#HealthyRecipe: Carrot Bacon
As we shift into the warmer months, our diets typically also shift, with many folks preferring lighter and more plant-forward foods rather than the hearty meals of winter and fall. It’s also a great time to begin incorporating more fresh veggies into our diets. There’s no shortage of tasty salads and side dishes out there that put the spotlight on veggies, but if you’re looking for a tasty, unique spin on carrots, carrot bacon can be a delicious way to add “hidden” veggies to your diet.
This recipe comes from one of Williamson Forward’s own content writers: Zoe Yates, who loves a plant-forward meal, and loves this delicious carrot bacon on sandwiches, as a side dish, or even crumbled up on salads, casseroles, and other veggies. This tasty meat alternative might not taste exactly like bacon, but it is so delicious!
Ingredients:
2-3 carrots, washed and peeled.
3 tbsp soy sauce, or to taste (tamari or coconut aminos also work!)
½ tsp liquid smoke– we recommend hickory, but that part is up to you!
1 tsp maple syrup or honey
2-3 tbsp olive oil
½ tsp garlic powder
½ tsp paprika
½ tsp black pepper
Optional: turmeric, chili powder, onion powder
Directions:
Cut the ends off of your carrots. (Consider saving them, if you’re interested in making your own vegetable broth!) Use a vegetable peeler to peel thin strips of the carrots away until all of your carrots have been peeled into thin ribbons.
Mix soy sauce, liquid smoke, syrup, oil, and spices in a dish, preferably with a lid. Mix well with a fork so that everything is mixed and there are no clumps of dry spices.
Add carrots! Make sure they are mostly covered by your marinade; and feel free to add a little more soy sauce, liquid smoke, oil, and/or syrup if it looks like you need a little extra. Put your lid on and give the dish a shake to ensure everything is coated.
Let marinade for at least half an hour, or up to a day.
Preheat oven to 400 Degrees.
Prep a baking sheet with a little olive oil to prevent your carrot bacon from sticking, and spread the carrots over it. Try not to overlap.
Bake your carrot bacon for 10 to 15 minutes or until brown and crispy. It’s a good idea to flip partway through, especially to avoid sticking.
Enjoy!
This carrot bacon is great in wraps, on salads, or even on a chicken, “bacon” ranch pizza!