Vegan bacon
- Preparation and cooking time
- Prep:
- Cook:
- plus cooling
- Easy
- Serves 6 - 8
Ingredients
- 250g vital wheat gluten, plus extra for dusting
- 50g gram (chickpea) flour
- ½ tsp garlic granules
- ½ tsp onion granules
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- 25g nutritional yeast
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- 30g tomato purée
- 2 tsp Dijon mustard
- 150ml vegetable stock
- 1 tsp liquid smoke flavouring
- 4 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
For the glaze
- 60ml maple syrup
- 60ml soy sauce
- 1 tbsp tomato purée
- ½ tsp liquid smoke flavouring
- ½ tsp onion granules
- ½ tsp garlic granules
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
Method
- STEP 1
Heat the oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. Put the vital wheat gluten, gram flour, garlic and onion granules, paprika and nutritional yeast in a large bowl, and mix well with a wooden spoon. Stir the maple syrup, tomato purée, mustard, stock, liquid smoke and soy sauce together in a large jug.
- STEP 2
Make a well in the dry ingredients and pour in the wet, then stir together with a wooden spoon to combine. Tip out onto a lightly floured work surface and knead for 5 mins. Press into a 20cm non-stick round or square tin and bake for 20-30 mins until golden brown. Remove from the tin and leave to cool.
- STEP 3
Put all the glaze ingredients in a saucepan and stir to combine. Warm gently over a medium-low heat for 5 mins until the liquid is thick and glossy. Remove from the heat and set aside. Slice the cooled ‘bacon’ into 3mm-thick slices.
- STEP 4
Heat about 4 tsp of the oil in a large, non-stick pan over a medium heat. Meanwhile, brush each side of the 'bacon' rashers with the glaze and fry, in batches, for 1-2 mins on each side until dark brown. Transfer to a plate and let stand for a few minutes to crisp up. Serve warm.