Asian-Inspired Eggplant “Bacon” is a crispy, delicious crave-worthy recipe. It’s air quote “bacon,” but it doesn’t lack that same crack-like umami flavor we can’t resist!
Let me be clear: I am a bacon lover. This recipe is in no way a claim that anything could replace bacon in my piggy-loving heart. However, this Asian-Inspired Eggplant “Bacon” pretty damn good.
Whatever you do, make sure to slice the eggplant thinly so that it will crisp up. That’s the key for anything “bacon” in my life. You know when you order bacon at a restaurant and they bring it out a limp pile of greasy white ick? Yeah… that’s not okay. I like my bacon and my “bacon” crisp!
This bacon is an asian-inspired version that’s flavored with soy sauce, liquid smoke, sesame oil, paprika, and a bit of garlic. That combination of flavors brings to mind the salty, smoky, savory umami qualities that make pork bacon so very irresistible.
Use these “bacon” slices to top salads, create a BLT, or just as a delicious snack. They’re also good dipped in ranch… not that I would know. 😉
Asian-Inspired Eggplant “Bacon”
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 20-25 mins
Keywords: bake side snack gluten-free low-carb vegan vegetarian eggplant liquid smoke soy sauce
Ingredients (4-6 servings)
- 1 pound eggplant, cut into 1/8 inch thick strips
- 3 T soy sauce (or tamari if you’re gluten free)
- 1/2 tsp liquid smoke
- 1/2 tsp sesame oil
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/8 tsp garlic powder
Instructions
Preheat oven to 250 F and line 2 baking sheets.
Make sauce by placing soy sauce, liquid smoke, sesame oil, paprika, and garlic in a small bowl and whisking to combine.
Use a brush to lightly coat both sides of eggplant slices with sauce. Arrange in a single layer on the lined baking sheets.
Bake for 20-25 minutes, flipping half way through. It’s done when the eggplant is browned and appears slightly crispy. If not crisping up, put the oven on broil for a few seconds (literally – just seconds), watching closely. Remove from the oven and enjoy!
Note: If not eating right away, store in a sealed container in the fridge. To reheat, crispy them up in a skillet over medium heat.
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I didn’t forget WIAW! Check out my day of eats below, and be sure to link up to Jenn’s WIAW baby at the bottom!
Breakfast:
Coffee. Morning cocktail. Recipe photoshoot. Eat.
Breakfast is so much more fun when I’m creating fancy-yet-easy recipes. I scarfed this mystery pudding down approximately .00001 seconds after I finished taking pics. It’ll be on the blog next Friday!
Lunch:
Then I was into the eggplant bacon. I had it with a delicious veggie plate and an unpictured date before heading to the gym.
I washed it down with a lemon La Croix. It’s not my favorite flavor, but it’s not bad. Whole Foods was having a sale, which meant my favorite Tangerine was sold out.
Snack:
Post-workout smoothie bowl. As per usual.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BaC71QjH0VZ/
Dinner:
This is another soon-to-be blog recipe. I think… the pics were shadowy. I’ll never make it as a food photographer. Le sigh.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BaFtpuwnoG8/
There was a post-dinner snack of avocado pudding, but I was too into This is Us to take pics. #sorryimnotsorry
[Tweet “Don’t miss the #WIAW link up and a vegan eggplant bacon recipe!”]
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I ate all of that eggplant bacon in 2 days. Oops.
What’s your favorite La Croix flavor?
Have you ever made a meatless “bacon”?
I would love that eggplant recipe!
Thanks! It’s super easy and so good!
I love eggplant “bacon” but haven’t tried it with this twist—awesome idea!
You know I can’t do anything the :normal” way! 😉
Love the idea of adding the eggplant bacon on top of salads! And I always forget about lentils, but really should start eating them more often.
It was really good on top of my lentil salad! I’m all about textures.
I used to eat ‘facon’ when I was a vegetarian. Never again! I prefer my bacon to be from a real genuine pork belly. My favorite La Croix flavor is grapefruit. Mostly because I like to say ‘pampelmousse’. It makes me feel fancy.
LOL! Think of it as crispy eggplant chips. There’s no real replacement for bacon. 😉
Oh my gosh, I LOVE liquid smoke. I marinade everything in it. This bacon sub is just brilliant! My fav la croix is passion fruit or berry!
Me too! It’s such a simple add for a bigger flavor.
So many creamy foods, I love it! Excited for that mystery pudding! Also, it seems everyone and their mother is watching This is Us right now, and I am very intrigued.
Mystery pudding is coming Friday!
This Is Us… just watch it alone. You’re going to cry (this is coming from someone who is NOT a crier).
I cannot believe I’ve never tried this before! I love the idea
I can’t either! You’re the veggie queen! 😉
TOTALLY HAPPENING> I freaking love eggplant
YAY! If I was closer, I’d make them for you!
Here a fun fact about me… I love eggplant but I don’t always love how it’s cooked. I’ve never been super successful making it myself, I enjoy eggplant and tofu at Chinese and Thai restaurants but is always sitting in an inch worth of oil. My exboyfriends Mom made these delicious eggplant meatballs they were better than regular meatballs but she never showed me how to do it. So I need all the help I can get. This eggplant bacon looks like something I could totally pull off. I love your addition of liquid smoke.
Vegas is the same way! If the texture is juuuuust right, she won’t touch it.
I’ve made eggplant bacon-ish before. I smothered mine in cheese and bread crumbs though. I’m intrigued by your flavors AND I think the lentil dish came out quite pretty. I love the colors.
If you hadn’t smothered yours in cheese, I’d be disappointed.
I’m going to zucchini-fy this since eggplant bothers my stomach
Also a great idea! I just saw a recipe for zucchini chip nachos this morning. I’m intrigued.
oh my golly i used to make eggplant bacon all the time and have forgotten about it. I like your asian flare to it and will certainly be trying it!
Really?! I have a feeling I’d have been at your coffee shop every day.
I’ll never make it as a food blogger LMAO! OMG you could totally outsource the photography because your recipes are awesome!
HAHAHA! I would totally outsource them if I could. Maybe one day when I win the lottery…
FAK! CREATIVITY run wild over hereeeeee!!!! You’re giving the vegans a chance to experience THE BACON.
I’m basically a charity. 😉
Omg yum… all of these eats look soo good! I love the idea of making eggplant “bacon”, especially as a vegetarian 🙂
Thank you! I remember when I went vegetarian for a bit, that was one of the biggest things I missed.
Ooh I love eggplant! I’ve never tried to make meatless bacon before, but I should probably learn. I recently ditched meat and I’ve had a package of tempeh “bacon” sitting in my fridge all week that I have yet to try. I’m nervous haha.
You’ll love it if you like tempeh! I have an odd affinity for anything tempeh, but I know some people think it’s too sour.
Air quotes or no, this looks delicious !
Thank you Debra!
Yes! Crispy bacon for life. None of that half way cooked mush!
HA! It actually makes me angry.