4th of July | Cooking | Lunch/Dinner | Sandwiches/Burgers | Super Bowl Sunday

Vegan Eggplant BLT with Basil Aioli

Name: Vegan Eggplant BLT with Basil Aioli
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 50 min
Cuisine: Lunch
Ingredients: 4 Toasted Waffles or Sliced Bread; 2 Tomatoes; 1 Eggplant; 4 Boston lettuce leaves; Sliced Red onion; 2 tbsp Soy sauce; 2 tsp Liquid smoke; 2 tsp Worcestershire; 1 tbsp Maple Syrup; 3 tbsp Coconut Oil; 1/2 tsp Red Pepper Flakes; A few cracks of black pepper; 1/2 cup vegan mayo; 4 tbsp shredded basil; 1 tbs lemon juice; salt/pepper

Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

If there is one foodie obsession I have, it’s shiitake bacon! I discovered it back in 2014 and I’ve evolved to always have them on hand to create and throw in a recipe. In more recent times there has been a boom of eggplant bacon. I love all veggies, but eggplant is one of those that I only use in a handful of recipes. You can do a babaganoush, eggplant parm, make vegan meatballs, and it makes a fab bacon!!

Around 2018, I decided to give the whole eggplant bacon a go! I must say, with the first try, I wasn’t impressed. The texture was off, you have to flip them mid bake, and it just seemed like more work. However, that little bit of effort is worth it! To make the ideal eggplant bacon you have to use a mandolin to create even slices. You don’t want too thick or too thin. You have to ensure they are evenly coated, and most important to not overcook as you want it to be only slightly crispy.

What I love about this classic BLT is, everything! This recipe is effortless, colorful, affordable, flavorful, perfect for any season, can easily made into small bites for entertaining, you can switch up the waffles for traditional bread, and the basil aioli just puts it over the top!

If you love all things vegan bacon or classic effortless vegan sammies, you’ll be head over heels for this vegan Eggplant BLT with basil aioli!