this tofu bacon is the perfect combination of crispy and meaty! rice paper wrappers make the outside crispy while the tofu makes it meaty and brings the protein.
the inspiration
If you have been on my blog or social media channels then you know I love making mockmeats. Last year I created a recipe for Tempeh Bacon with a similar process to this. However, I know a lot of people still don’t love tempeh.
So, I figured it would be fun to create this same type of recipe just using tofu instead! The result is just perfect for enjoying with breakfast, on sandwiches, or wraps. Without any of the cholesterol and trans fats in regular bacon you could eat this everyday.
the ingredients
- Super Firm Tofu: of course the base of our tofu bacon will be tofu. I like to use super firm tofu so I do not need to press it. The tofu also has a higher protein content and it holds it shape the best when you cut it thin. If you would like to use an extra firm tofu I would recommend pressing first.
- Rice Paper Wrappers: The rice paper rolls can get very crispy so they provide a nice outer crispy skin for our tofu bacon You can find this as Asian markets or food stores usually in the International aisle or you can order them online.
- Low Sodium Soy Sauce: adds saltiness and umami, as well as color. You can always swap this for tamari or coconut aminos. I use low sodium so it doesn’t come out too salty.
- Liquid Smoke: this product just adds some smokiness. If you want to leave it out you can, but it will enhance the vegan bacon experience.
- Maple Syrup: adding some maple syrup will help to enhance the overall flavor of the tofu bacon. It will also add a light sweetness which I find delicious.
- Seasonings: of course we are going to need to add some nice flavor so we will be using garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper.
slicing the tofu
The first part of making this tofu bacon will be to cut the tofu properly. We want long, thin strips of the tofu. It isn’t hard to do, just make sure you have a good knife.
- Cut the in half down the center the long way. So you end up with 2 long rectangles.
- You will only need 1 half of the tofu! Rotate the tofu 90° so the wider part of the tofu is facing up. Cut in half to end up with 2 more rectangles that are now long and skinny.
- Rotate the tofu rectangle 90 degrees again so the slightly wider part is facing up at you. Then, use the knife to make thin slices of the tofu. You want to get 8 pieces per half, with 16 slices of tofu in total.
- Finally, you will carefully place the tofu in the marinade.
the marinade
Making the marinade for the tofu bacon is very easy. All you need is low sodium soy sauce, maple syrup, liquid smoke, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper.
Whisk the marinade ingredients in a container with ⅓ cup (80ml) of water. Then, place the tofu in the marinade.
You can let the tofu marinate for up to 24 hours. You will want to let it marinate for at least 30 minutes. However, of course the longer something marinates the more the flavor will be developed.
wrapping the tofu bacon
Now, after the tofu is done marinating it will be time to wrap the tofu bacon in the rice paper wrappers. This step is important to help us get that crispy, crunchy outer texture.
- Cut the rice paper wrappers in half with a scissor.
- Dip the rice paper wrapper in water for 10 seconds. This makes it pliable. Then, place a piece of the tofu on the bottom half of the wet rice paper wrapper.
- Fold the sides of the rice paper wrapper over to make an envelope shape.
- Roll the tofu up in the rice paper wrapper like a burrito to seal it.
Rice Paper Wrapper Tip!
When working with rice paper wrappers, it’s important not to over-saturate them. They begin to soften as soon as they get wet, and will continue to do so as you work with them. Keep in mind that the moisture from the tofu will also soften the wrapper further as you fold it.
baking the tofu bacon
Now, after you wrap the tofu bacon up you will place it onto a baking sheet that is either lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Then, use a silicone brush or spoon to coat the outside of the tofu bacon in more of the marinade.
Then, bake in the oven at 450°F for 10 minutes. The tofu bacon will start to get cooked and slightly crispy. Carefully, flip each piece over and coat with more marinade. Bake for another 15 minutes.
Allow the tofu bacon to cool for a few minutes before you eat it. This will help the rice paper wrappers to fully cool and harden, leaving a crispy and crunchy exterior.
how can I enjoy this tofu bacon?
- You can of course enjoy this all on its own at breakfast on the side of some tofu scramble.
- Cut it up into pieces and put it on top of a salad.
- Enjoy it on a sandwich as a vegan BLT.
- Put it into a vegan breakfast burrito.
There are truly so many ways to enjoy this tofu bacon. Anywhere, you would think to have regular bacon can be replaced with this!
more mockmeat recipes
why you’ll love this tofu bacon
There are a lot of reasons to love this tofu bacon! The taste, the texture, and how easy it is to make come to my mind first. You will love how the tofu slices work so well with the rice paper wrappers to make an amazing recipe.
Also, unlike typical rice paper bacon this has some nice protein because of the tofu! Overall, helping us to have more filling and delicious meals. This recipe is nut free and gluten-free (just swap the soy sauce out) as well.
With its delicious smoky, slightly sweet, and savory flavor this will be sure to be a hit with anyone you share it with. However, you may want to keep it all for yourself.
Recipe Storage
To store the tofu bacon you will want to let it cool and then put it in the fridge! To reheat the tofu bacon the best way to do it will be in an air-fryer or in the oven to maintain the crispiness. I would not recommend freezing as it will change the texture of the tofu and rice paper wrappers.
tofu bacon faq
This recipe is fully nut free. It is also gluten free, as long as you change the soy sauce for tamari. It does contain soy. However, you can use a fava bean tofu to make it soy free.
