I know what you’re thinking — coconut bacon?
Coconut Bacon Recipe, Raw or Cooked
Author -Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons low sodium tamari
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1 1/2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 2 cups coconut flakes/large flake coconut
Instructions
- Whisk the tamari, oil, vinegar, syrup, and paprika in a medium sized mixing bowl. Add the coconut and mix it around until it's all evenly coated. Allow the coconut to sit for at least ten minutes, so that it soaks all of the marinade up.
- To prepare in the oven, preheat the oven to 300F. Spread the coconut evenly over a foil or parchment lined baking sheet. Bake for 8-12 minutes, stirring halfway through to prevent burning (check the bacon at the five minute mark, because it cooks up quickly). Let cool completely before serving.
- To prepare in a dehydrator, spread the coconut on a Teflex lined dehydrator sheet and dehydrate for 8 hours, or until crispy and dry. You can mix it around a few times to make sure it dehydrates evenly.
Notes
I, too, used to assume that a vegan interpretation of bacon was pure folly. Few foods inspire the wholehearted adoration that bacon seems to receive, and few bacon lovers concede a substitute. I’ve even seen t-shirts reading “vegetarian…except for bacon.” But, as with cashew cheese, banana ice cream, and so many other creative vegan dishes, there’s a way to capture the smokiness, saltiness and flavor of bacon. I realized this when I first discovered eggplant bacon, and now I’m discovering it with coconut bacon, too.
I’ve had coconut bacon at raw eateries before. The ones I’ve tried were made with young coconut meat, but to me, that’s such a special and precious ingredient that I hated the idea of overpowering it with a marinade. I think the easiest way to make coconut bacon at home is to use either large flake coconut or coconut flakes. Both are a form of dried coconut, but the pieces are large and chewy (rather than shredded or desiccated, as with much of the dried coconut you find in supermarkets). The texture is awesome–perfect for sprinkling onto salads or atop baked potatoes.
If you’re having a hard time finding coconut flakes or large flake coconut, you can definitely find it on Amazon, and you can probably find it at a local health food store, too.
You can make this recipe for coconut bacon in your oven, or you can prepare it with a food dehydrator. I love the oven version because it’s so fast and easy, but the dehydrator will help you to keep the flakes from burning as they cook, which yields even results. Though I must confess that I love the slightly burnt edges!
Coconut Bacon Recipe, Raw or Cooked
Author -Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons low sodium tamari
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1 1/2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 2 cups coconut flakes/large flake coconut
Instructions
- Whisk the tamari, oil, vinegar, syrup, and paprika in a medium sized mixing bowl. Add the coconut and mix it around until it's all evenly coated. Allow the coconut to sit for at least ten minutes, so that it soaks all of the marinade up.
- To prepare in the oven, preheat the oven to 300F. Spread the coconut evenly over a foil or parchment lined baking sheet. Bake for 15-18 minutes, stirring twice along the way to prevent burning. Start checking for doneness right before 15 minutes have passed. Let cool completely before serving.
- To prepare in a dehydrator, spread the coconut on a Teflex lined dehydrator sheet and dehydrate for 8 hours, or until crispy and dry. You can mix it around a few times to make sure it dehydrates evenly.
Notes
You can put coconut bacon on soups, stews, sandwiches, wraps, baked potatoes, salads…my gosh, the list goes on. Right now, as you can see, one of my favorite uses for coconut bacon is to add a little salty, smoky, sweet flavor to avocado toast or avocado lettuce wraps. It’s divine, and the addition of freshly sliced tomato, if you have it, is even better.
Hope you give this flavorful recipe a try. And I wish you a happy start to the week.
xo
This post may contain affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something I may earn a commission. Visit my privacy policy to learn more.
