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    Home » Recipes » Vegan

    How To Make Coconut Bacon

    How To Make Coconut Bacon {Beard and Bonnet} #glutenfree #vegan
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    How To Make Coconut Bacon {Beard and Bonnet} #glutenfree #vegan

    We had the opportunity to eat dinner at the most amazing Mexican restaurant in LA last week, Gracias Madre. Everything about this place screamed perfection! From the amazing decor and courtyard full of beautiful trees to sit under to the exquisite beverage and food menu full of 100% organic vegan fare. Todd and I had quite possibly one of the best meals we have ever had. We shared everything from the Repollitos Fritos to their special of the day vegan ceviche and when we felt like there was no more room for anything else our waiter delivered the most gorgeous dessert I have ever laid eyes on. A beautiful gluten free brownie topped with Mezcal whipped coconut cream, vegan caramel, and coconut bacon! OMG it was pure perfection on a plate. Their coconut bacon was mind blowingly good and my brain immediately started reeling with ideas about what I could make with something like that in my pantry. Hello! Vegan BLT anybody?

    Let's make BACON!!!

    Step 1: Season the coconut flakes.

    In a medium sized bowl mix the liquid smoke, Tamari, maple syrup, and water together until combined. Add the unsweetened shredded coconut flakes and stir well until all of the liquid has been absorbed by the coconut.

    Add the smoked paprika and black pepper and mix again. Your coconut flakes should now look like the picture below.

    Step 2: Bake & Stir

    Preheat the  oven to 325°F. Pour the seasoned coconut flakes out in an even layer on a baking sheet and bake for 15-20 minutes stirring every 5 minutes to prevent burning. You can see in the picture above the different stages of browning at each of the 5 minute marks. I could have gone 3 or 4 minutes longer even, but decided that for this particular batch I was happy with the color. It is very important to keep an eye on the coconut bacon as it cooks because this stuff will burn fast.

    Now enjoy....how about a BLT? We slathered our gluten free bread with spicy hummus, a heaping handful of coconut bacon, fresh heirloom tomatoes, and Romaine lettuce.

    Print

    How To Make Coconut Bacon (Gluten Free & Vegan)

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    4.7 from 3 reviews

    • Author: This Mess Is Ours
    • Prep Time: 5 mins
    • Cook Time: 20 mins
    • Total Time: 25 mins
    • Yield: 1 ½ cups 1x

    Ingredients

    Scale
    • ½-1 tablespoon liquid smoke, depending on taste
    • 1 tablespoon Tamari
    • 1 tablespoon maple syrup
    • ½ tablespoon water
    • 1 ½ cups unsweetened flaked coconut
    • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
    • ½ teaspooon freshly ground black pepper

    Instructions

    1. Preheat the oven to 325°F with a rack in the center position.
    2. In a mixing bowl combine the liquid smoke, Tamari, maple syrup, and water; beat with a whisk to mix well. Toss in the coconut and stir until all of the liquid has been absorbed into the coconut. Sprinkle the paprika and black pepper over the coconut flakes and stir to combine.
    3. Spread the seasoned coconut flakes in an even layer onto the sheet pan and place into the preheated oven. Cook the coconut for 15-20minutes, stirring every 5 minutes until the coconut is dark in color, it will closely resemble the color and look of crumbled bacon.

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @thismessisours on Instagram and hashtag it #thismessisours

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Chelsie says

      September 12, 2015 at 6:44 pm

      Does this stay crunchy when you put it on a salad or sandwich?

      Reply
      • Meg says

        September 13, 2015 at 5:25 pm

        I would add it right before serving for optimal crunchiness!

        Reply
    2. Brooke of Passport Couture says

      September 12, 2015 at 5:09 pm

      This sounds amazing! People always wonder if vegan substitutes are going to taste bad, but I find they are great alternatives and can be just as tasty as the real thing!

      Reply
      • Meg says

        September 13, 2015 at 5:26 pm

        I totally agree Brooke! I love to find plant based alternatives for my family as often as possible and this coconut bacon really does make us all happy.

        Reply
    3. Veronika says

      May 14, 2015 at 5:24 am

      I forgot to rate the recipe :))

      Reply
    4. Veronika says

      May 14, 2015 at 5:23 am

      I also had this at Gracias Madre and I fell in love. Now back home in Austria I made my own coconut bacon and it tastes AMAZING. Thank you for this wonderful recipe! Can't wait to go back to LA and Gracias Madre this summer!

      Reply
      • Meg says

        May 14, 2015 at 5:59 am

        Hooray Veronika! I am so glad you enjoyed it. Gracias Madre is my absolute favorite place.

        Reply
    5. Alicia says

      April 20, 2015 at 8:41 pm

      My bacon burned at 8 minutes. I only coked mine for 6 minutes and turned every 2. "Let's Do Organic" brand flakes must be a finer cut. Fair warning if you buy that brand. It took two burned batches for me to get the timing right. 🙂

      Reply
      • Meg says

        April 22, 2015 at 10:13 am

        Oh no Alicia!! Some ovens also have hot spots so definitley keep a close eye on the bacon.

