This is about to blow your mind.It always seems that, when asked what food they miss the most, a good portion of vegans and vegetarians – both new and old – reply with bacon. Now, I’ve never been one for faux food. Vegan meats are usually not something that appeal to me, and vegan cheese just rarely seems to have the right consistency. But this recipe is something I can get down with. When used as a salad topper or sprinkled atop your veggie burger, this stuff tastes just like bacon – it even has the consistency of it!
And you want to know the best part? While I must admit that it does contain a good deal of fat, this “bacon” is actually good for you. It’s made of two of the healthiest sources of fat out there: olive oil and coconut. Here’s how it’s made!
Ingredients:
1 cup unsweetened flaked coconut (the key is to get large flakes – I use Bob’s Red Mill!)
1 tablespoon olive oil
3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar (Bragg is awesome)
Sea salt to taste
Directions:
Heat the olive oil in a frying pan on medium-low. Add the coconut, apple cider vinegar, and sea salt. Fry for about 4-8 minutes, stirring constantly, until the flakes crisp up and turn brown. Voila! Instant bacon bits.
For even more of a bacon-like taste, you can add in liquid smoke or spices of your choice like smoked paprika!
I like to sprinkle bacon bits top of a kale & cucumber salad with a creamy avocado dressing – it creates the perfect combination!
I forced my sister’s boyfriend (a lovely non-vegan muscle man) to try this, and he responded with, “Wait. This isn’t bacon?” No joke! It’s a crowd pleaser for sure. If you try this, let me know what you think!
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Yum, that whole meal looks delicious! Now I’m hungry :)
This looks awesome! I’m headed to the grocery store right now to get supplies!
I can’t wait to try this! I have been a vegetarian my whole life and i am just not into the fake meat texture but this sounds delicious and i love coconut flakes!
Incredible, have to try! Thanks for this :)
I make coconut bacon all the time, and it’s delicious, though I use entirely different ingredients. I find stronger ingredients are necessary to both cover up the strong taste of coconut and to impart that classic salty-smoky flavor of bacon. I use soy sauce, ACV, liquid smoke, smoked paprika, garlic powder and a touch of balsamic vinegar, it’s DELICIOUS. So, if anyone finds this particular recipe to be a bit bland or off the mark for them, don’t throw in the towel. There’s a coconut bacon recipe out there for everyone!
Shiitake Bacon is where it’s at!!
whoaaaa where’d you get the gorgeous metal bowl that the salad’s in??
Katie — It’s an antique! It’s actually for sale in my Etsy shop with some crystals and other little treasures in it right now — message me on there if you’re interested in just the bowl! Xox https://www.etsy.com/listing/199054660/crystal-filled-metal-treasure-bowl?ref=shop_home_active_4
this is so great! I’ve been vegan for 3 weeks now, and I’m definitely starting to miss the bacon. I’m also going to try making it with mushrooms! Thanks for the recipe :)
http://fleurs-de-liz.blogspot.ca
I love the style of this shoot-brings me such peace, and makes me want to go eat dinner on a cute little pillow under a tree :) Also, I am going to send this recipe over to my vegan friends! Thanks
I love the style of this shoot-brings me such peace, and makes me want to go eat dinner on a cute little pillow under a tree :) Also, I am going to send this recipe over to my vegan friends! Thanks xx
http://www.pumpkinflowerz.blogspot.com
I’m totally making this. I’m not a vegetarian, but I don’t eat pork and love bacon. Thanks!
http://www.etsy.com/shop/HypnoticaVintage
I am so happy every time i see vegan recipes here!
This looks delicious! I’m a vegetarian married to a carnivore and I’m always trying to please his palate without giving up my own lifestyle. There are a few “meats” I’ve made that he’s enjoyed, so I’ll have to give this a shot!
Lessons By Love (And Wine)
The only thing is I’ve read Olive oil is not good to heat. It essentially voids its benefits. A better substitute would be coconut oil or something else. It sounds like a lot since you’re using coconut for the bacon but for those have not used it, coconut oil is very similar taste to butter but much healthier- and smells tropical!
Nikki – Coconut oil has more saturated fat than olive oil and has more monounsaturated fat which is good for heart health (in moderation of course). According to the Cleveland Clinic olive oil wins against coconut oil as the healthier option. It is a common misconception that coconut oil is healthier.
http://health.clevelandclinic.org/2013/10/olive-oil-vs-coconut-oil-which-is-heart-healthier/
Nikki, don’t let that reading fool you!!! Every single serious nutritional investigation demonstrate the opposite. Critical heat point of olive oil is 410°F / 210°C!! In fact no other oil can go that high. It’s true that has more benefits when raw but if you want to cook, olive oil is the healthier option, just do it with extra virgin olive oil at 375°F / 190°C.
There’s a tabu about frying with olive oil but:
1st Olive oil do not soak into food as other oils.
2nd It doesn’t produce toxic elements, as seed oils.
3rd Olive oil keeps his physical and nutritional properties, you can even reuse it!!!
You are looking for a healthy cooking oil?? Then look for a good extra virgin olive oil, specially picual variety.
thanks for a well written article.the recipe is great.