It has been around for a long time, but bacon has never had such a moment in the sun as it does now. Cured and smoked pork belly is one of the most popular foods in the world. It seems to be everywhere. But there are many other kinds of bacon, some made from plants, some from animals, and even one made from a fruit that might surprise you. Weve rounded up 11 types of bacon that are completely pig-free.
Up until not too long ago, bacon was just a bad breakfast meat that was usually served with a big Sunday breakfast. You might find it in a quiche, a club sandwich, or a Cobb salad, but even those are fairly new foods. Then one bad guy added a few slices to a cheeseburger, which was the official opening of Pandora’s box. Today, bacon is added to a lot of foods, like ice cream, pizza, donut burgers, and macaroni and cheese. It’s really gotten out of hand. Because bacon has become such a popular meme, people are tired of it. Also, putting bacon on top of something these days is not outrageous. Seitan.
In the chaos, though, the fact that cured and smoked protein is amazingly tasty is easily forgotten. This is true for more than just pork belly. If you have to follow a religious diet or are a vegetarian, you may choose to eat bacon that isn’t made from pork. But there are just as many reasons to say “why not?” There are many kinds of bacon out there, and we should enjoy all of them.
If you have been hesitant to try new kinds of bacon, ask yourself why. If you have never tried soy or tempeh-based “facon,” do it! Its healthier and still more or less hits all the right notes. Don’t think that bacon from other animals will taste the same as bacon from pork. Instead, think of it as a completely different food product. That way of thinking will help you understand that bacon makes almost any meat taste good. Read on to learn about 11 of them.
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It has been around for a long time, but bacon has never had such a moment in the sun as it does now. Cured and smoked pork belly is one of the most popular foods in the world. It seems to be everywhere. But there are many other kinds of bacon, some made from plants, some from animals, and even one made from a fruit that might surprise you. Weve rounded up 11 types of bacon that are completely pig-free.
Up until not too long ago, bacon was just a bad breakfast meat that was usually served with a big Sunday breakfast. You might find it in a quiche, a club sandwich, or a Cobb salad, but even those are fairly new foods. Then one bad guy added a few slices to a cheeseburger, which was the official opening of Pandora’s box. Today, bacon is added to a lot of foods, like ice cream, pizza, donut burgers, and macaroni and cheese. It’s really gotten out of hand. Because bacon has become such a popular meme, people are tired of it. Also, putting bacon on top of something these days is not outrageous. Seitan.
Seitan is mostly made up of wheat gluten. It has a mild flavor and a nice chewy texture, which makes it a popular meat substitute. People say that the bacon seitan from Upton’s Naturals is pretty good. It’s smoky, chewy, and gets nice and crunchy if you cook it for a little longer. You can also make your own fairly easily. If you’re in the market for a meat-free bacon product, seitan appears to be the way to go.
Really, you can use any meat to make bacon. Crescent Quality Meats in Wisconsin sells bacon made with ground and shaped elk. Hey, why not?Photo Credit: myessentia. com Venison.
Some people, especially hunters, really like venison bacon. In fact, Curley’s even sells a package that comes with curing salt, seasonings, and instructions on how to make it. Almost all of them call for a mix of ground deer, ground pork, and pork fat to make up for the lean deer. From what we’ve heard, the end result is pretty tasty. Certainly not kosher, though. Photo Credit: ©.
People are really liking lamb bacon right now. You can get it at the new Bar Bacon in New York and at The Meat Hook, a famous butcher shop in Brooklyn. Lamb bellies are quite small, so The Meat Hook rolls theirs up like pancetta, with tasty results. It also ships lamb bacon that has been rubbed with salt, brown sugar, and maple sugar and then hot smoked over applewood. The Smoking Goose is based in Indianapolis. This is rich, tastes a lot like lamb, and cooks up just as well as pork bacon. If you like lamb, you’ll probably really enjoy this. Heck, we’ll go so far as to predict that within a year lamb bacon really takes off. Photo Credit: ©.
Sayersbrook Bison Ranch and Yankee Farmer’s Market are two companies that make buffalo bacon. It’s hard to tell what part of the buffalo Yankee Farmer’s Market uses, but Sayersbrook Bison Ranch seems to use the brisket. It smells and tastes smoky and good, but we don’t think it’s anything like the real thing. That said, we’d certainly try it.
In the chaos, though, the fact that cured and smoked protein is amazingly tasty is easily forgotten. This is true for more than just pork belly. If you have to follow a religious diet or are a vegetarian, you may choose to eat bacon that isn’t made from pork. But there are just as many reasons to say “why not?” There are many kinds of bacon out there, and we should enjoy all of them.
If you have been hesitant to try new kinds of bacon, ask yourself why. If you have never tried soy or tempeh-based “facon,” do it! Its healthier and still more or less hits all the right notes. Don’t think that bacon from other animals will taste the same as bacon from pork. Instead, think of it as a completely different food product. That way of thinking will help you understand that bacon makes almost any meat taste good. Read on to learn about 11 of them.
— Dan Myers, The Daily Meal
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