Smoky Tempeh Bacon

This easy recipe can be assembled the night before and prepared in the morning for a weekend breakfast or brunch. Great as a BLT. The tempeh strips can be left marinating in the fridge 2 to 3 days. Just be sure to eat the bacon as soon as it’s cooked—otherwise, it may lose its crispness. Adapted from Vegetarian Times(April 2008).

• Ready In: 40 mins
• Yields: 24 slices

Ingredients

• 1 (8 ounce) package tempeh, sliced into 24 very thin slices
• 1⁄4 cup low sodium soy sauce
• 2  tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 1  teaspoon light brown sugar
• 1⁄2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1⁄2 teaspoon dried ancho chile powder (or to taste)
• 2  teaspoons liquid smoke (optional)
• 1  tablespoon  vegetable oil (or light olive oil)
•  smoked paprika (optional)

Directions

1. Lay the tempeh slices in 2 13- x 9-inch baking dishes. Bring soy sauce, vinegar, brown sugar, cumin, ancho chile powder, and ½ cup water to a boil in small saucepan. Boil 1 minute, then remove from heat, and stir in liquid smoke, if using. Pour over tempeh slices. Let cool, then cover and chill 2 hours, or overnight.
2. Preheat oven to 300°F.
3. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Carefully transfer tempeh slices to prepared baking sheet, and discard marinade(or save and use again for more tempeh bacon).
4. Brush slices with vegetable oil, and sprinkle with paprika, if desired. Bake 10 to 15 minutes, or until beginning to brown. Flip tempeh slices, brush with oil, and bake 5 to 7 minutes more, or until crisp and dark brown.