Now THIS is cruelty-free bacon!

A certain animal-welfare group in New Zealand has started promoting bacon made from free-range pigs as 'cruelty-free'. Ummm, no. If you wouldn't hand over your cat, your dog and your kids to be put through the same process, then it probably ain't cruelty-free.

This fakin' bacon, however, ticks all the boxes. It's made from tempeh, which is basically a healthier and tastier version of tofu, marinated in all kinds of deliciousness, and then baked.
It's tasty (sweet, salty and smokey), free of cholesterol, low in fat, high in fibre, and it's made from plants not animals, so it really is cruelty-free.

And here's the recipe:


Tempeh bacon

4 tablespoons tamari or soya sauce
2 tablespoons sugar (or other sweetener)
2 tablespoons water
¼ teaspoon liquid smoke*
2 teaspoons tomato paste

1. Mix marinade ingredients in a plastic lidded container.
2. Slice a block of tempeh thinly (5mm slices).
3. Put in the container with the marinade, move the pieces around so that each slice is coated.
4. Refrigerate for at least an hour and up to overnight.
5. Heat the oven to 180C.
6. Put the slices on a baking sheet lined with baking paper and bake for 15 minutes, or fry in a very small amount of oil.

Great in sandwiches and wraps, as part of a cooked breakfast, on pizza and in sushi.

* Liquid smoke is key to this recipe's bacon-yness! And conveniently enough, you can buy it at Angel Food's on-line store :-)