As someone who has recently gone vegetarian or vegan, you might be still craving that crispy bacon flavor. If this is you, this vegan eggplant bacon recipe is just for you!
The eggplant aka aubergine is a much healthier alternative to the traditional pork meat bacon. This purple plant is a great source of antioxidants, fiber, and potassium.
Try them once and you’ll be hooked forever!
Ingredients
You’ll need the following ingredients to make eggplant bacon:
- 1/2 medium-sized eggplant (aubergine)
- 1 tsp of smoked paprika
- 1 Tbsp of virgin olive oil
- 1 Tbsp of soy sauce
- 1/2 tsp of liquid smoke
- 1 tsp of organic Worcestershire sauce
- 1 Tbsp of pure maple syrup
- 1/2 tsp of ground cumin
- 1 tsp of garlic powder
- ½ tsp of salt
- 1/2 tsp of pepper
Vegan eggplant bacon recipe
Step 1: Prepping
Preheat your oven at 250 degrees F (121C) and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
Step 2
Cut the halved eggplant into quarters lengthwise. Then using a vegetable slicer, slice the eggplant quarters into 1 inch thin strips. Note: the thin eggplant slices should resemble strips of bacon.
Step 3: Make the eggplant bacon sauce
In a medium-sized mixing bowl, add the smoked paprika, virgin olive oil, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, maple syrup, ground cumin, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Then whisk until all the ingredients are fully combined.
Step 4
Use a brush to generously coat the eggplant slices with the sauce.
Step 5: Cooking
Place the eggplant bacon in a single layer on the parchment-lined baking sheet, put it in the oven, and bake for 30 minutes. Then flip the eggplant slices over and bake for an additional 15 minutes, until the eggplant bacon appears to be dry and crispy.
You can allow the eggplant bacon to cool slightly and then serve it with your favorite dishes.
Serving suggestions
You can eat your homemade eggplant bacon in many different ways. Here are some of my favorite dishes to eat with:
- eggplant bacon sandwich
- Crispy eggplant bacon salad
- Eggplant bacon with scrambled tofu
Expert Tips
Can you freeze eggplant bacon?
Yes, you can store eggplant bacon in the freezer for up to 6 months. Make sure the eggplant slices are fully cooled down, then place them between wax paper to prevent the slices from sticking together. Then place in freezer bags.
Can I make eggplant bacon without liquid smoke?
Yes, if you don’t have any liquid smoke at hand, you can substitute it with sesame oil. The combination with the smoked paprika and Worcestershire sauce will do the trick.
Equipment
The main equipment you will need:
Baking sheet and parchment paper to bake the eggplant slices.
Medium size mixing bowl to mix all the bacon flavor ingredients together
You can also consider using an air fryer instead of an oven.
