How To Make The Original Carrot Bacon Recipe (2024)

136K Shares

Jump to Recipe

This is my original carrot bacon recipe that started an internet craze! It's salty and sweetly smoky, really delicious, and easily made from carrots and five other basic ingredients. Try it for yourself!

This post contains affiliate links. For more information, please see my privacy policy.

The original carrot bacon recipe!

You saw it here first!

Years before anyone in the West had even heard of TikTok, I developed and published this baked carrot bacon recipe. What's that saying about often imitated but never bettered? Well this is it - the real deal. The original and the best!

Carrot bacon

Okay, let's get this straight - carrots are not the same as bacon!

I know that. However, a lot of people, when they give up meat, miss bacon, so my carrot bacon goes some way to filling that void.

I also know that some Americans seem to be obsessed with cooking their bacon to a cinder (why?!), and most Europeans, in my experience, don't. While you can clearly see from my photos that my carrot bacon is crispy, it's not so crispy that you touch it and it shatters!

Ingredients for original carrot bacon

  • carrot
  • tahini
  • rapeseed oil
  • maple syrup
  • all-purpose soy sauce
  • liquid smoke

How to make carrot bacon

Making my carrot bacon is simplicity itself; simply peel and top & tail your carrots, slice really thinly (I use a Y peeler for this), blitz the rest of the ingredients together, marinate for half an hour, then bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes. As I said, it's really simple!


By the way, have you tried carrot lox yet? If not, you're in for a real treat!

Dehydrated carrot bacon

Update May 2018: I've experimenting with making carrot bacon in a dehydrator (this one, from Excalibur, to be precise), and apart from being super-easy, the result is a very crispy 'bacon', without being in any way charred around the edges... which happened the first time I made it in my new oven when I moved back to Britain!

At Beet Bar (Margate), where I developed their entire menu, my dehydrated carrot bacon continues to be hugely popular, and a firm favourite with vegans and omnivores alike!

To make dehydrated carrot bacon, simply marinade as usual, and lay out in a single layer on each tray - make sure you use the ParaFlexx sheets - and then set your dehydrator 150ºF, and let it work its magic for 12 hours. For the nine tray model I use, four large carrots is sufficient to fill it.

Notes

What is rapeseed oil? This is also known as Canola. It's made from seeds of the Brassica napus plant, which is a member of the cabbage family. It's not the same as grapeseed oil.

Can I use a different oil? Absolutely! But do choose one with a neutral flavour, such as sunflower or rice bran, that's suitable for roasting.

Can I use olive oil to make carrot bacon? No, absolutely not! Olive oil really isn't good for this type of baking, and the flavour it imparts really doesn't work for this recipe.

I can't have soy, what can I use instead of soy sauce? Liquid coconut aminos are your friend!

I can't have gluten but I'm fine with soy, what can I use? Tamari is gluten-free soy sauce.

What can I use instead of liquid smoke? Try some smoked paprika. Start with ½ tsp, taste, and if necessary, add a bit more. It all depends on your taste, and the age of the paprika.

I'm allergic to sesame, what can I use instead of tahini? Although I haven't tried it, you could probably use a nut or sunflower butter. You may want to add a dash more liquid smoke though, to replace the smoky tahini flavour. Let me know in the comments if you've made it without tahini.

Do I really have to marinate the carrots for 30 minutes? Yes, yes you do. Unless you want tasteless carrot strips instead of tasty carrot bacon!

Know your oven! If you know your oven runs a bit on the hot side, either reduce the baking time or the temperature. Similarly, if you know that normally you have to increase the temperature by a few degrees for everything else you bake, then do so accordingly for this recipe!

Want more more vegan deliciousness?

  • The world's best vegan sausages
  • How to make vegan condensed milk
  • Best-ever vegan nacho cheese (no nuts!)
  • Cashew pesto
  • How to make vegan 'Nutella'

You'll love this Carrot Bacon

Because it's...

  • salty
  • smoky
  • slightly sweet
  • easy to make
  • nut-free
  • gluten-free if you use tamari
  • soy-free if you use coconut aminos
  • full of Vitamin A
  • really, really delicious

If you can resist eating it straight from the oven (and no one would blame you if you can't!), this carrot bacon is fab in BLTs, in bagels, in salads, added to pizza and pasta... there are so many possibilities. Enjoy!