Leave a Comment
[…] Coconut Bacon […]
[…] were my favorite use for it. I’ve tried plenty of vegan imaginings of bacon, including my coconut bacon and eggplant bacon. Sometimes I even feel that throwing a handful of salty dulse into a salad […]
[…] Optional additions: 1 tablespoon tahini, chopped cilantro or green onion tops, slivered almonds or chopped cashews, cubed tofu or tempeh, coconut bacon […]
[…] vegetables or seasonings (like additional fresh herbs) if you’d like to jazz it up. Coconut bacon would be a killer […]
[…] basics, even as we’re all making merry. This festive kale salad with cranberries, lentil, and coconut bacon is in many ways the best of both worlds: colorful and undoubtedly festive, yet simple and unfussy. […]
[…] toppings: coconut bacon, cashew cream, extra nutritional yeast, tempeh bacon, toasted pumpkin seeds, extra broccoli […]
I am going to make this today. Wondered if anyone can tell me the difference in taste between using maple syrup and molasses. Most of the recipes I’ve seen have all the same ingredients but some use the syrup and others use the molasses.
[…] the freezer (again!) either veggie or chili! Chef Salad: toppings include croutons, boiled eggs, coconut bacon, daiya cheese, tomatoes, mushrooms, cucumbers, peppers, olives, carrots Seafood Gumbo […]
Black strap molasses can be used in lieu of liquid smoke.
[…] can make coconut bacon yourself (coconut bacon recipe – raw or cooked from ChoosingRaw.com or Coconut Bacon from theVeganProject.com), but here it is already made. […]
[…] 7) In a lettuce cup with tomato and coconut bacon. Baconsaywhat???! Yes, you heard me say bacon in a vegan blog. Don’t worry, this bacon doesn’t put you in veggie jail, since it’s made out of coconut. Does it taste exactly like bacon? No, of course not. Is it a fine approximation of bacon, which captures a salty and sweet crispiness that pairs nicely with my favorite fruit? You betcha! I got this idea from the excellent blog Choosing Raw. Check out the recipe here. […]
I’ve made this 2x in a little over a week…really tasty and a new household favorite, even for my non-veg husband 🙂
Jenn, I’m so happy that your family loves the coconut bacon.
Toast 2 slices of a good whole grain bread like Killer Dave’s, then generously coat one slice with natural, unsalted peanut butter. I prefer crunchy but smooth is okay too. Top with a nice layer of coconut bacon and a layer of fresh basil leaves. Top that with a generous squeeze of Siracha sauce an the other slice of bread. Siracha-mayo works well too. Just blend your Siracha with your favorite vegan mayo to your desired taste. I make mine about 50/50. This is delicious
Yes, I too add liquid smoke. I’m going to try the paprika.
That’s spelled Fahrenheit. (-:
[…] Coconut Bacon Recipe, […]
I drop a comment when I especially enjoy a article on a site or I have something to contribute to the discussion.
It’s a result of the fire communicated in the article I read.
And on this article Coconut Bacon Recipe, Raw or Cooked.
I was actually moved enough to post a leave a responsea response :
) I actually do have some questions for you if it’s allright.
Could it be simply me or do a few of these responses
look like they are written by brain dead individuals? 😛 And, if you are writing on additional places, I
would like to keep up with anything new you have
to post. Would you make a list every one of your communal pages like
your twitter feed, Facebook page or linkedin profile?
[…] whites of 2 leeks, sliced and cleaned 1 tablespoon of coconut oil 2 cups chopped potatoes 1-2 cups almond milk (maybe more) 1 cup vegetable broth 1/2 tablespoon powdered garlic 1/2 teaspoon onion powder 1 teaspoon chili powder 4 tablespoons nutritional yeast (optional) dash of sea salt pepper to taste coconut bacon – recipe from Choosing Raw […]
Its like you read my mind! You appear to know a
lot about this, like you wrote the book in it or something.
I think that you could do with a few pics to drive the
message home a little bit, but other than that, this is great
blog. A fantastic read. I’ll certainly be back.
[…] Breakfast for dinner: egg salad with bacon (coconut bacon for me!) Tacos (with mushrooms or butternut squash instead of meat for me!) Broccoli with rice […]
[…] of potato skins with a variety of toppings: Velveeta/bacon, sharp cheese/bacon, vegan cheese/coconut bacon (SO super yummy! I was excited that the taste and texture of the coconut bacon was spot on!) and […]
[…] sounding menu of Breakfast for dinner (scrambled eggs with veggies), Corn Chowder with coconut bacon, Sweet & Sour Stir Fry (with shrimp instead of chicken), Broccoli & Rice from Happy […]
[…] for dinner: scrambled eggs with veggies Corn Chowder First time trying this–will either make coconut bacon for me or skip the bacon on mine. Sweet & Sour Stir Fry (with shrimp instead of chicken) […]
[…] a salad using the featured ingredient; beets! Bacon substitutes have been all the rage lately with coconut bacon, tempeh bacon, and even eggplant bacon popping up left, right, and centre. I tried my own hand at […]
[…] cup coconut bacon (more as […]
That coconut, maple and tamari is NOT raw. Maybe you should just call it “partially cooked”? Sounds good though!
