Homemade Vegan Bacon Bits

Name: Homemade Vegan Bacon Bits
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 8 servings
Ingredients: 4 ounces Butler soy curls (half of a bag); ⅓ cup tamari; 2 tablespoons canned coconut milk, optional, or 1 tablespoon water; 3 tablespoons maple syrup; 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast; 1 ¾ teaspoons liquid smoke; 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar; ¾ teaspoon smoked paprika; ½ teaspoon garlic powder; ½ teaspoon onion powder; ¼ teaspoon black pepper, optional

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5.0

42 reviews

Excellent

Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
35 mins
Servings
8 servings
Calories
80 kcal
Cuisine
American

Homemade Vegan Bacon Bits

Finn Russell

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It's easy to make delicious vegan bacon bits at home using Butler soy curls (dehydrated whole soy beans). Sprinkle these healthy bacon bits on salads, potatoes, casseroles, mac and cheese, or any dish where you want salty bacon flavor! Yield: makes about 3 cups

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Ingredients

Servings

4 ounces Butler soy curls (half of a bag)
⅓ cup tamari This makes very flavorful, salty bacon; you may find you like less.
2 tablespoons canned coconut milk, optional, or 1 tablespoon water Omit for extra crispy bacon bits, and NOTE, cook time will be reduced with less moisture.
3 tablespoons maple syrup
1 tablespoon nutritional yeast
1 ¾ teaspoons liquid smoke
2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
¾ teaspoon smoked paprika
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon onion powder
¼ teaspoon black pepper, optional

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Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F, and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
In a small bowl whisk together the tamari, maple syrup, nutritional yeast, liquid smoke, vinegar, paprika, garlic, onion, and pepper.
Place soy curls in a large bowl. Use your hands to break the soy curls into smaller pieces (this takes a few minutes). Try to get them somewhat similar in size, so they cook evenly. *Alternatively, after coating in the marinade use a food processor to pulse them into large bits.
Pour marinade over broken soy curls, and toss until completely coated and the marinade has been absorbed.
There shouldn't be any excess marinade in the bottom of the bowl (or food processor), but if there is, leave it behind. Spoon onto the prepared pan, spreading in a single layer. If needed, use a second baking sheet so the bits aren't too crowded.
Bake for 18 to 26 minutes, stirring at the 10-minute mark, or until they're just getting crisp. Keep a close eye on it during the last few minutes so they don't burn.
Cool completely before storing. See Notes below.

Notes

Storage
Store bacon bits in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week (though, they're likely fine for longer).
To freeze, make sure they're in an airtight, freezer-safe container. They contain almost no moisture, so they don't require much time to thaw before using.
Oil Option
If you include oil in your diet feel free to add 1 or 2 tablespoons of olive oil or another neutral oil to the marinade. Obviously bacon is very high in fat, and soybeans are not! A touch of oil adds more richness, if desired. But they're absolutely delicious and crisp even without oil.

Nutrition Information

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Calories 80kcal (4%) Carbohydrates 8g (3%) Protein 6g (12%) Fat 3g (5%) Saturated Fat 0.4g (2%) Cholesterol 0mg (0%) Sodium 660mg (28%) Fiber 2g (8%) Sugar 5g (10%)