i'm not vegan or vegitarian by any measure but i love your videos. i really enjoy how you're honest about things not tasting like meat and having healthy expectations about what you're getting. it really inspires me to introduce more meat substitutes and other things into my diet!
Trader Joe's has an umami seasoning that is mushroom powder with salt and a few other seasonings that's really good. I add it to a lot of my fake meat recipes.
I was just about to comment this! I love this seasoning too, I have to stock up on it when I go to Trader Joe’s in the mainland because we don’t have one in Hawaii 😢
Once again, an absolute inspiration. As sad as it is, I never actually get to choose what I eat because of where I work (private yacht) I still get so inspired by you that I try out anything vegan or reduce meat. Thank you for such kindness and openess to transferring to reducing and cutting out meat ❤️
It's good to hear your real opinion on these things, and of course hugely funny. Agree with you, rice paper bacon is very good. Could you try a comparison between using the leftover pulp from making plant milk, and PB2 powder? They don't have PB2 in my country, and I've been using nut pulp instead for those recipes. Just a thought, anyway have a great day Merle.
I think this is one of those recipes one should make in bulk once in a while and freeze for a prolonged time, so that one can have a vegan bacon alternative whenever one likes. I personally think that Mochi (or rice cakes in general) are not really meant as vegan alternatives. They are SO GOOD on their own already anyway! Like roasted rice cakes with some coconut amino? Yum! That being said, if you, Merle, end up revisiting this or ANYONE for that matter wants to give this a try, maybe, keep a high container with boiling-hot water nearby, keeping your knife hot at all times. That way one might be able to get the thinnest slices out of it, without getting the rice cake sticky immediately; wiping the blade clean in between cuts of course. Btw. one video request/idea I have is re-creating one full meal from your childhood that was full on filled with your most beloved animal products at the time, but -of course- making it vegan! But it HAS to be a dish that you haven't developed a vegan version for yet.
Mushroom powder is probably a lot easier to find at an Asian grocery store (at least it is in Montreal); having said that you could probably sub it out with vegetable stock powder or something similar. Also you don't need to leave your rice paper that long in water to rehydrate it. Merle girl, I know you love Viet spring rolls so you should very well know that only a few seconds in the water is more than enough. Any longer and it becomes mush and/or fragile... although since in this case you're not using them as wrappings, I guess it doesn't matter as much. You could've put your mochi dough between two sheets of parchment paper and then rolled it out instead of using so much tapioca starch. That much extra starch could've impacted the taste and consistency of your final product. 😆 If the parchment paper isn't too dirty afterwards, at my house we'd actually wipe it down and save it to reuse again later.
Could you do a tier list of the dairy free/vegan cream cheeses on like a bagel? My favorite is Boursin Dairy Free Garlic and Herbs and I wanna know if I have good or bad taste!
I'm picky with Japanese mochi (UK version), though one I tried is flavoured mochi with fruit sorbe inside it. It was a few years ago. I love Japanese food though so would love to try and make homemade mochi and taste it with other fillings. Good video merle xx
I am just so glad you were once on BuzzFeed otherwise I wouldn't have found you or your content!! You're too funny hahaha. I love my vegan queen!! I love these videos so much, they definitely bring me joy! I am not, but if you ever get tired of food videos, I have said it before, as I know you love plants as much as I do, any planting/repotting/gardening videos... I will so be here for them!! And please have Aria make some appearances here !! We miss y'all together in a video!! 💖❤️💖❤️💖🥳
Dried porcini mushrooms in a decent blender and you can make some awesome mushroom powder at home! Definitely recommend adding it to your vegan spice rack, it adds this beautiful depth of meaty flavor to any dish that calls for those kinds of flavors.
Just making butter Mochi cake was a challenge to work with. Can’t imagine this was fun lol. Though, I’d still try because I like experiments in the kitchen. Also, now I know you’re a rocky horror fan ;)
Great recipe as always! Always found your vedio entertaining and informative. Often with new recipes to try! Would love some more gluten free options. Your top is amazing, where's it from? ❤️
I am not sure you can buy mushroom powder. I buy dried mushrooms and blend them but I have seen people using a microplane to make dried mushrooms into powder if only a small amount is needed.