How To Make The Original Carrot Bacon Recipe (5)

📖 Recipe

How To Make The Original Carrot Bacon Recipe (6)

How To Make The Original Carrot Bacon Recipe

This is my original carrot bacon recipe that started an internet craze! It's salty and sweetly smoky, really delicious, and easily made from carrots and five other basic ingredients. Try it for yourself!

Print Pin Rate

Course: Breakfast

Cuisine: British

Diet: Vegan, Vegetarian

Nut-Free: Yes

Soy-Free: Potentially

Gluten-Free: Potentially

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes

Marinating time: 30 minutes minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes minutes

Makes (slide to adjust): 2 servings

Calories: 149kcal

Author: Nico

Ingredients

  • 1 large carrot
  • 1 tablespoon tahini
  • 1 tablespoon rapeseed oil (AKA canola)
  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup
  • teaspoon all-purpose soy sauce (or tamari, orcoconut aminos)
  • 1 teaspoon liquid smoke

Equipment (options for slicing the carrots!)

  • food processor (use the slicing disc)
  • mandoline
  • Y peeler
  • box grater
  • cookie sheet
  • silicone baking mat
  • baking parchment

Instructions

  • Peel and top & tail the carrot, then slice very thinly.

  • Blitz the rest of the ingredients together for 20 seconds or so, until you have a thick marinade.

  • Place the carrot and marinade into a dish, mix together so that all of the carrot slices are coated, and set to one side for 30 minutes.

  • Heat your oven to 200°C/400°F

  • Place the carrot strips side-by-side on a cookie sheet (lined with a silicone baking mat or baking parchment if it’s not non-stick), spread a little of the remaining marinade evenly over the strips, and then bake for 15-20 minutes, depending on how crispy you want your ‘bacon’ to be.

  • Remove from the oven, and enjoy your delicious plant-based bacony treat!

Nutrition Facts

How To Make The Original Carrot Bacon Recipe

Amount Per Serving

Calories 149Calories from Fat 99

% Daily Value*

Fat 11g17%

Saturated Fat 1g5%

Sodium 104mg4%

Carbohydrates 13g4%

Fiber 2g8%

Sugar 8g9%

Protein 2g4%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Did you make this recipe?Do mention @yums0me and/or tag #yums0me - I'd love to see how yours turned out!

DisclaimerMeasurements in parenthesis are approximate; it is beyond the scope of yumsome to be able to provide pinpoint-accurate ingredient quantities for every type of measuring utensil. As a guideline however, I make the assumption that:

  • 1 cup = US cup = 240 ml
  • 1 tablespoon = US/UK = 15 ml
  • 1 fl oz = US = 30 ml
Further information may be found here

136K Shares

How To Make The Original Carrot Bacon Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How to make something taste like bacon? ›

One great recipe for a vegan bacon marinade combines maple syrup with vegetable oil, soy sauce, liquid smoke and our very own Maple Bacon and Black Pepper seasoning. Simply coat your meat-free bacon substitute in this sauce and marinade overnight for the best results.

Does liquid smoke taste like bacon? ›

Wright's® Liquid Smoke can be used as a substitute for bacon and smoky flavor in vegan recipes.

What spices mimic bacon? ›

Smoked paprika and onion powder are two other highly recommended ingredients to get that umami flavor. The Kitchn has an intriguing recipe for crispy breadcrumbs sautéed in olive oil and butter with smoked paprika and salt to give them that bacony taste.

What is veggie bacon made of? ›

Vegetarian bacon can also be made at home by marinating strips of tempeh or tofu in various flavorings, such as soy sauce or liquid smoke, and then either frying or baking. Aficionados of raw food also use coconut meat as a bacon substitute. Seitan can also be formed into vegetarian bacon.

How to make bacon taste better? ›

With the help of some extra ingredients and spices for your bacon, you can take its original savory, salty, and smoky flavor and enhance it with things like chili powder and coffee, Sriracha, maple syrup, brown sugar, or honey.

How to make really good bacon? ›

1: Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil or parchment paper, and lay out as many bacon strips as will fit snuggly without overlapping. 2: Place in a cold oven. Then heat the oven to 400 degrees F and bake to desired crispness, 25 to 35 minutes. 3: Drain well on a paper-towel-lined platter.

