Vegan Maple "Bacon" Smoothie

Want to get try this maple bacon trend while staying committed to a plant-based lifestyle? Coconut bacon to the rescue! Local maple syrup pairs perfectly in this sweet and savory vegan maple bacon smoothie.

Ingredients

Smoothie Ingredients :
½ frozen banana
1 cup coconut yogurt
1 cup ice
½ cup coconut or almond milk
1 serving French Vanilla Vega One® Organic
3 Tbsp maple syrup
Coconut Bacon Garnish :
2 Tbsp gluten-free tamari
1 Tbsp liquid smoke
1 Tbsp maple syrup
½ tsp smoked paprika
Pinch of salt
½ pound (3-4 cups) large flaked coconut

Preparation

Coconut Bacon
1. Preheat oven to 325 F and line two cookie sheets with parchment paper.
2. Combine tamari, liquid smoke, maple syrup, smoked paprika and salt in a bowl and mix well.
3. Add in coconut flakes and toss well. Let marinade for at least an hour.
4. Drain liquid and lay coconut onto a sheet pans in one layer.
5. Bake for 20-25 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes or more. Positioning the sheet pan in the oven differently each time. Keep a close eye on the coconut bacon after the first 10 minutes. Remove from oven once evenly browned.
6. Cool completely before storing in an air-tight container.
Smoothie
1. Combine all ingredients except Coconut Bacon in blender and blend until smooth.
2. Top with Coconut Bacon.