Recipe: Smokey Maple Beet Bacon

Smokey Maple Beet Bacon

Vegans got bacon too!

Thanks, VeganStreet, I’m happy to add one more to this list: beet bacon!

I first enjoyed this at Heirloom Vegetarian restaurant in Vancouver, BC, and it was a crafty and tasty innovation they call ‘Beet Back-Bacon Benny’ added to their tofu Benny. I tried my own hand at it, and was pleasantly surprised!

Note: this isn’t intended as a ‘main dish’, but as a flavourful garnish for various breakfast dishes, or anywhere else you might want ‘bacon’, like salads and sandwiches.

Here’s what you’ll need:

beets (the bigger the better)

liquid smoke flavouring

oil (organic canola or olive are great)

salt

peeler

Preparation

Mix together the following in a small bowl, then set aside:

2tsp liquid smoke flavouring

1-2tsp maple syrup

2Tbps oil

dash of salt (can add later, but will likely want to add for flavour)

Wash and peel beets. Chop as shown – ideally like the golden beet, you’re going to want to have access to wide area of the beet.

Using your peeler, slice strips of the beet, aiming for as wide as you can. (A food processor can work, just make sure it’s on a very thin setting.)

Marinade beet bacon slices for 20-60 minutes. The longer, the better.

Saute beet bacon slices. Don’t go too hot, they burn easily. Watch for the edges too, as they burn quickly. They’ll sizzle up, and the edges may curl as well, which is fine. Saute for 5-10 minutes, you’ll want to make sure the beets are cooked.

If they’re on the oily side, pat down with paper towel. Here’s how ours turn out:

Here is some of the beet bacon, in a tasty open-faced BLT bagel:

This is what the golden beets look like, the appearance takes a bit away from the ‘bacon’ if that’s what you’re going for, but taste just as good.

Enjoy making your own beet bacon! Let us know in the comments below how it turned out for you!

For more vegan bacon-y goodness (products and recipes), check out this vegan bacon guide from Your Daily Vegan!

One final beet item, a favourite skit from Portlandia:

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