Smoky Tofu Bacon

Thinly sliced tofu is dipped in a smoky marinade and baked until chewy to make a tofu "bacon" that's great for sandwiches and cooking.

Recipe by Yup, it's Vegan on July 19, 2018

Prep time: PT10M

Cook time: PT20M

Total time: PT30M

Rating

4.8 stars (10 reviews)

Keywords

tofu bacon

Ingredients

8 oz extra-firm or super-firm tofu
1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce ((use tamari for gluten-free))
1 tbsp maple syrup
1 tbsp tomato paste
1 tbsp liquid smoke
1 tsp apple cider vinegar
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
1/4 tsp smoked paprika
1/4 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp garlic powder
2 tsp olive oil

Cuisine

dairy-free
gluten-free
grain-free
refined sugar-free
vegan
vegetarian

Steps

Drain the tofu. If not using vacuum packed super-firm tofu, wrap it in a clean towel and stack a heavy object (like a cast iron pan) on top of it to press out excess liquid. (Or, use a tofu press if you've got one). Leave the tofu to press while you measure out the other ingredients.
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Place a metal rack on top of a baking sheet and lightly grease it. (If desired, put a piece of parchment on the baking sheet to catch drips, for easy cleanup).
Whisk together the remaining ingredients in a medium sized bowl.
Cut the tofu into thin strips, approximately 1/8 inch thick. Take each tofu slice and dip it fully into the marinade, then place it on the prepared baking rack. Repeat until all of the tofu slices are dipped, spacing them out evenly on the rack. Set aside the excess marinade.
Bake for 10 minutes. Remove the baking sheet from the oven. Gently flip over each piece of tofu. Brush or dab the tops of each tofu piece with some of the remaining marinade. Return to the oven and bake for another 5 to 10 minutes, or until browning around the edges and starting to take on a firm texture - it can burn quickly so keep a close eye on it. Remove from the oven, let cool, and enjoy!

Nutitrion

Serving Size: 1 slice
Calories: 22 kcal
Carbohydrates: 1 g
Protein: 2 g
Fat: 1 g
Unsaturated Fat: 1 g

Reviews

VEE on 2022-02-25 (5 stars):
what a strange comment. imagine getting offended over a simple food word like that. i've been vegan for over 8 years, surrounded by non vegans and i have never heard such a ridiculous statement in my life... also, lovely simple recipe, trying it this morning (:
Diane on 2021-05-04 (3 stars):
I loved the flavor, the marinade is perfect. I had to cook the tofu for almost 40 minutes. I did 10 and 10, then clocked a few minutes at a time to make sure I didn't burn it. The slices were pretty thin, perhaps I did not cut them thin enough to cook in 20 minutes.
Gabrielle on 2021-01-01 (5 stars):
Made a perfect vegan BLT!
Nikki on 2020-05-17 (5 stars):
Loved this recipe! Used extra firm smoky tofu (Sainsbury's sell this) and left out the liquid smoke. Came out perfectly.
Laura Burnham on 2020-04-20 (5 stars):
The flavor was awesome, sadly my tofu didn't hold up and crumbled. I will keep working with it or use the mix with tempeh. Either way I now have tasty bacon bits/crumbles.
Kristen Hobar on 2019-09-23 (5 stars):
Loved this recipe! Unfortunately, I did not have vegan mayo so I used a mashed avacado spread. They were delicious! Will definitely be making these again soon! Thanks for sharing!
Terri on 2019-08-27 (5 stars):
I've never been a fan of tofu.... till this recipe 😍 I made it exactly as per the recipe using smoked tofu.... it was absolutely luvverly..... and when cold it was firmer and even better in my opinion... definitely on my list now... thank you 😍