Oh man that looks SO GOOD! I have been enjoying coconut bacon at restaurants lately, but haven’t tried making it myself yet. This recipe looks super simple and sounds tasty =)
Costco in california actually sells organic coconut flakes this size. But i’m in nyc- i found some at fairway for a decent price (organic, less than whole foods)
I’ve made coconut bacon a few times now, but always with the liquid smoke-i seem to put it on anything and everything! I added some to my dried fruit/nuts/crackers snack mix and it was a revelation…..
Yum! Good to know.
I’ve also found “coconut chips” (flakes) at the big Hispanic market up in Mount Pleasant (I’m totally blanking on the name but its right next to where they have the Saturday Farmer’s Market).
I’ve heard of this and can’t believe I haven’t tried it yet. I love this concept though, compassionate and delicious 😉
Hope you enjoy it!
Looks amazing, can’t wait to try it!
Yum 🙂 That’s my idea of a simple yet satisfying raw vegan lunch.
I’ve also tried that brand before and it is my favorite of the dried coconut available.
I am surprised you didn’t use liquid smoke or smoked salt. But I also like the idea of your “cleaner” version.
It was mostly laziness and lack of prepared-ness — no liquid smoke at home! But it was totally delicious, as is.
I’ve only ever had tempeh bacon… this coconut bacon sounds WAY more appealing and better to make (and eat)!
How is it possible I’ve never heard of this before? It looks amazing! I’m getting closer and closer to investing in a dehydrator. We’ve been learning about raw foods in my health coaching program (lots of David Wolfe lectures) and now I’m inspired to get creative with raw dishes!
Ok, my problem with these is that I make a batch to use as salad toppers but the whole batch of them becomes my dinner instead. I’m probably going to make them again anyway though because I saw this post… lol. Ah I can see the bag of coconut flakes in the pantry right now. Yep, there they are.
The best sandwich I’ve ever had was smoked coconut BLT at Tori’s Bakeshop in Toronto. They even make their own bread; heaven!
That does sound like heaven!
Yum! I’ve been wanting to try!!
Umm, there’s a comment up there about liquid smoke being worse than bacon? Not so sure about that. From what I know, I could be wrong, but liquid smoke has nothing to do with animal products & is a good way to add flavor to barbecue-style foods & when I’ve used it I use 1/8th of a tsp. for a whole pot of beans. Do you know much about this, Gena?
Also, love this concept! I remember when I first went vegan & Coleen Patrick-Goudreau saying in one of her podcasts that we don’t crave meat itself, but what meat is, which is texture & flavor. If you can replicate that in the plant world, well then, perfect replacement (& nobody had to die in the process!).
Yeah exactly – you use like two drops at a time. I believe it is processed in such a way that it doesn’t contain any carcinogenic properties of actual char/smoke. I made coconut bacon a few months ago and the recipe was the same as here except plus liquid smoke and paprika. Realllly good. Oh also I was going to say… that if you can only find a twelve-pack of coconut flakes you could always blend them up in a high-speed blender for coconut butter… every bit as good as store brands for 1/3 the price. 😀
This, along with some chopped dried figs, would make a hearty and delicious topping for oatmeal. I’ve always shied away from making coconut bacon because most recipes require hacking into a fresh coconut, which I can never find at the grocery store. Thanks for providing this easier option!
You can get those coconut flakes at the Tenleytown/Friendship Heights Whole Foods. And at the Yes! Organic Market in Cleveland Park. Love them!
Liquid smoke is probably worse for you than bacon.
Oh man, I made coconut bacon recently and was obsessed. It’s so good and quite addictive. 🙂
This sounds yummy, I think I’d add a few drops of liquid smoke too.