Up to 5 days.
Please see the recipe storage up above.
You are of course always free to do what you like in your own kitchen. While I do recommend it for this tofu bacon recipe as it was how the recipe is designed. You can feel free to play around with it.
ORDER MY COOKBOOK
Looking for more delicious vegan comfort recipes? Order my cookbook Plantiful: Over 75 Vibrant Vegan Comfort Foods! Filled with all types of recipe from bites, breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, desserts and more! Available on Barnes and Noble, Amazon, IndieBound, Walmart, also available in stores.
Sharing direct links to recipes and pictures is highly encouraged, please do not copy and paste my recipes or share my pictures without permission. I work very hard on my blog and don’t want to see my recipes popping up anywhere. Thank you so much.
Crispy & Meaty Tofu Bacon
Equipment
- Silicone Mat or parchment paper
Ingredients
- ½ block super firm tofu (8 ounces)
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce low sodium
- 2 tablespoons grade-A maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons liquid smoke
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ⅓ cup water for marinade
- 8 rice paper wrappers
Instructions
Slicing the Tofu
- Cut the in half down the center the long way. So you end up with 2 long rectangles.
- You will only need 1 half of the tofu! Rotate the tofu 90° so the wider part of the tofu is facing up. Cut in half to end up with 2 more rectangles that are now long and skinny.
- Rotate the tofu rectangle 90 degrees again so the slightly wider part is facing up at you. Then use the knife to make thin slices of the tofu. You want to get 8 pieces per half, with 16 slices of tofu in total.
Marinating Tofu
- In a large container mix the soy sauce, maple syrup, liquid smoke, water, and seasonings all together. Then, carefully transfer the tofu slices into the marinade.
- Marinate the tofu for at least 30 minutes or up to 24 hours in advance. If you are marinating more than 1 hour store in the fridge.
Wrapping the Tofu
- Prior to wrapping the tofu preheat the oven to 450°F (212°C).
- Cut the rice paper wrappers in half with a scissor.
- Dip the rice paper wrapper in water for 10 seconds. This makes it pliable. Then, place a piece of the tofu on the bottom half of the wet rice paper wrapper.
- Fold the sides of the rice paper wrapper over to make an envelope shape.
- Roll the tofu up in the rice paper wrapper like a burrito to seal it.
Baking the Tofu Bacon
- Place the wrapped tofu on a lined baking sheet.
- Brush the tofu and sides of the tofu pieces with the marinade.
- Bake for 10 minutes.
- Carefully, flip the tofu it will be hot. Then brush the other side of the tofu with the marinade. Bake for another 15 minutes.
- Allow the tofu to cool for 5 minutes and enjoy.
Video
Notes
- Nutrition facts are based on my gram measurements put into Cronometer. Yours may vary, they are to help you get an idea.
- Please do not repost recipes without my permission. Sharing a direct link is always highly encouraged and appreciated.
- For any questions you may have please be sure to read the full in depth blog post before asking as I cover everything in extreme detail.
- This will make 16 pieces of the vegan bacon. I am saying 2 pieces is a serving, resulting in 8 servings.
- For visuals of slicing the tofu and wrapping it in the rice wrappers please see the body of the blog post.
Nutrition
Did you try this recipe? Tag me on Instagram @plantifullybased to let me know how it went. If you enjoyed this recipe please be sure to leave a comment or review, it is so helpful for the blog. Thank you!
Plantifully Based® is part of the Amazon Affiliate Partner Program. Links on here may be from Amazon or other affiliate programs. If you decide to purchase through a link I will receive a small commission. This helps to run the blog and make more recipes.
hey there!
Hey, I’m Francesca!
Thank you for checking out my recipe! I am happy to have you here and hope you explore more delicious vegan recipes.
If you don’t have tofu you can use bread , just roll pin the slices of bread and follow the recipe 😋
interesting idea!
What a beautiful recepy, I wish to make it end of next week for lunch. How long in advance can I make it and how do I store it for one day if possible?
Thank you in advance!
Hi Nell, sure it is actually covered in the blog post right in the recipe storage
“Recipe Storage
To store the tofu bacon you will want to let it cool and then put it in the fridge! To reheat the tofu bacon the best way to do it will be in an air-fryer or in the oven to maintain the crispiness. I would not recommend freezing as it will change the texture of the tofu and rice paper wrappers.”
Whatever you do, do not pour the sauce on top…do not allow any sauce to be near the edge as it will create a mess. My first batch was excellent. Using the same silicon mat for the 2nd half of the batch and trying to get rid of all of the sauce led to the rice paper fusing to the mat. Do not do that.
Next time I would double the spices, let marinate longer. I might even brush with BBQ sauce. Great idea, needs some tweaking!
Hi! A few things: 1. Nowhere in the recipe do I indicate to ever pour the marinade on top 🙂 I do just say to brush it. 2. You can let it marinate for up to 24 hours as indicated in the recipe 3. You are always welcome to customize things to how you like in your kitchen. Doesn’t always mean something needs tweaking. Just about making it to your preferred taste.