How To Give Shiitake Mushrooms A Crispy Texture For Meatless Bacon

Mushrooms are tasty, versatile, and rich in nutrients. Whether your diet is omnivorous, vegetarian, or anything in between, mushrooms have a place at the table to feed everybody. If you have a preference for products other than pork, one thing you need to know about shiitake mushrooms is they make a perfect vegetable swap that will fulfill all of the crispy texture and smoky flavor you love about bacon. It's simply a matter of slicing, seasoning, and cooking these vegetables to make a meat-free bacon that can't be beaten.

Start by mixing a combination of soy sauce, liquid smoke, and maple syrup as your wet ingredients with a dash of smoked paprika and black pepper to create a marinade for your shiitake mushrooms. The mushrooms should be sliced into small pieces before marinating. If you really want the flavor to properly permeate, give a little bit of time for your mushrooms to sit in the marinade before either baking in the oven, sauteeing on the stovetop, or crisping in an air fryer. Once your meat-free bacon has been cooked to your liking, you can find a number of different uses for it.

Shiitake mushrooms are an ideal substitute for bacon because of their taste and texture and it's simple to find shiitake mushrooms either in a grocery store or online. You can grab a package of sliced shiitake mushrooms on Amazon to cut down on the labor of preparing your mushrooms for seasoning. Although these pieces of "bacon" will not be the same shape or size as a strip of the pork version, the taste will nonetheless be delicious and you can utilize your shiitake mushroom bacon in a variety of dishes.

In the vegetarian realm, add your shiitake mushroom bacon to bulk up an easy fried rice recipe. For a meat-free take on a summer BLT pasta salad, simply swap in your shiitake mushroom bacon. Remember, this meatless bacon doesn't have to be limited to plant-based dishes and can infuse any meal with a smoky vegetable flavor. For example, if you eat beef but not pork, your mushroom bacon can take the protein-rich place in a sweet and spicy bacon burger recipe. Similarly, this would make a great addition to a fully loaded barbecue chicken pizza. Any way you slice it, your shiitake mushroom bacon will surely be a hit.