I did not grow up in a kosher observant home. There are certain foods that I decided to give up when I decided to keep kosher. I used to love bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwiches. Several years after I became kosher, I also became vegan for about 2 years. That is how I discovered meat alternatives, like seitan (made from wheat gluten), tempeh (made from fermented soy beans) and of course tofu. I took vegan cooking classes and immersed myself in learning all that I could about this whole world of vegan cuisine that had just opened up to me.
I created this tempeh lettuce and tomato sandwich with one of my favorite creamy additions, avocado. You can use real mayonnaise if you prefer; however, this is delicious with the no cholesterol Vegenaise as well. Kids and adults alike love this sandwich, even if they are not vegetarian or kosher!
- 1 package Fakin’ Bacon (organic, smoky tempeh strips) by Light Life brand (found in the refrigerator section of your local Whole Foods type store.)
- 2 tomatoes, sliced into rounds
- romaine lettuce leaves, as needed
- 1 avocado, peeled, pitted and sliced, then lightly sprinkled with sea salt
- Vegenaise or mayonnaise, as needed
- olive oil, as needed for browning Fakin’ Bacon slices
- whole grain bread such as Ezekiel brand sesame live-grain sprouted bread
In a large frying pan over a medium heat, brown the Fakin’ Bacon slices until golden on both sides, turning carefully with a fork or tongs.
On each toasted slice of bread, coat with mayonnaise or Vegenaise, then layer first with lettuce leaves, then with tomato and avocado slices, then with the crisped and browned Fakin’ Bacon slices. Each sandwich should have about 3-4 Fakin’ Bacon slices.
*Parve and Vegetarian
- 1 package Fakin’ Bacon (organic, smoky tempeh strips) by Light Life brand (found in the refrigerator section of your local Whole Foods type store.)
- 2 tomatoes, sliced into rounds
- romaine lettuce leaves, as needed
- 1 avocado, peeled, pitted and sliced, then lightly sprinkled with sea salt
- Vegenaise or mayonnaise, as needed
- olive oil, as needed for browning Fakin’ Bacon slices
- whole grain bread such as Ezekiel brand sesame live-grain sprouted bread
- In a large frying pan over a medium heat, brown the Fakin’ Bacon slices until golden on both sides, turning carefully with a fork or tongs.
- On each toasted slice of bread, coat with mayonnaise or Vegenaise, then layer first with lettuce leaves, then with tomato and avocado slices, then with the crisped and browned Fakin’ Bacon slices. Each sandwich should have about 3-4 Fakin’ Bacon slices.
Made the sandwich last night. Strange looking, but it actually tasted like real bacon! I’m so happy to have an alternative to the real thing which we know is loaded with saturated fats.
I live in Boca Raton and would love to learn to cook kosher foods. Do you know of anyone willing to give cooking lessons?
Thank you