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)
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