

The recipe card at the bottom of the page has the full list of ingredients with measurements and instructions.

In a medium bowl, combine all marinade ingredients, and mix well.

Simply slice the tempeh into slabs. Some people like to steam their tempeh before marinating and cooking, but I have not found that necessary.

I am often asked which knives I use personally, and I have to say that it is Victorinox. They are the same company that makes Swiss Army Knives and the quality is excellent.

Next, add the three ingredients for the marinade to a bowl and whisk together well until blended.

Place the tempeh strips in a container or even a ziplock bag and pour the marinade over the top. Cover and seal well, place in the refrigerator and allow to marinate for at least 30 minutes. Longer is better. I actually like to leave mine overnight.

Once marinated well, place the strips in a nonstick frying pan on medium-high heat and brown on both sides until golden. I love my Ozeri nonstick pan and use it almost every single day for recipes like this.

About 5 minutes on each side is a reasonable estimate. If baking in the oven, cook at 350 for 20-25 minutes.

Once the tempeh is nice and brown, add it to stir-fries, sandwiches, bagels, and anything else you can think of.

We love it for breakfast either served with my Tofu Breakfast Scramble or on an English muffin or bagel.

*Originally published December 2014.

Plant-based vegan sausage makes a great addition when serving this for breakfast. It is one of the many products that I like to order from MamaSezz meal delivery service. It comes ready to heat and eat, and it can also be frozen.

Tips for making bacon tempeh

• I used to steam my tempeh before preparing it for a recipe, but have found that it isn’t necessary. It does not taste bitter to me at all, so no steaming is required.
• Simply place in a non-stick pan and cook until golden brown and slightly crisp.
• Tempeh Bacon is also great on English Breakfast Muffins and Smoked Tempeh Sandwiches.
• It also pairs well with my Tofu Breakfast Scramble.

Your Questions Answered:

• Q: What is tempeh made of? Tempeh is a traditional soy product from Indonesia. It is made by a natural culturing and controlled fermentation process that binds soybeans into a cake form and has a nutty, mushroom, meaty flavor.
• Q: Where can I buy tempeh? Tempeh can be found in many US grocery stores in the produce section. In other countries, you should be able to purchase it at Asian markets or health food stores.
• Q: Does tempeh bacon taste like regular bacon? It has a salty smokey flavor that will remind you of bacon, but it doesn’t taste like bacon and doesn’t have the crunch of fried pork bacon.
• Q: Can you eat tempeh raw? Yes, tempeh can be eaten raw. Marinating and cooking are recommended to bring out even more flavor.

For those of you new to the whole food plant-based lifestyle, we’ve created a FREE 7-Day Plant-Based Menu Planner to help you get started!

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Bacon Tempeh

Yield: 5

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Smoked bacon tempeh is delicious for breakfast or on a sandwich. My adult daughter loves this recipe so, when she is visiting, I always try to make it for her

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Ingredients

• 8 oz package of tempeh, usually gluten-free, but check package
• 1/4 cup soy sauce or tamari, gluten-free if needed
• 2 teaspoons liquid smoke
• 3 tablespoons maple syrup

Instructions

1. In a medium bowl, combine all marinade ingredients, and mix well.
2. Slice tempeh into strips. Place slices into mixture and allow to marinate. The longer, the stronger the flavor will be. I like to leave it in the refrigerator overnight if possible, but at least 30 minutes is necessary.
3. Add strips to sauté pan with a little bit of the marinade liquid and cook over medium-high heat until crispy on one side. Turn and brown on the other side.
4. Add more of the marinade and cook until caramelized. About 5 minutes each side is a reasonable estimate. If baking in the oven, cook at 350 for 20-25 minutes.

Notes

Detailed instructions, in-process photos, and my personal helpful tips can be found in the article above.

Recommended Products

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• 
  Living Nutritionals All-Natural Pure Liquid Smoke 5oz (147ml)
• 
  12" Stone Earth Frying Pan by Ozeri, with 100% APEO & PFOA-Free Stone-Derived Non-Stick Coating from Germany

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 4
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 70Total Fat: 2.5gCholesterol: 0mgCarbohydrates: 5gFiber: 2.5gProtein: 6g

To obtain the most accurate representation of the nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.

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