Vegan Bacon BLT Grilled Cheese (Printable)

Smoky tempeh bacon meets crispy lettuce, juicy tomato, and melted vegan cheese in this golden-grilled plant-based sandwich.

# What You'll Need:

→ Smoky Tempeh Bacon

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

→ Sandwich Assembly

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

# How to Cook:

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

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The tempeh gets crispy edges that shatter like actual bacon when you bite into the sandwich.
  • It takes half an hour start to finish, which means you can make it on a Tuesday without planning ahead.
  • The combination of smoky, creamy, tangy, and fresh hits every craving at once.
  • Leftovers don't exist because everyone always wants seconds.
02 -
  • Don't crank the heat too high when grilling or the bread will burn before the cheese melts, patience is everything here.
  • Let the tempeh marinate the full 10 minutes, I tried rushing it once and the flavor was flat.
  • Use a spatula to press the sandwich gently as it cooks, this helps the cheese melt faster and everything meld together.
03 -
  • Press the tempeh with a clean towel before marinating to remove excess moisture, it'll absorb more flavor and crisp up faster.
  • If your skillet isn't big enough for two sandwiches, cook them one at a time and keep the first one warm in a 200-degree oven.
  • Use a cast iron skillet if you have one, it holds heat evenly and gives the bread an unbeatable golden crust.
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