Sweet Avocado “B”LT Club

I had been craving a BLT-style sandwich but had no idea how to replace the bacon texture. I found a “bacon” tempeh recipe on Healthy Happy Life and thought I’d give it a whirl. It’s a very sweet flavored bacon (because of the maple/agave, which could be toned down and replaced with more liquid smoke and soy sauce for a savory flavor), so don’t make this recipe expecting a bacon texture or taste. That being said, it’s still very good! The tempeh gives the chewy/crunchy consistency of bacon and the sweet marinade is a new spin on the classic BLT.

Ingredients:

Servings: about 4 sandwiches

1 avocado, mashed
1 medium tomato, sliced
one or more leafy green of your choice: lettuce, kale, or arugula
tempeh bacon:
- 5 oz. tempeh (or 1 package)
- 1-2 tbs. maple or agave syrup
- ½ tsp. cumin
- a dash or two of cayenne pepper
- 1 tsp. liquid smoke
- 1 tsp. soy sauce
- ½ to 1 tsp. black pepper
Slices of oil-free whole wheat bread (I use Ezekiel Low Sodium), toasted
more optional topping combinations: basil leaves, sauerkraut, bean sprouts, alfalfa sprouts, spicy brown mustard, hummus

Directions:

Prep the avocado, tomato, and leafy greens, then set aside. Combine all tempeh bacon ingredients, except the tempeh itself, in a bowl or dish large enough to place multiple pieces of tempeh at a time—we’ll be marinating them later!

Place a saute pan on a burner and start warming it up over High heat.

Cut the tempeh into thin slices, but not so thin they fall apart. After cutting them lengthwise I cut each piece in half so they would fit on my sandwiches better.

Soak the tempeh pieces in the marinade for a minute or two.

Using tongs (or if you’re really good with using a fork for this part), place each of the marinated tempeh pieces onto the preheated saute pan. The tempeh will start sizzling immediately. Brush a little more marinade over the top of each tempeh piece.

Allow the tempeh to cook for about a minute before flipping them, then cook an additional minute. Each side should be caramelized and have a “crispy” appearance. Place the cooked tempeh on parchment paper and allow them to cool before assembling your sandwiches.