Coconut Bacon Recipe
Crispy Coconut Bacon is incredibly delicious, featuring coconut flakes with a smoky-sweet flavor. It’s an amazing treat to add to sandwiches, salads, or any recipe where you need a bacon substitute.
What is Coconut Bacon?
For years, I have been hearing about coconut bacon recipe. I was never interested in testing a recipe,
I have even seen it sold in health food stores and I just moved along.
It is unsweetened coconut flakes that have seasonings added to taste like real bacon.
Coconut flakes are seasoned and baked until crispy.
Seasonings like soy sauce, smoked paprika, cumin, maple syrup, liquid smoke, and smoked salt.
However, since moving to Florida, I have been motivated to create more Southern-style cuisine.
It is amazing how many of the dishes have bacon, ham, smoked turkey neck, etc added to them for a smoky flavor.
I have had great results using smoked paprika, liquid smoke, and bacon made from coconut to achieve that smoky flavor. Like my Southern Fried Cabbage and my Southern Collard Greens.
It is my motivation to recreate the Southern dishes without meat but having a similar taste and texture. You can even sprinkle them bits over your salads.
Some great recipes are online for vegan bacon, check them here. and Southern Fried Cabbage and I plan to add it to my potato salad.
Coconut Bacon Ingredients
- Coconut Flakes (Unsweetened): These are the base of the recipe, providing a crunchy texture that mimics the crispness of bacon when toasted. Unsweetened flakes ensure that the other flavorings stand out without added sweetness.
- Olive Oil: Adds richness and helps the coconut flakes crisp up during baking, while also helping the seasoning to stick to the flakes.
- Bragg’s Liquid Aminos: A soy sauce alternative that imparts a deep umami flavor, this ingredient adds a salty, savory taste that enhances the bacon-like profile of the coconut.
- Maple Syrup: Contributes a subtle sweetness, balancing the savory notes of the aminos and the smokiness of the other ingredients. It also helps the flakes achieve a caramelized texture.
- Liquid Smoke: Provides the essential smoky flavor that is characteristic of traditional bacon, making the coconut flakes taste richly smoked.
- Smoked Paprika: Adds a layer of smoky, slightly spicy flavor that complements the liquid smoke, enhancing the overall complexity and depth of the bacon flavor.
How to Make Coconut Bacon?
Use the large coconut flakes that are unsweetened, you can find them at the health food store or online here. You can find liquid smoke and paprika online as well.
Combine olive oil, Bragg’s liquid aminos, maple syrup, paprika, and liquid smoke in a bowl.
Toss with the coconut flakes.
Transfer to a baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes, turning halfway.
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Coconut Bacon Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cups coconut flakes (unsweetened)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons Bragg’s liquid aminos
- 2 teaspoons maple syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon liquid smoke
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
Instructions
- Preheat oven 325 degrees F. Mix olive oil, Bragg’s liquid aminos, maple syrup, liquid smoke and paprika in a bowl. Toss with coconut flakes, making sure to coat the flakes evenly
- Spread evenly on a prepared baking sheet and bake for 15-20 minutes turning every 5 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely, the coconut bacon will get crispy when cooled
- Store in an airtight container.
You are a marvel! Thank you so much for the wonderful recipes that are exactly what I need as I’m vegan and I also must eat gluten-free. I’m excited about the quinoa tabouli and am anxious to try it as well as many of your other recipes. Will rate your recipes after I’ve tried them.
Gloria, thank you for your kind words, I hope you enjoy my recipes.
This Coconut Bacon recipe is a revelation! SO GOOD!! Thank you very much, Michelle!
Michael, I’m so happy you enjoyed it. Thank you for your feedback!
Made it!! Loved it!!!
I have a question actually, I do not have liquid smoke but I do have smoked salt however. What measurement would I use, hoping I can replace it with the salt? Thank You 😉 Debee
I haven’t tried it with smoked salt. Add it to taste.
burnt outcome after following directions,,,sadness
Enari, I’m sorry this happened, oven temperatures differ so the coconut bacon recipe needs to be checked on so it doesn’t burn.
This is delishious! So glad I found your site. Even my carnivore husband liked it.
What is liquid smoke? Can this be done without it?
Beverley it is a smoked flavored liquid that gives food a smokey, barbecued flavor and yes it the flavor can be obtained without it by using a combination of smoked paprika, cumin, and even roasted sesame oil.
Kindly clarify. Are you saying that a substitute for liquid smoke is the three listed ingredients together? If yes in what proportions?
I’m assuming unsweetened coconut?
Yes Brenda, thank you I need to edit because although I never buy the sweetened kind, I take it for granted that the sweetened kind is more readily available.
Thank you. I’m new so just wondering. Thank you for getting back to me :)
You are welcome Brenda. Congrats on your journey!
Oh my God I can’t wait to try this
Hope you enjoy Jessica
Wow… if I knew this was so easy to make I would’ve been doing it loooong ago. Thank you!!
Awesome ? I can not wait to try this I love the flavor of bacon!!!
These are so good! I need more recipes to add these too!