[raw]
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.
