Facon Bacon

Makes 4 servings

1 teaspoon fennel seeds
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
2 ¹/₂ teaspoons soy sauce
3 garlic cloves, crushed
1 dash black pepper
1 cup water
8 ounces (227-gram package) tempeh, sliced into bacon shapes

Toast fennel and cumin in a dry skillet over medium heat. Grind the spices and return to the skillet. Add soy sauce, garlic, black pepper, and water. Set skillet to simmer. Add the sliced tempeh and simmer 15 to 20 minutes. Then place the tempeh on a non-stick or oiled cookie sheet, and broil until crisp (about 7 to 8 minutes), then turn and broil again.

The marinade will keep for one week refrigerated.

Per serving (1/4 of recipe)

• Calories: 118
• Fat: 6.3 g
• Saturated Fat: 1.3 g
• Calories from Fat: 48.2%
• Cholesterol: 0 mg
• Protein: 11 g
• Carbohydrates: 6.9 g
• Sugar: 0.9 g
• Fiber: 2.2 g
• Sodium: 198 mg
• Calcium: 79 mg
• Iron: 2.1 mg
• Vitamin C: 0.9 mg
• Beta Carotene: 21 mcg
• Vitamin E: 0.4 mg

Source: Rising Flour Café, Asheville, North Carolina. Published in The Best in the World, Neal D. Barnard, M.D., editor.