I've never worked with mochi - is it possible to roll it between 2 pieces of parchment? slicing seems tough, but a mandolin might help. I didn't know prepared mushroom powder was a thing - I just toast dried mushrooms until they smell good, and blitz them in a spice grinder
Mandolin is BRILLIANT as is rolling with parchment paper I WISH YOU HAD BEEN HERE WHEN I TRIED IT MY STUPID WAY! - there is a great chance it would stick to the parcment tho- like slide around?
The Chinese mushroom seasoning is just MSG. Mushrooms have a lot of it naturally, so it’s just something some youtubers use where you normally would use MSG. Just to not have their whole comment section filled of people who hate MSG. Even if the whole anti-MSG thing have very little if any scientific backing.
This definitely looks interesting. I think i would find it a difficult one though because I would have to get my head around it being mochi but not dessert ... cool experiment though hun xox
I am too deep into plush making & fabric because I thought they meant mochi minky and my brain needed to reboot (Mochi Minky is a smooth, stretchy fabric that's incredibly soft! Think squishmallows)
I'm not sure if it's a substitute for plain mushroom powder but Target and Trader Joe's each have an umami seasoning blend that contains a lot of mushroom powder.
Woah. I don't have tiktok so this is all new to me and I think it looks like some kind of meat for sure 😐 If it has chew and flavour I can imagine it in a sandwich with some other crispy version of a vegan bacon. Like rice paper or bread?
Maybe instead of slicing into strips, break it up into small pieces for a bacon crumble? Would that work? I have no idea what Mochi is or tastes like LOL! Love the vid!
It's like all other alternatives, mediocre. Maybe okay on their own, but when actually compared it just falls flat HARD. I tried tons of alternatives just to cut my meat consumption, but only a handful of things are still in my "rebuy" pile, which only happens in sales as the price for such products is just ridiculous
Wow people really gettin creative for the bacon😂 I turned vegetarian at seven and have been vegan for 4 years and I’ve honestly never had bacon, neither from an animal nor plant based… and It‘s just not appetizing for me, but everyone do you🌱🥰
It does look wild, truth is, earlier, it was only halfway thawed through so I tried to hack away at it but couldn't make it all the way! that's why the time i FINALLY got it though it looks all chopped up already
I would love a video where you rank all the vegan bacon recipes you’ve tried.
Great idea!!
@@MerleONeal Thanks 😊
@@MerleONeal when are you going to rate your vegan bacon recipes
i'm not vegan or vegitarian by any measure but i love your videos. i really enjoy how you're honest about things not tasting like meat and having healthy expectations about what you're getting. it really inspires me to introduce more meat substitutes and other things into my diet!
Aw thank you so so much, I'm so glad to hear it
I tried falafel the other day and it just felt off cause I didn't taste meat. I guess it would take some getting used to.
@@MustardSkaven use impossible vegan meat instead of falafel
@@lisanyugenhascancer6332 No, I stay away from all that processed garbage. I don't eat processed meat so why would I eat processed fake meat?
@@MustardSkaven bc you said falafel didn't taste like meat that's wgy
Trader Joe's has an umami seasoning that is mushroom powder with salt and a few other seasonings that's really good. I add it to a lot of my fake meat recipes.
I was just about to comment this! I love this seasoning too, I have to stock up on it when I go to Trader Joe’s in the mainland because we don’t have one in Hawaii 😢
@@ry9112 I live in Canada, so I also have to stock up on it when I'm in the States.
Once again, an absolute inspiration. As sad as it is, I never actually get to choose what I eat because of where I work (private yacht) I still get so inspired by you that I try out anything vegan or reduce meat. Thank you for such kindness and openess to transferring to reducing and cutting out meat ❤️
Aw thank you so much, Lisa
It's good to hear your real opinion on these things, and of course hugely funny. Agree with you, rice paper bacon is very good. Could you try a comparison between using the leftover pulp from making plant milk, and PB2 powder? They don't have PB2 in my country, and I've been using nut pulp instead for those recipes. Just a thought, anyway have a great day Merle.
I’m
I think this is one of those recipes one should make in bulk once in a while and freeze for a prolonged time, so that one can have a vegan bacon alternative whenever one likes. I personally think that Mochi (or rice cakes in general) are not really meant as vegan alternatives. They are SO GOOD on their own already anyway! Like roasted rice cakes with some coconut amino? Yum!
