13 Vegan Bacon Recipes You Absolutely Need to Try (2024)

FAQs

What is vegan bacon made from? ›

Vegetarian bacon can also be made at home by marinating strips of tempeh or tofu in various flavorings, such as soy sauce or liquid smoke, and then either frying or baking. Aficionados of raw food also use coconut meat as a bacon substitute. Seitan can also be formed into vegetarian bacon.

1 Lightlife Smart Bacon

Amazing on sandwiches and bagels with avocado, Lightlife's Smart Bacon (voted number one by VegNews readers in the 2024 Veggie Awards) is made from wheat gluten and soy protein, which help give it a chewy texture when fried up in the skillet.

Vegan bacon could therefore be seen as a better alternative to pig bacon, but that's not to say it's a healthy food product. Plant-based meats are ultra processed foods, and they also tend to be high in salt. They are, however, lower in saturated fat, and don't contain the same preservatives as pig bacon.

And where can you find it? Here's everything you need to know about this surprisingly realistic-tasting vegan bacon. Hooray Foods' plant-based bacon has less sodium and fat than real bacon but tastes a whole lot like the real stuff.

Umaro Foods may have developed the first vegan bacon that's actually good. If you've ever tried vegan bacon, you probably didn't mistake it for pork. But when I recently made a vegan BLT with a new type of plant-based bacon, it was fairly hard to tell that it wasn't the real thing. It was crispy.

Made from whole muscle meat cut into thin slices, turkey bacon is a healthier alternative to traditional bacon for those looking to reduce fat in their diet, or for those who don't eat pork.

Chemical additives in bacon

The World Health Organization has classified bacon as a Group 1 carcinogen, which means it's known to cause cancer. One of the biggest risks of bacon is associated with two preservatives, nitrates and nitrites, that can form cancer-causing compounds.

A diet high in saturated fat and sodium is linked to heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and obesity, per the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. A daily diet that includes bacon makes it tough to stay within the recommended limits for saturated fat and sodium.

Keep refrigerated. Eat within 3 days of opening. Suitable for freezing. Freeze on day of purchase and use within 1 month.

Macon looks and feels similar to bacon. It would more commonly be found in a thin sliced form used in sandwiches, or as a smaller cut slice topping on a pizza. It is also used as a bacon substitute for religious groups such as Jews and Muslims, whose faith does not allow the consumption of pork.

What is the vegetable that tastes like bacon? ›

Seaweed is a vegetable. It is a plant in the ocean. But one seaweed tastes like bacon! The red seaweed is called dulse.

Yes, absolutely! Rice is a common grain in all cooking and has a significant place in the plant-based world too. Some rice dishes may not be suitable for vegans though, so if you're eating out or following a recipe make sure there are no meat, fish or other animal products being used before you tuck in!

No statistically significant differences have been shown for total cardiovascular disease between vegans and meat eaters, but the data so far suggest there may be a lower risk of ischaemic heart disease and perhaps a higher risk of stroke in vegans. There is no evidence of a difference in life expectancy.

New research shows that although plant-based meat products are generally healthier than meat equivalents, they can be higher in sugar and are often lacking important nutrients found in real meat.

Plant-based meats can be a healthy part of a balanced diet if you enjoy them in the right way. Consuming plant-based meats in moderation along with fruits, veggies and other nutrient-dense foods can profoundly support your health.

Beyond Meat® products are for anyone who loves a great tasting burger, whether you're a vegan, vegetarian, flexitarian or carnivore. Beyond Meat® builds meat directly from plants so consumers can eat what they love, without compromise.