Delicious, easy to prepare, and goes with almost anything, everyone loves bacon! But what if you’re vegan, or vegetarian, or on a low fat diet? How can you get your bacon fix?
Well you might be surprised to learn that there are plenty of bacon alternatives on the market that can satisfy your craving. In this article, we’ll be talking about how you can achieve that quintessential bacon flavour in your recipes – without the actual bacon.
RELATED: Top Vegan Gelatin Substitutes
What is bacon?
Bacon is salt-cured meat, typically cut from pork belly. But pork isn’t the only source of bacon meat: lamb, beef, and chicken can all be used to make bacon as well. It’s a rich source of protein and energy, though the exact amount can vary with the meat and cooking method that you use.
Australians love bacon: according to Statista, ham and bacon revenues in 2019 are around to $2 million USD (or a little under $3 million AUD). But not everyone can enjoy meat-based bacon. Either due to health concerns, religious practices, or alternative lifestyle choices, lots of people nowadays are turning to bacon substitutes.
10 bacon substitutes: vegan bacon, fake bacon, cheese bacon, and much more!
Peanut butter
Nutritional value vs bacon: less fat and sodium, with more protein depending on the variety
Vegan-friendly: Yes
Where and how much: most supermarkets, around $2- 5 AUD
Can be cooked at home: Yes
For those that like their bacon on the sweet side, crunchy peanut butter is a good substitute in many dishes that need that extra layer of texture. The crunch factor of the peanut butter resembles that of bacon, and you can enjoy the salty yet fatty flavour without all the usual cholesterol.
Shitake Mushrooms
Nutritional value vs bacon: more fibre and less calories
Vegan-friendly: yes
Where and how much: most supermarkets, around $30-40 AUD per kilogram
Can be cooked at home: Yes
The shiitake mushroom has a rich, buttery flavour unlike other mushrooms. It’s a versatile and healthy alternative to bacon – dried shiitake has a meaty texture and smoky flavour not unlike how you’d expect your bacon to taste.
Sun-dried tomatoes
Nutritional value vs bacon: less fats and no cholesterol
Vegan-friendly: Yes
Where and how much: most supermarkets, $5-10 AUD
Can be cooked at home: Yes
Sun dried tomatoes are full of umami, a savoury flavouring that’s responsible for that unique taste we get from meat or broth. The oily texture and rich, salty taste of sun-dried tomatoes is an excellent substitute for greasy bacon.
Tofurky
Nutritional value vs bacon: less fat, more carbohydrates
Vegan-friendly: Yes
Where and how much: most supermarkets, $10-15 AUD
Can be cooked at home: Yes
Tofurky is a world famous brand known for making vegan and vegetarian alternatives for popular meat-based dishes. Made from tofu and wheat-based protein, their bacon alternatives taste just as good as the real thing! It’s also super widely available – just walk into any Coles or Woolworth’s for a pack!
Shallots
Nutritional value vs bacon: less fats, no cholesterol, more vitamins and minerals
Vegan-friendly: Yes
Where and how much: most supermarkets, $3-5 AUD for 200g
Can be cooked at home: Yes
For that crunchy bacon-y topping, look no further than fried shallots. Roughly diced and mixed with salt, butter, and some olive oil, they’re perfect alternatives for your usual bacon bits on salads or casseroles. If you fry them to their golden-brown texture, they’ll be almost indistinguishable from the real thing!
Cheeson
Nutritional value vs bacon: less fat and salt, depending on the serving size
Vegan-friendly: No
Where and how much: most supermarkets, $10-20 AUD
Can be cooked at home: Yes
This is an old kitchen trick that involves frying provolone cheese in a skillet to produce a thin, crunchy layer of cheese that tastes a bit like streaky bacon. Use it as garnish for food like salads or pasta that call for bacon toppings, or a crunchy option in a vegetarian food platter.
Coconut bacon
Nutritional value vs bacon: more heart-friendly cholesterol, vitamins and minerals
Vegan-friendly: Yes
Where and how much: online, $10-20 AUD
Can be cooked at home: Yes
If you want a more hands-on touch with your bacon substitute, try making coconut bacon at home. Depending on the mix of sauces, you’ll get a variety of that delicious umami flavour that you can normally expect from actual bacon. It’s easy to make and easy to keep – and they’re so good, you’ll want seconds!
Tempeh bacon
Nutritional value vs bacon: more protein and fibre
Vegan-friendly: Yes
Where and how much: most supermarkets, $5-10 AUD
Can be cooked at home: Yes
Made from fermented soybeans, tempeh bacon is one of the most versatile bacon alternatives. You can either fry or bake it yourself, and it’s a delicious snack when mixed with a salad or eaten on its own. It’s a good addition to any dishes that warrants bacon since the firm texture allows it to withstand high heat without overcooking.
Turkey bacon
Nutritional value vs bacon: less fat and calories than pork bacon
Vegan-friendly: No
Where and how much: most supermarkets, $20-35 AUD
Can be cooked at home: No
You may have seen plenty of turkey bacon in middle-eastern restaurants – that’s because it’s one of the few halal options that tastes a lot like the real thing. Turkey bacon is low in fat but high in sodium, so it might not be the best option for someone with high blood pressure.
Vegetarian bacon
Nutritional value vs bacon: more vitamins and minerals, but less protein depending on the vegetables used
Vegan-friendly: Yes
Where and how much: most supermarkets, starts at $5 AUD
Can be cooked at home: Yes
Finally, your local Coles or Woolworths will have some stocks of vegetarian bacon on their shelves. Vegie Delights Bacon Style Rashers are a good pre-packaged alternative to the other bacon substitutes on this list, and is easy to cook and combine with various other vegetarian dishes.
If you want vegetable bacon though, most vegetables can be turned into bacon substitutes with a little creativity. Carrots, eggplant, and nuts are good meat bases, while a sweet or salty marinade (like the ones you see in soy bacon) work well to bring out the smoky flavour.
You should never have to miss out on that sweet bacon taste just because you don’t eat the real thing. Explore all the flavours and options out there and you may just find something better than actual bacon!
RELATED: The 5 essential nutrients a new vegan is most likely to forget
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
