Skip to main content

Cassava Bacon

Image may contain Food Dish Meal and Pork
Photo by Lauren Toyota

Serve this bacon as part of a vegan brunch feast, or pile onto English muffins with a tofu egg and toppings for the best breakfast sandwich ever.

Ingredients

Bacon marinade:

1/4 cup low-sodium tamari or soy sauce
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1 tablespoon liquid smoke
1 teaspoon smoked paprika

Cassava Bacon:

1 cassava root
1 to 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, for frying

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Combine all of the marinade ingredients together in a bowl or wide dish with a whisk or fork.

    Step 2

    Peel the tough brown waxy skin from the cassava and discard. Your cassava root should be firm and white, not gray or mushy. That is a sign of spoilage.

    Step 3

    Using the peeler or a mandolin, shave off thin strips of cassava about 1 1/4 inches wide to resemble strip bacon.

    Step 4

    Marinate the strips for 15 minutes.

    Step 5

    Heat a nonstick pan over medium-low heat with a small amount of oil. When the pan is hot, place 4 or 5 strips into the pan. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes on the first side and 2 to 3 minutes after flipped. You may need to lower the heat so the pan doesn’t get too hot and burn the bacon. Once or twice while frying a batch, add a little bit of the excess marinade to help caramelize the bacon. Also add more oil to the pan before frying each batch.

    Step 6

    Remove the fried strips from the pan and set on a plate. Placing the strips on paper towels isn't advised, as they will stick.

    Step 7

    The bacon lasts up to 2 weeks stored in an airtight container at room temperature or in the fridge. Warm up leftover strips in the oven or in a pan on the stove before serving with recipes.

Image may contain: Burger, and Food
From Hot For Food: Vegan Comfort Classics. Copyright © 2018 by Lauren Toyota. Reprinted by permission of Ten Speed Press. Buy the full book from Amazon.

See Related Recipes and Cooking Tips

Read More
A pinch of sugar in the spice rub ensures picture-perfect grill marks with layers of flavor.
Developed in the 1980s by a chef in Hong Kong, this sauce is all about umami.
The clams’ natural briny sweetness serves as a surprising foil for the tender fritter batter—just be sure to pull off the tough outer coating of the siphon.
Bugak is the ideal light beer snack: It’s crunchy, salty, and the fresher it’s made, the better. Thin sheets of kimchi add an extra spicy savory layer.
From author Sonoko Sakai, this Japanese omelet is distinguished by its fluffy layers, with a touch of sweetness from maple syrup.
This vegan version of the classic North African scramble uses soft silken tofu instead of eggs without any sacrifice of flavor.
Every sauce needs a few secrets. Ours is smoky, sweet, and savory—use it for burgers, fries, tenders, and more.
Making your own crusty loaves is surprisingly easy.