bacon substitute

sandy2000

I use alot of smoked bacon rashers in pasta dishes and chicken dishes for the flavour it gives. Not necessarily alot, maybe 1 or 2 rashers. But recently have started cooking for friends who dont eat pork.
I just dont seem to be able to get the same flavour from anything else and am finding that im really missing something in my old and faithful recipes.
Anybody got any suggestions of an alternative?
Was thinking maybe smoked paprika? Not tried it yet tho.

Thanks!

katylou6180

Hiya!
Whilst on the moneysaving(and fighting a losing battle weightloss) tack, I discovered smoked turkey rashers, they have the strong smokey flavour that bacon adds to the dish..whilst being low in fat and not pork!
These may work and you only need the same quantity as bacon so it shouldn't cost you the earth, just make sure you choose the smoked ones

Hope this helps

katylou6180

as per my last post I hope they're not veggie...if they are apparently in the health food shops you can find a "bacon thats not bacon" that looks and acts the same!

sandy2000

Will have a look for them in the supermarket... Good idea, didnt think of them... was getting carried away with substituting with spices and didnt even think of them...

Appreciate your help Thanks!

thriftychick

I use pastrami as a bacon substitute, always works for me.

Gigervamp

Tesco's do veggie *bacon* bits in the freezer section.

savemoney

My tescos and another larger store in nearest city stop selling there own make of vegetarian bacon. They now only sell Qcorn, I been waiting for them to get it back ion for months but alas I dont think they sell there own now

Gigervamp wrote: »

Tesco's do veggie *bacon* bits in the freezer section.

Gigervamp

savemoney wrote: »

My tescos and another larger store in nearest city stop selling there own make of vegetarian bacon. They now only sell Qcorn, I been waiting for them to get it back ion for months but alas I dont think they sell there own now

I'll have to check mine. The last time I bought some was ages ago.

Karate

Farmfoods are currently selling Quorn vegetarian bacon bits for £1, bogof. (Possibly not for much longer, but even at £1 for 1 this is still good compared to other supermarkets).

I am veggie and use this in carbonara dishes and it works well. Fry the bacon bits in oil with onions/herbs/spices/whatever else for around 6 minutes and then add to your pasta.

MrsBartolozzi

Just had a thought - why don't they don't eat pork? If it's on religious grounds would they be happy eating something that's been made to taste like the dirty animal they avoid eating? Obviously if it's for other dietary reasons then no probs, but just wondered, if it were me, how I'd explain what the "lovely savoury tasting ingredient " ie pretend bacon, was if asked by someone avoiding pork on religious grounds.

Fruball

MrsBartolozzi wrote: »

Just had a thought - why don't they don't eat pork? If it's on religious grounds would they be happy eating something that's been made to taste like the dirty animal they avoid eating? Obviously if it's for other dietary reasons then no probs, but just wondered, if it were me, how I'd explain what the "lovely savoury tasting ingredient " ie pretend bacon, was if asked by someone avoiding pork on religious grounds.

There would be no need for them to know it was being used as a 'pork' substitute if you used the turkey rashers. Might be more tricky if you used a 'FAKE BACON' packet :rotfl:

I'd just tell them its a turkey carbonara.