Vegan Butternut Squash Carbonara with Bacon and Sage

“But I could never give up bacon!”

How many of us, as pre-vegans, uttered those words? Or how many times have we heard someone else say them?

“Mmm. Bacon!”

How many of us have seen (or deleted!) that comment posted on our Facebook wall by a non-vegan when we write something about being vegan?

Bacon seems to be a lightning rod word and food. I like to remind clients that bacon is just that: a word.

A word that describes a food that has been cured or has a certain type of smoked seasoning that most of us associate with our non-vegan days. In cooking classes, I talk about the variety of cooking techniques and seasonings one can use to create a vegan version of this food memory.

Animal lovers, rejoice!

Leinana Two Moons has taken that concept to a whole new level by creating the one and only cookbook devoted exclusively to vegan bacon. Now when someone says “But I could never give up bacon!” we can say, “You don’t have to!” Because Baconish!

Baconish by Leinana Two Moons on @jlgoesvegan

Today I’m offering you a chance to win a copy of this clever and delicious vegan cookbook (below) and I’m sharing a recipe, Butternut Squash Carbonara with Bacon and Sage, with permission from the author. Even better, Leinana Two Moons happens to be my guest today on

Even better, Leinana Two Moons happens to be my guest today on Easy Vegan at 12 p.m. MST / 2 p.m. EST. Pro tip: LIVE listeners just might have a second chance to win a copy of Baconish!

Leinana Two Moons on Easy Vegan

Listen on 93.9 FM in Colorado Springs and stream from anywhere via KCMJ.org or the free TuneIn app. (Easy Vegan show archives can be found here.)

Now, how about that Baconish recipe?

Baconish (c) Butternut Squash Carbonara on @jlgoesvegan

What are you waiting for? Enter to win!*
a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Contest open to those who can accept deliveries at a U.S. shipping address.

16 thoughts on “Vegan Butternut Squash Carbonara with Bacon and Sage”

  1. My favorite use of vegan bacon is probably a vegan BL(A)T! Or just eating it plain with breakfast. =)

  2. Good question, because I like using it so many ways, but right now my favorite is probably in a quesadilla recipe with sweet potato hummus and shiitake mushroom bacon. It is SOOOO good 🙂

  3. I tried tuning in for your show today, but the KCMJ web player was just giving me a jazz show. Guess I’ll have to check out the recording when that goes up.

  4. So excited to read this new book! I love that there are so many ways to make vegan bacon. My favorite way to eat it is definitely in a BLT.

  5. Not entering the contest because I received a review copy. But I just wanted to say that I’m LOVING this book. Planning to review on Vegan Crunk soon, but I’ve already made 3 recipes (with 3 more planned!). I cannot stop cooking from this book.

  6. I’ve been making my vegan bacon now using yuca now. It stays so crisp after its made and stored in the refrigerator. I also like to finish it with Joni Marie Newman & Celine Steen’s All Purpose Bacon Seasoning. Super tasty.

  7. Sounds awesome. Honestly, pork and seafood are the meats I miss most (though haven’t ever turned back and have no intentions of doing so), so I like to experiment with vegan bacon. My favorite is in a bacon dip a friend used to make (using pork bacon in her recipe). The vegan bacon works great in that and many other recipes!

  8. I usually eat vegan bacon with just rice, but I love putting them in sandwiches too

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