Crispy Coconut 'Bacon'

Although it's a little far off from the real thing, this stuff definitely has all the flavour and crunch you'll need and is the perfect, kinder alternative to bacon. Let me tell you that cooking it will fill your home with the most heavenly aromas that you'll forget you ever needed to cook real bacon in the first place. You can add it to almost any savoury dish including mac n cheese, on top of a baked potato, inside a sandwich or in a salad! The options are endless.

We used liquid smoke (a miracle ingredient in vegan cooking) to give it that "bacony" flavour. It is a little hard to find (not always available in supermarkets) but often sold at independent grocers/BBQ shops.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup coconut shreds

• 1 tbsp onion powder

• 1 tsp garlic powder

• 1 tbsp smoked or sweet paprika

• 1/4 cup nutritional yeast

• 1 tbsp liquid smoke

• 1 tbsp maple syrup

• 1 1/2 tbsp soy sauce

• 1 tsp olive oil

Methods:

Preheat your oven to 180º C. Combine all ingredients together in a mixing bowl by mixing well. Spread the coconut evenly over a lined baking tray and bake in the oven for 15 minutes or until crispy. Make sure to constantly keep an eye on it as they do burn easily, so you may need to take it out every now and then and toss it so it crisps up evenly.

Store in a air tight container and use when needed.