VEGAN BACON BITS with LAYERED FIESTA TACO BOWLS - FOOD PHOTO SHOOT & RECIPE

[gringalicious]

Hey Steemians!  Do you know about vegan bacon bits?  Well, if not,... let me show you:

Well if haven't heard of vegan bacon bits, let me tell you, it’s totally a thing guys! Facon exists!!! At first I was averse to the whole idea and completely on team You can’t even go there! thinking it was just wrong to make I-can’t-believe-it’s-not-bacon. That is, of course, until I tried the stuff. Omg peeps, it’s insane! 

Before I go too much further, yesterday I posted my piece about  LEMONADE & BLACKBERRY MINI CUPCAKES (100% Natural Coloring - NO FOOD DYE).  

In that post, I made the following note:  " Another note:  This post is basically a 'do over.'  I posted this recipe before, but it was one of my very first posts when I had no clue.  Now, on a good day, I have somewhat of a clue.  This is my first attempt at a 'do over,' and I would like to hear the community's opinion on 'do overs.'  How much amazing content have you posted that got lost in your early days?  And, what about those times when you put everything you had into a post and it bombed?  One of the common themes here is 'don't give up,' and 'Steem On.'  So, here's an attempt at giving some content another shot.  So what do you think?  I'm attentively listening. "  Well, I guess you guys are ok with the whole idea.  In fact, that post was mentioned in yesterday's CURIE REPORT #2.  I actually had two posts yesterday and both made into the CURIE REPORTS, one and two respectively.  Thank you for that again, by the way!

So, with all of that being said, here's another 'do over.'  Again, if that's a problem, I am attentively listening.

GIF SOURCE 

Ok, back to what you came here for:   I know I’ve told you guys a few times how I personally feel about bacon so I won’t repeat myself again. Suffice it to say that my mind considers it more of a nostalgic smelling air-freshener with the power to draw people (especially the dudes) into the kitchen from miles away than something I want to eat. But that’s just me,  

Okay, but for anyone who can’t eat bacon for various reasons even if they do want to, this is a life-changing thing. And here’s the part where I tell you what it actually is…….it’s fresh coconut shreds. Before you scoff in disbelief you just have to try it. I even got my coconut-hating brothers to taste it and they had no clue what it was but they loved it. 

So about these bowls, I know bacon may not be the most typical thing to add to your tacos, or in this case taco bowls, but I was surprised by how much it works. A few bites of these bowls will have you totally sold and forgetting the fact that they’re meatless. Plus, they’re loaded with good-for-you things like beans and veggies, but it’s all super easy to throw together so don’t worry. I quickly sautéed some bell peppers with garlic and lime for our tacos last week and they add such a huge flavor statement that I knew I had to repeat it for these bowls because everyone was flipping over them. 

Me and bowl food are having a moment right now.   Can we all just take a moment?   Who doesn’t love a colorful and personalized pile of goodness in one dish? I think you need to add these bowls to your list of things to make this season, are you guys in or what? 

RECIPE 

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Ingredients

"Bacon Bits":

• 2/3 cup (fresh) shredded coconut
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 3 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons liquid smoke
• 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika

Rice:

• 4 cups steamed brown rice
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 cup tomato paste
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• 2 teaspoons chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon salt

Lime Grilled Peppers:

• 3 limes (juice and zest)
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 small onion, diced
• 1 large or two small each: red, green, and yellow bell peppers, seeded and diced
• salt and pepper to taste

Black Beans/Corn:

• 2 cups black beans
• 2 cups whole kernal corn off the cob
• salt and pepper to taste

Optional Toppings

• about 1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves
• 1 cup your favorite salsa, (homemade is the best)
• avocado slices or guacamole
• tortilla chips
• coconut cream mixed with 1 teaspoon lime juice for "sour cream"
• extra limes for squeezing over top

Instructions

"Bacon Bits":

1. Toast the coconut with 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat, stirring constantly, until edges are starting to turn golden brown. Reduce heat to low and add remaining ingredients for the "bacon" and stir for another few minutes until the liquid has mostly evaporated. Remove from heat and pour into a seperate dish so you can use the pan again.

Rice:

1. Combine onion, garlic, and olive oil in the same large skillet from the "bacon" and saute over medium high heat for 3 to 4 minutes until soft and browned. Stir in remaining ingredients, reduce heat to low, and cover. Simmer, stirring occasionally, for about 10 minutes until liquid is absorbed and rice is hot. Cover to keep warm until serving.

Lime Grilled Peppers:

1. While the rice simmers, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a small skillet and add lime juice, zest, garlic, onions, and peppers. Cook for 6 to 7 minutes until peppers are softened. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Pour them into a separate dish and cover to keep warm.

The Rest:

1. Add black beans and corn to the pepper pan and stir over heat for about 3 minutes to warm then season with salt and pepper and remove from heat.
2. Layer your bowls with desired amounts of the hot rice, black beans/corn, peppers, "bacon", and any of your desired toppings!

Notes"Bacon Bits" adapted from Cookie and Kate -Coconut Bacon 

 AND A HUGE MASSIVE SHOUT OUT TO @rigaronib for designing my logo!!!! 

 I am always open to feedback, and would love to know how you feel I could do better and please do not forget to follow me 

Comments

[anns]

Looks Yum!

[gringalicious]

Thank you @anns

[simonjay]

I luv to keep trying vegan food and moving away from meat slowly good work.

[gringalicious]

I hope you give it a try, I think you'll be a believer

[razvanelulmarin]

beautiful gif, how did you make it?

[gringalicious]

Thank you for the comment, it is always greatly appreciated. I use ezgif.com for my gifs - hope that helps you?

[sharingeverybite]

Okay, hellloooo can I just say

YUM!!! 😋

Also, I LOVE how you do the photo montages. (Your 3rd picture). How do you do that?

[gringalicious]

thank you for the compliment - I make .gifs with ezgif.com

[sharingeverybite]

Thanks! I'll have to give that a try :)

[tahoematt]

Yum! Great post

[gringalicious]

Muchas Gracias