That being said, if you, Merle, end up revisiting this or ANYONE for that matter wants to give this a try, maybe, keep a high container with boiling-hot water nearby, keeping your knife hot at all times. That way one might be able to get the thinnest slices out of it, without getting the rice cake sticky immediately; wiping the blade clean in between cuts of course.
Btw. one video request/idea I have is re-creating one full meal from your childhood that was full on filled with your most beloved animal products at the time, but -of course- making it vegan! But it HAS to be a dish that you haven't developed a vegan version for yet.
10000000% agree with this
Mushroom powder is probably a lot easier to find at an Asian grocery store (at least it is in Montreal); having said that you could probably sub it out with vegetable stock powder or something similar.
Also you don't need to leave your rice paper that long in water to rehydrate it. Merle girl, I know you love Viet spring rolls so you should very well know that only a few seconds in the water is more than enough. Any longer and it becomes mush and/or fragile... although since in this case you're not using them as wrappings, I guess it doesn't matter as much.
You could've put your mochi dough between two sheets of parchment paper and then rolled it out instead of using so much tapioca starch. That much extra starch could've impacted the taste and consistency of your final product. 😆 If the parchment paper isn't too dirty afterwards, at my house we'd actually wipe it down and save it to reuse again later.
Jamais vu cette poudre de ma vie au quebec mdr
@@strangev0id dans les épiceries asiatiques depuis des années. Mais récemment j'ai aussi vu au Maxi so 🤷🏻♀️
before this video I got an "Arby's: we have the meats" commercial, I think TH-cam doesn't know its target audience lol
its mcspicy chicken for me😂
I have a theory it's meat producers lobby 🤔🤔🤔
*sigh*
It's AI ... Can't expect much
When I saw you just left the rice paper in the water my heart STOPPED like girl that's asking for them to be harder to handle xD
Could you do a tier list of the dairy free/vegan cream cheeses on like a bagel? My favorite is Boursin Dairy Free Garlic and Herbs and I wanna know if I have good or bad taste!
Second recommendation for this today! I'll have to try it - and i'm sure you have great taste haha
Thanks for being a comfort channel for me 💕
You are so welcome 🫂
Thanks for taking this recipe for us, it was fun watching and learning to not attempt as it is hard AF 😂
My pleasure - yeah it was definitely a tricky sticky situation
i am addicted to your channel and especially your cooking videos Merle ❤
Thank you so much 😀
I'm picky with Japanese mochi (UK version), though one I tried is flavoured mochi with fruit sorbe inside it. It was a few years ago. I love Japanese food though so would love to try and make homemade mochi and taste it with other fillings. Good video merle xx
You're right, handling mochi with oil works and is better, some people even add it to the mix before cooking it in the microwave
I am just so glad you were once on BuzzFeed otherwise I wouldn't have found you or your content!! You're too funny hahaha. I love my vegan queen!! I love these videos so much, they definitely bring me joy! I am not, but if you ever get tired of food videos, I have said it before, as I know you love plants as much as I do, any planting/repotting/gardening videos... I will so be here for them!! And please have Aria make some appearances here !! We miss y'all together in a video!! 💖❤️💖❤️💖🥳
Thank you for the love and all of the support! I DEF want to try to do some more plant videos
thank you for the video
Merle O'Neal your amazing
I’d love to see you try store bought vegan bacons as a a tier vid ❤
3:40 ayy she knows the Rocky Horror Picture show
Its my favorite movie🥺
Dried porcini mushrooms in a decent blender and you can make some awesome mushroom powder at home! Definitely recommend adding it to your vegan spice rack, it adds this beautiful depth of meaty flavor to any dish that calls for those kinds of flavors.
Thanks for the tip!
This shirt is everything. Im only a few minutes into the video but just had to say
Hehehehe thank you Jared 🥺
Great video Merle!
Thank you!
Just making butter Mochi cake was a challenge to work with. Can’t imagine this was fun lol. Though, I’d still try because I like experiments in the kitchen.
Also, now I know you’re a rocky horror fan ;)
I can't believe that you made a Rocky Horror song about cooking mochi!
