Snacking is incomplete without bacon, and we are sure that bacon is an important part of your breakfast plate. Bacon is also added to club sandwiches, but what about bacon lardons? Bacon lardons are extremely rare and expensive. So, if you want a replacement, we are sharing the bacon lardons substitute for you!
Bacon Lardons Substitutes
Bacon lardons are small cubes and strips of pork fat or fatty bacon. It is usually used in salads and savory recipes for adding flavor to the recipes. The bacon lardon is used for larding purposes in French recipes. It can be added to roasted and braised meats. The lardons can be added to salad dressing or salads. In addition, it goes perfectly with quiche, stew, and omelets. The bacon lardon can be prepared from pork cuts, such as fatback and pork belly.
It can be cut from cured bacon or cured salt pork. Bacon lardon can be blanched and fried as well. Some people use bacon lardon for sauteing the meat and veggies at the initial stage of the recipes. Bacon lardon can be browned and added as garnishing for recipes. These lardons can be used for adding salty and smokey flavor to the recipes. All in all, it’s perfect for adding crunch to the recipes. Last but not least, bacon lardon adds rich flavor and taste to leafy vegetables and cheese.
1) Tempeh Bacon
If you don’t have bacon lardon, tempeh bacon is a great choice. It can be cut from the thin strips of tempeh. Tempeh bacon is made by marinating it in savory and sweet sauces. It can be cooked and used just like lardons. It is often considered a fermented food that is made from soybeans. Tempeh bacon is rich in vitamins and fiber. Tempeh bacon can be easily found from the dairy aisle of the grocery store.
2) Turkey Bacon
Before we move on to the details, let us tell you that it’s the healthiest option out there. Turkey bacon is the processed meat (white meat is used). It has low fat and calorie count. There are multiple options of turkey bacon out there, and you can choose whichever you can find. Turkey bacon can be served with leafy greens and other veggies.
3) Eggplant Bacon
If you want the vegetable-based option that can replace bacon lardon, you can opt for eggplant bacon. Eggplant bacon has a rich source of potassium, antioxidants, vitamin C, and fiber. It’s a great option for people who have heart issues. However, eggplant bacon is not available in grocery stores, so you will have to make it on your own.
4) Duck Bacon
Whenever you imagine the morning grub, we understand that you don’t think about the duck. However, duck bacon is a great replacement for bacon lardons. This is non-red meat, but the fat content will be less. Duck bacon is basically the processed meat, so it’s best to use it in the lesser amount. Also, it will not be very crispy, so you’ve to add some other crunchy ingredients.
5) Mushroom Bacon
If you want to replace bacon lardons for the crispy texture, you can opt for mushroom bacon. The mushroom bacon has a savory and umami flavor. The best thing about mushroom bacon is that it doesn’t have excessive saturated fats. Mushroom bacon has a high count of potassium, vitamins, minerals, inclusive of magnesium. It can be marinated in soy sauce for marination purposes.
6) Tofu Bacon
Tofu bacon is a suitable substitute for bacon lardon since it’s rich in protein. It has become an apt source of iron and calcium. Tofu bacon has thin slices, but it doesn’t get crunchy. Tofu bacon can be marinated in tomato sauce, Worcestershire sauce, or maple syrup.
7) Pancetta
This is widely used in Italy with soups and pasta. Pancetta is basically the salume which is made from meat. In particular, it’s made from salt-cured meat. It can be cut into cubes for cooking purposes. Some people slice it in thin form and can be consumed in raw form. Pancetta is available in two types, such as rolled pancetta and flat pancetta. All in all, you can use whichever type of pancetta you want since they are made with similar seasonings, such as garlic, salt, spices, and sugar!