        Reply
    6. Monika says

      November 18, 2014 at 6:44 am

      This turned out great! I couldn't find the coconut flakes (I live in a rural area), so I just used fresh coconut. I made two batches as an experiment. For the first batch, I shaved the fresh coconut with a veggie peeler into strips and then dehydrated the coconut strips in a dehydrator. For the second batch, I left the coconut strips raw. I marinated both in the marinade and spices and baked as per instructions. Both batches came out great. The first batch (with the dehydrated coconut) came out crispy, as I imagine it would if one used the bought coconut flakes. The second batch, using fresh coconut, came out great as well, but had a softer texture, more like bacon. While both were equally yummy, my husband preferred the batch with fresh coconut, as the texture for him was closer to bacon. As a side note, some of the strips of coconut were thicker, as I had to cut some by hand. These thicker pieces were actually tastier than the ones where I used a veggie peeler. So for next time, I plan on using fresh coconut, and cut the strips by hand, so they are a tad thicker than if using a peeler. Just wanted to post this for those people who are having a hard time finding the coconut flakes. Plus, one fresh coconut makes about 3 cups of product, and only costs a little over a dollar!

      Reply
      • Meg says

        November 18, 2014 at 7:33 am

        This is so great Monika!! I am going to have to try it with fresh coconut next time:)

        Reply
    7. Mariel Nicole says

      May 19, 2014 at 2:05 pm

      Hi there,
      Do you know how long the coconut bacon will last?
      Thanks!

      Reply
      • Meg says

        May 19, 2014 at 3:15 pm

        The coconut bacon should last about a month. I keep mine stored in the refrigerator but it isn't necessary.:)

        Reply
    8. Kristin J. says

      May 08, 2014 at 4:46 am

      That bread looks delicious! I love BLTs but do not get to enjoy them much, unless I'm visiting my favorite bakery that makes the BEST gluten free vegan bread. Which looks really similar to your photo. Do you have a recipe? Mmmm.... and I may have just spent the last 30 minutes looking at all your recipes and pinning them for later. Always excited to find a wonderful blog! It's like Christmas morning for me!

      -Kristin

      Reply
      • Meg says

        May 08, 2014 at 9:38 am

        Yay Kristin, I am so glad you found B&B! I actually used Canyon Bakehouse bread for that image. You can find their gluten free bread at Whole Foods and I have also seen them at Sprouts. Their bread is SO good I keep it on hand at all times and their hamburger buns are insane! Even our daughter who isn't gluten free loves their bread.

        Reply
    9. Sam says

      April 15, 2014 at 6:57 pm

      Hi Meg!

      Thanks for the lovely and surprising shout out 🙂

      Isn't coconut bacon the best-est!? I love how it stores so well too. I have some in my fridge right now and love to just randomly sprinkle it on a dish....or I admit it... much on it straight from the jar, while I am looking for something else to eat!
      Welcome to the addiction 🙂

      Reply
      • Meg says

        April 15, 2014 at 10:34 pm

        Hey Sam, you are so very welcome!:) The coconut bacon is crazy addictive...I have been adding it to everything. I can't wait to try the eggplant bacon from your e-book I bet it is amazing too!

        Reply
    10. Johanna says

      April 15, 2014 at 9:57 am

      I totally love that this recipe can be done with what just about anyone has at home... no dehydrator or other fancy gadgets. I can't wait to try it!!!

      Reply
      • Meg says

        April 15, 2014 at 5:58 pm

        Yay Johanna! I am so glad you are going to make coconut bacon at home:) I hope you love it as much as we do!

        Reply
    11. Lauren Nolan says

      April 14, 2014 at 6:26 pm

      Woah! I've heard of this but I never really thought I could do it at home... but this doesn't look to hard! Guess I'm going to have to try this soon - Thanks for the recipe!
      xo,
      Lauren at http://www.lakeshorelady.com

      Reply
      • Meg says

        April 15, 2014 at 6:58 am

        Lauren, I originally thought the same thing which is why I knew I had to share it here after I tried it. It is insanely easy and I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

        Reply
    12. dixya@food, pleasure, and health says

      April 14, 2014 at 12:25 pm

      this is so cool..im not a bacon person but always intrigued by the idea of vegan options

      Reply
      • Meg says

        April 15, 2014 at 7:00 am

        Thanks Dixya! I totally get it. The good news about coconut bacon is it doesn't try to mimic texture and flavor like some of the store bough fake bacon. Look at it as a smokey, salty addition to salads or on top of baked potatoes.

        Reply
    13. beth says

      April 14, 2014 at 9:38 am

      Amazing! I will make this, thanks. I really enjoy your blog. I just found it a couple weeks ago.

      Reply
      • Meg says

        April 14, 2014 at 11:02 am

        I hope you enjoy it as much as we do Beth! So glad you found us here at B&B we are happy to have you:)

        Reply

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    Life can get pretty complicated, especially around dinner time. Whether you’ve got picky eaters, or bonafide allergy concerns, we’ve got some inspiration that’ll get you excited to bring all of those wants, needs and like-to-have’s around your family table. I’ve put together a couple of quick articles and guides to help you get started on your journey, or maybe just to help you get to know us a little better. So dig in and see what we’re all about. Just don’t judge – because we’re a total mess! More About Us

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