- Calories:250 kcal
- Protein:10 g
- Carbohydrates:250 mg
- Sugar:605 mg
- Salt:51 g
- Energy:1870 kJ
- Fat:58 g
If you ask vegetarians and vegans what food they miss most, bacon is probably at the top of their list. There's something about the savory smell, crispy texture, and salty, smoky flavor that makes it irresistible. And while there are vegetarian bacon products on the market made from tempeh and soy, you can get surprisingly close to the real thing using carrots. Yes, carrots.
Sliced thin (we love the Y-peeler for this), then marinated in a mixture of tahini, soy sauce, paprika, and maple syrup, the carrots are baked until crisp. The strips not only achieve a similar flavor and texture to bacon—minus the chewy fat—they even look bacon-y. We include liquid smoke in the recipe to make the carrot bacon smell and taste more authentic, but you can always leave it out.
Carrot bacon can also be cooked in the air fryer, but you'll need to work in several batches to keep the strips in a single layer. Halve this recipe for vegan bacon for 2 or double it (spreading over 2 baking sheets) for a crowd. Serve your carrot bacon with classic vegan breakfast and brunch dishes, on a vegan burger or sandwich, or simply enjoy it as a flavorful snack.
How to Store
- Store leftover carrot bacon in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
- To reheat, place the strips back in a 300 F oven for a few minutes, being careful not to let them burn.
Recipe Variations
- To make carrot bacon in the air fryer, preheat to 350 F. Add marinated carrot strips to the basket in a single layer, cooking in batches. Cook for about 10 minutes, flipping once, or until crisp. Watch closely so they don't burn.
- If you are gluten-free, try using tamari or liquid aminos instead of soy sauce.
- Use low-sodium soy sauce for less salty carrot bacon.
- If you aren't using liquid smoke but want a smokier flavor, use more smoked paprika or used smoked pepper in place of the pepper.
How to Use Carrot Bacon
Beyond simply enjoying it as a crunchy snack, here are some ideas for serving carrot bacon:
- Serve with vegan pancakes or waffles for a nice savory side dish
- Serve with a tofu scramble or, if you're not vegan, with an omelet or frittata
- Use it to top a veggie burger or patty melt
- Make a BLT using vegan mayo
- Crumble it on to salads or soups
- Add to breakfast burritos or tacos
