Vegan Crispy Pork Belly

Transform your plant-based cooking with this irresistible Vegan Crispy Pork Belly recipe! This innovative dish swaps traditional pork belly for firm tofu, lovingly marinated in a smoky-sweet blend of soy sauce, maple syrup, and liquid smoke, then wrapped in crisped rice paper to replicate the crackling crunch. A quick fry in sizzling vegetable oil gives these tofu bites a perfect golden crust, while a finishing sprinkle of savory nutritional yeast amps up the flavor. With just 20 minutes of prep time, this vegan pork belly is a show-stopping addition to any meal, ideal for pairing with steamed veggies, fluffy rice, or your favorite dipping sauces. Perfect for vegans or anyone looking to explore bold plant-based alternatives, this dish will leave you wondering why you didn’t try it sooner!

Nutriscore Rating: 70/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:25 mins

Total Time:45 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 400 grams Firm Tofu
• 10 sheets Rice Paper Sheets
• 3 tablespoons Soy Sauce
• 2 tablespoons Maple Syrup
• 1 teaspoon Smoked Paprika
• 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
• 1 teaspoon Liquid Smoke
• 0.5 teaspoon Salt
• 0.25 teaspoon Black Pepper
• 4 tablespoons Vegetable Oil
• 2 tablespoons Nutritional Yeast
• 2 tablespoons Cornstarch
• 500 milliliters Water

Directions

Step 1

Press the tofu to remove excess water by wrapping it in a clean towel and placing a heavy object on top. Let it press for at least 15 minutes.

Step 2

Once pressed, cut the tofu into slices approximately 1 cm thick.

Step 3

In a shallow dish, mix together the soy sauce, maple syrup, smoked paprika, garlic powder, liquid smoke, salt, and black pepper. Place the tofu slices in the marinade, ensuring they are well coated. Let them marinate for at least 10 minutes.

Step 4

Meanwhile, in a large bowl, dissolve the cornstarch in the water and soak each rice paper sheet briefly until just pliable.

Step 5

On a flat surface, lay out a rice paper sheet and place a slice of marinated tofu on top. Wrap it up to cover the tofu completely, securing it tightly to mimic pork skin.

Step 6

Heat the vegetable oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat.

Step 7

In another bowl, combine the nutritional yeast with a pinch more of smoked paprika and salt.

Step 8

Fry the wrapped tofu pieces until golden and crispy on both sides, about 3-4 minutes per side. Once done, remove them and place them on a paper towel to absorb excess oil.

Step 9

Sprinkle the crispy tofu pieces with the nutritional yeast mixture while still hot for added flavor.

Step 10

Serve the vegan crispy pork belly warm with your choice of dipping sauces or a side of steamed vegetables.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1361.1g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	2023.8

Total Fat 73.6g	0%
Saturated Fat 9.9g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 33.7g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 3221.2mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 291.1g	0%
Dietary Fiber 13.4g	0%
Total Sugars 31.7g
Protein 68.6g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 769.7mg	0%
Iron 11.0mg	0%
Potassium 1123.4mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 31.5%

Protein: 13.1%

Carbs: 55.4%