Bacon is something basically everyone obsesses over, and can you blame us? It’s the perfect blend of crispy-chewy-smoky-salty-sweet and seems to make just about every food it’s added to even better.
Even if you abstain for health or religious or vegan reasons, you probably still crave it.
Sure, you can buy the weird veggie bacon that looks (and tastes) like Play-Doh and has about a million ingredients you can’t pronounce. Or you can opt for tempeh bacon, which has a spot-on flavor but comes nowhere close to real bacon when it comes to texture.
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That’s where rice paper comes in.
Rice paper, which comes in thin, translucent sheets, is generally soaked in water and wrapped around veggies, tofu or meat to make fresh rolls.
But as some enterprising vegan chefs have discovered, the humble rice paper is capable of so much more.
Here’s how to make crispy, delicious rice paper bacon:
- Mix a sweet, smoky, salty marinade like this one from Yup.. It’s Vegan.
- Cut the rice paper into strips, and soak the pieces in water just until soft.
- Stick two pieces together to make thicker slices. Then coat with your marinade.
- Cook in the oven, in a frying pan or in the microwave.
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You’re left with a pile of crispy, umami-bomb bacon that’s cholesterol- and saturated fat-free, vegan and vegetarian and that doesn’t contain pork. But it’ll still add that amazingly craveable smoky-sweet flavor to any food you pair it with (and it’s perfect for snacking on its own).
Even better? A pack of rice paper is super-inexpensive. You can find it in the Asian aisle of your grocery store, at most Asian grocery stores or on Amazon.com.
It takes minimal effort for maximum flavor. What are you waiting for? Try vegan rice paper bacon today, and prepare to be amazed.
More:21 ‘meaty’ vegan substitutes to help you kick your bacon and sausage habit
Before you go, check out our slideshow below.
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