P.S. We need more "Dinner and a Mystery."
o0o0o0 I just might have to bring that back
That sweater is INCREDIBLE. Also mochi is delicious lol.
Great recipe as always! Always found your vedio entertaining and informative. Often with new recipes to try! Would love some more gluten free options. Your top is amazing, where's it from? ❤️
Believe it or not, i've had it since i was EIGHT years old!
@@MerleONeal haha , it does look vintage classic 90s! 👌
Your jumper is so cool Merle !
Not fully Vegan and I don’t like bacon or any sort well besides the carrot bacon but I will for sure be trying this ❤
Gotta try this
Me still trying to figure out how Buzzfeed let Merle go. You're the best, Merle! Thanks for the great content!
Could you roll the mochi between 2 non stick papers once dusted? ✨💕
where were you when i was doing this recipe
I think YOU could, but seems like Merle is over mochi bacon, and I'm never gonna try it. Way too much work for one acceptable slice. LOL!
@@MerleONeal lmao
Yes someone did say the extra starch probably impacted the taste but hindsight is a great thing 🤣
If you try this again, you can also just try tapioca starch + another parchment paper on top when rolling out
thank you!!
love it this is a spin on vegan pork
I am not sure you can buy mushroom powder. I buy dried mushrooms and blend them but I have seen people using a microplane to make dried mushrooms into powder if only a small amount is needed.
DAMN IT JANETTTTTT mochi mochi mochi mochiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii. you are amazing, i am obsessed w you.
LOVE YOU RUBY- we're gonna rewatch that movie
Is this sweater another iconic Merle thrifting find? Because it's a 10/10
Ive had it since I was 8 - must have been a dress on me then😅
I'd love a ranking of your homebrew vegan bacon recipes. Out of curiousity, why cut it rather than rolling it out thinner?
now that just might have saved me a few grey hairs
What can you use to write secret messages about bacon? Invisible oink. 😆 Thanks for the video
HAHAA wow this is great
Fyi you can make mushroom powder by grinding up dried mushrooms :)
Good tip!
Ohh you could make mushroom powder by taking dehydrated mushrooms and pulsing them into a fine powder
I had to put on my sunglasses so I wasn't blinded by that beautiful sweater 😎😄
HAHA Martin, thank you so much
What about using a mandoline to slice em thinly? Looks good, Merle! 😊
Have you tried making wheat starch bacon?
NOOO i have to invetigate that
When rolling out sticky things, do you not do it between two sheets of baking paper?
I certainly SHOULD HAVE 😅
Don’t go bacon my heart you gotta do more videos 🥓
The Jenna Marbles influence is CRACKING me up 🤣🌸
I could be completely wrong, but maybe it would be easier to use a food wire thing (idk what it’s called haha) to slice it thin instead of a knife?
I've never worked with mochi - is it possible to roll it between 2 pieces of parchment? slicing seems tough, but a mandolin might help. I didn't know prepared mushroom powder was a thing - I just toast dried mushrooms until they smell good, and blitz them in a spice grinder
Mandolin is BRILLIANT as is rolling with parchment paper I WISH YOU HAD BEEN HERE WHEN I TRIED IT MY STUPID WAY! - there is a great chance it would stick to the parcment tho- like slide around?
The Chinese mushroom seasoning is just MSG. Mushrooms have a lot of it naturally, so it’s just something some youtubers use where you normally would use MSG. Just to not have their whole comment section filled of people who hate MSG.
Even if the whole anti-MSG thing have very little if any scientific backing.
Thank you for trying it out. It is too much work.
This definitely looks interesting. I think i would find it a difficult one though because I would have to get my head around it being mochi but not dessert ... cool experiment though hun xox
Thanks Bloo! The chew was really nice, I have to say
Bacon pun themed closer: Thanks for baconing with me
Bacon is one of the hardest thing to recreate I’ve found.
That shirt is everything. 🤩
hehehe thank you so much
Please try wicked kitchen's lionsmane mushroom steak..
OH MANN i definitely need to try that
@@MerleONeal Thank you 🥹
Omg I have been watching your videos for years. I love your channel...what you know about rhps?😄 Mochi song 🎵 Omg 😲 🥰💖
hehehe thank you so SO much Steven
That rocky horror reference made me happy
It's my favorite movie
I would just make rice paper bacon with the mixture and skip the mochi part 😂
I wonder if it would be worth slicing the frozen block with a mandoline...