What tastes like bacon but no bacon? ›

  • Prosciutto. If you've ever had prosciutto-wrapped asparagus where the prosciutto is nice and crispy, you already know it's delicious, but you may not have considered just ditching the asparagus. ...
  • Beef bacon. Say what? ...
  • Turkey bacon (and duck) ...
  • Capicola. ...
  • Salmon bacon. ...
  • Carrot 'bacon' ...
  • Tempeh strips. ...
  • Mushroom 'bacon'
Apr 30, 2024

How much liquid smoke for bacon? ›

Prep ahead: Have on hand 3 tablespoons of real liquid hickory smoke or 5 cups of hickory sawdust, depending on the method you've chosen to smoke the bacon. Rinse the belly and thoroughly pat it dry. Trim off any thin edges so that the piece is one long rectangle.

Is liquid smoke flavoring bad for you? ›

While it has been determined that liquid smoke contains potentially harmful naturally existing plant compounds knowns as pyrogallol-like polyphenols or PLPs (which are also found in tea and coffee), they may not wreak havoc for liquid smoke lovers.

What ingredient to avoid in bacon? ›

The health risk of bacon is largely to do with two food additives: potassium nitrate (also known as saltpetre) and sodium nitrite. It is these that give salamis, bacons and cooked hams their alluring pink colour.

What is the vegetable that tastes like bacon? ›

Dulse is a red algae with slender leaves that grows on the northern coasts of the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean. But will it bacon?

Why does my bacon have no flavor? ›

Curing is a necessary step in making bacon and one that packs the meat with flavor. Dry curing is the traditional method for curing bacon. The raw bacon is rubbed with salt, seasonings, sometimes sugar, and nitrates, giving it flavor and activating the curing process. Then the meat is left to cure for one to two weeks.

What is MorningStar bacon made of? ›

Ingredients:Egg whites, soybean oil with tbhq for freshness, textured soy protein concentrate, modified corn starch, wheat gluten, hydrolyzed vegetable protein (corn gluten, wheat gluten, soy), contains two percent or less of glycerin, salt, soy protein isolate, sodium citrate, sodium phosphate, sugar, natural and ...

Who makes the best veggie bacon? ›

But for now, here are some of our favorite vegan bacon brands (listed in no particular order).
  • Lightlife. 1 Lightlife Smart Bacon. ...
  • @beautifitdesi/Instagram. 2Yves Veggie Bacon. ...
  • MyForest Foods. 3My Forest Foods MyBacon. ...
  • Tofurky. ...
  • Upton's Naturals. ...
  • Lightlife Foods. ...
  • Meat The Mushroom. ...
  • The Herbivorous Butcher.

What is bacon made of cow? ›

Steers have some mighty belly meat that transforms into incredibly flavorful bacon. The beef belly is better known by its industry term – navel. The navel cut is what the brisket joins into, just a little further down the body.

How do they make bacon flavor? ›

Curing is a necessary step in making bacon and one that packs the meat with flavor. Dry curing is the traditional method for curing bacon. The raw bacon is rubbed with salt, seasonings, sometimes sugar, and nitrates, giving it flavor and activating the curing process.

What tastes similar to bacon? ›

Tempeh is like a sponge for flavor and allows you to get the taste and feel of bacon without the harmful effects. This is a slightly healthier option from your average pork bacon. It contains a lot less fat and harmful ingredients than your average bacon.

What is a good substitute for bacon texture? ›

Coconut bacon

Coconut flakes seasoned with tamari, liquid smoke, and maple syrup then baked until crispy offer a crunchy texture and smoky-sweet flavor. Coconut is high in healthy fats and fiber, making it a satisfying, cholesterol-free bacon alternative.

How do you imitate bacon grease? ›

Lard is a great substitute for bacon grease! To make lard taste like bacon grease add some smoked salt (or liquid smoke with regular salt). The smoke point of lard is 374F/190C.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Terence Hammes MD

Last Updated:

Views: 6288

Rating: 4.9 / 5 (49 voted)

Reviews: 88% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Terence Hammes MD

Birthday: 1992-04-11

Address: Suite 408 9446 Mercy Mews, West Roxie, CT 04904

Phone: +50312511349175

Job: Product Consulting Liaison

Hobby: Jogging, Motor sports, Nordic skating, Jigsaw puzzles, Bird watching, Nordic skating, Sculpting

Introduction: My name is Terence Hammes MD, I am a inexpensive, energetic, jolly, faithful, cheerful, proud, rich person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.