How to Make Tempeh Bacon
vegan / gluten-free / nut-free / tomato-free
Tempeh bacon is as addicting as it is healthy and easy. This is our go-to easy recipe for tempeh bacon: a sweet, savory, and salty protein-packed wonder that makes everything better. At 18 calories and 2 grams of protein per slice (or 144 calories and 16 grams of protein per 1/4 block of tempeh), it’s a solid way to boost your protein intake on everything from breakfast scrambles, tempeh sandwiches, and salads.
For a nice semi-meal-prep option, we often marinate several blocks of tempeh at the beginning of the week to use on salads, sandwiches, and breakfast scrambles all week long. If you’re short on time though, take heart! A quick 30 minute marinade is plenty of time to create delicious tempeh bacon.
Catering to Specific Dietary Constraints:
- To keep this tempeh bacon gluten-free, be sure to select soy only protein and coconut aminos or gluten-free tamari.
- If you avoid soy, you can opt for a grain variety of tempeh (typically sold in the same place as traditional soy tempeh). In that case, be sure to opt for coconut aminos which are soy-free.
- If you avoid alliums (onions, garlic, etc.), it’s fine to omit the garlic granules.
- No matter what options you take, this tempeh will be completely vegan and dairy-free!
Tempeh Bacon
Cut the tempeh the short way across into small strips about 1/4" thick. If you are using Lightlife's 8 oz blocks of plain tempeh (the most common brand in the US), you should get around 28 slices of that thickness.
Next add all the remaining ingredients to a ziplock bag or a wide shallow container. Mix until combined. Add the tempeh to the marinade, and seal the bag or cover the dish.
Allow the tempeh strips to marinate for a minimum of 30 minutes (or up to 5 days).
*More time in the marinade will result in an even richer, more pervasive flavor and will ensure you have tempeh bacon ready to go whenever you need it. However, 30 minutes is sufficient if you are short on time.
To cook the tempeh bacon, pre-heat a dry non-stick or cast iron skillet over medium/high heat (*If you have a very powerful stove, heat over medium. If you have a less powerful stove, heat over medium-high.). Then remove the strips from the marinade, and place them on the skillet. Sear for 6-8 minutes per side or until nicely browned.
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Serving Size 1 slice of tempeh bacon
Servings 28
- Amount Per Serving
- Calories 18
- % Daily Value *
- Potassium 30mg1%
- Total Carbohydrate 2g1%
- Dietary Fiber 1g4%
- Sugars 1g
- Protein 2g4%
- Calcium 1%
- Iron 1%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Ingredients
Directions
Cut the tempeh the short way across into small strips about 1/4" thick. If you are using Lightlife's 8 oz blocks of plain tempeh (the most common brand in the US), you should get around 28 slices of that thickness.
Next add all the remaining ingredients to a ziplock bag or a wide shallow container. Mix until combined. Add the tempeh to the marinade, and seal the bag or cover the dish.
Allow the tempeh strips to marinate for a minimum of 30 minutes (or up to 5 days).
*More time in the marinade will result in an even richer, more pervasive flavor and will ensure you have tempeh bacon ready to go whenever you need it. However, 30 minutes is sufficient if you are short on time.
To cook the tempeh bacon, pre-heat a dry non-stick or cast iron skillet over medium/high heat (*If you have a very powerful stove, heat over medium. If you have a less powerful stove, heat over medium-high.). Then remove the strips from the marinade, and place them on the skillet. Sear for 6-8 minutes per side or until nicely browned.
[…] can either make your own if you manage to plan a little in advance and want to save a few bucks (see this recipe) or use the store-bought, pre-marinated varieties for a quicker, easier option (I like this one […]