I am too deep into plush making & fabric because I thought they meant mochi minky and my brain needed to reboot (Mochi Minky is a smooth, stretchy fabric that's incredibly soft! Think squishmallows)
I'm not sure if it's a substitute for plain mushroom powder but Target and Trader Joe's each have an umami seasoning blend that contains a lot of mushroom powder.
you look majestic in your shirt!
hehehehe thank you
I wonder if it would work better air fried?
2:52 -BODY ONCE TOLD ME
ngl felt betrayed when you pulled out the pre made one out of the freezer:P
Trader Joe’s has a mushroom umami seasoning that’s is bomb!
o00oo0o thank you!
Not about bacon, but your eyeshadow was the real star of this video I think….but like of course recreating bacon using mochi was cool to watch. 😅🙈
Heheheh thank you so much, I got a new Milani eyeshadow palette 👀 (first time in like 7 years!)
I wonder if you could pipe the mochi onto the rice paper and roll it that way
someone is using big brain thinkig
@@MerleONeal I’m just a lazy chef 😂 always thinking how can I make it easier for myself!
I'm shite when it comes to puns. I only ever do it by accident.
SAME
It looks like a fried 'Queijo Coalho' cheese from Brazil Northeast
Mochi bacon
Interesting
Must have not been looking too hard if you couldn't find mushroom seasoning. Could just get dried shitakes and run that through a spice grinder.
“Fat seekin lady” sammeee
Trader Joe's makes an umami mushroom seasoning powder.
Don't let perfect be the enemy of good!
You know it, Nikki!!!
I feel like this only makes sense if you already make a lot of mochi
You’re bacon me crazy 😂
what the hell Merle sounds exactly like JENNA!
maybe slice it on a mandolin?
Woah. I don't have tiktok so this is all new to me and I think it looks like some kind of meat for sure 😐
If it has chew and flavour I can imagine it in a sandwich with some other crispy version of a vegan bacon. Like rice paper or bread?
Speaking of AI, you should definitely ask an AI for their version of a vegan bacon recipe
Okay THAT is a brilliant idea
Yay
Maybe instead of slicing into strips, break it up into small pieces for a bacon crumble? Would that work? I have no idea what Mochi is or tastes like LOL! Love the vid!
Great, now I've got Susan Sarandon's voice in my head, but singing about mochi instead of, well, you know 😄
hehehe mission accomplished
can you please do a ranking video for vegan cream cheese? 🙏🏽
This is a greeeat idea, I'll add it to my list
@@MerleONeal ahh yay! my lactose and talented self is eternally grateful for the ranking vids 🫶🏽 you're amazing Merle!
That marbling looks nice. To me the raw version kinda looks like Kim Chi.
hahha it really does!!!
I want your shirt its the best shirt you ever wore
It's like all other alternatives, mediocre. Maybe okay on their own, but when actually compared it just falls flat HARD. I tried tons of alternatives just to cut my meat consumption, but only a handful of things are still in my "rebuy" pile, which only happens in sales as the price for such products is just ridiculous
looks more like pork belly but still looks good
lol bacon adjacent
It looks like fried platanos!
I would have used so many cuss words doing this.
Ohhhhh a solid bunch of em didn't make the final cut
@@MerleONeal LoL. Poor girl. Keep up the good work.
It looks like plantains!
Wow people really gettin creative for the bacon😂 I turned vegetarian at seven and have been vegan for 4 years and I’ve honestly never had bacon, neither from an animal nor plant based… and It‘s just not appetizing for me, but everyone do you🌱🥰
All these recipes are bacon me crazy
8:34 … That cut was really fake… 😂
It does look wild, truth is, earlier, it was only halfway thawed through so I tried to hack away at it but couldn't make it all the way! that's why the time i FINALLY got it though it looks all chopped up already
the vegans have gone TOO FAR
OH NO IS IT OFFICIAL!?
I have to be honest with you Merle
No hate. But that does not look anything remotely like bacon
All of this so you can recreate meat that you don't want to eat...
This is bacon?:)))))