What is vegetarian bacon?

Vegetarian bacon is a commercially processed bacon substitute typically made with soy and textured vegetable proteins, wheat and corn products, and a wide range of additives and preservatives. While the nutritional value of bacon alternatives varies, these products are significantly lower in fat than real bacon and contain no cholesterol.

Some popular vegetarian and vegan bacon brands include MorningStar Farms Veggie Bacon Strips and Lightlife Smart Bacon. There are also numerous recipes available in cookbooks and online for homemade vegan or vegetarian bacon. These recipes incorporate vegetable proteins, such as seitan and tempeh, mushrooms or unsweetened coconut flakes, which are then deep fried.