Vegan Bacon BLT Grilled Cheese (Printer View)

A plant-based take on the classic BLT featuring smoky tempeh bacon, fresh lettuce, juicy tomato, and melty vegan cheese grilled to golden perfection.

# Components:

→ Smoky Tempeh Bacon

01 - 7 oz tempeh, sliced into thin strips
02 - 2 tbsp soy sauce
03 - 1 tbsp maple syrup
04 - 1 tbsp olive oil
05 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
06 - 1/2 tsp liquid smoke
07 - 1/2 tsp garlic powder
08 - Freshly ground black pepper to taste

→ Sandwich

09 - 4 slices sourdough or sandwich bread, vegan
10 - 4 slices vegan cheese
11 - 1 medium tomato, sliced
12 - 4 leaves crisp lettuce, romaine or iceberg
13 - 2 tbsp vegan butter or margarine

# Method:

01 - Whisk together soy sauce, maple syrup, olive oil, smoked paprika, liquid smoke, garlic powder, and black pepper in a bowl. Add tempeh strips and marinate for 10 minutes.
02 - Heat a non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add marinated tempeh and cook for 2-3 minutes per side until browned and slightly crispy. Remove from heat and set aside.
03 - Spread vegan butter on one side of each bread slice.
04 - Place two slices of bread, buttered side down, on a clean surface. Top each with vegan cheese, half the smoky tempeh bacon, tomato slices, lettuce, and another slice of vegan cheese. Cover with remaining bread, buttered side up.
05 - Heat a large skillet or grill pan over medium-low heat. Place sandwiches in the skillet and cook for 3-4 minutes per side, pressing gently, until the bread is golden brown and the cheese is melted.
06 - Slice sandwiches in half and serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The tempeh gets genuinely crispy and smoky, fooling even the most skeptical bacon lovers at the table.
  • It comes together in 30 minutes flat, perfect for lazy weekend brunches or quick weeknight comfort.
  • Every bite has that perfect contrast: crunchy bread, melty cheese, cool lettuce, and juicy tomato.
  • You can make extra tempeh bacon and keep it in the fridge for salads, wraps, or midnight snacking.
02 -
  • Don't rush the tempeh marinating time, those 10 minutes let the flavors penetrate and make all the difference between bland and bacon-like.
  • Keep your heat medium low when grilling the sandwich or the bread will burn before the cheese melts, leaving you with a sad, unmelted center.
  • Press gently but don't smash the sandwich flat, you want contact for even browning but not so much pressure that all the fillings squish out the sides.
03 -
  • Let your cooked tempeh bacon rest on a paper towel for a minute after cooking, it helps wick away excess oil and crisps up even more as it cools slightly.
  • If your vegan cheese isn't melting well, cover the skillet with a lid for the last minute of cooking to trap steam and encourage melting.
  • Always taste your marinade before adding the tempeh, if it's too salty or sweet, adjust it now rather than after the tempeh has soaked it all up.
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