alternatives to bacon in recipes

[twoboots]

i eat everything apart from pork. always dissappointed with recipes that start with frying panchetta/bacon/lardons i understand it lends an amazing base to soups etc, is there any way i can get that smokiness/richness without the pig?
anchovies?

smoked pimento?

smoked garlic is also lovely, it's not as strong as normal garlic but adds that smokiness.

definitely anchovies - I add them to spag bol and shepherds pie etc, they add a lovely note (cut down on your usual amount of salt though)

parmesan rinds give good umami to soups

coffeeicing, when do you put your anchovies in? fried off with the meat or just before simmering everything down?

I chop them to mush first, and add them before simmering everything down.

I also sometimes add mixed dried mushrooms (which I whizz to dust first - my dc think they don't like mushrooms!) which add another depth of flavour.

PS celery is a really great base for lots of soups (finely chopped and fried with onion at the beginning), even if you don't like raw celery, really makes a difference to the final flavour. Not along the same lines as anchovies or bacon at all obviously though...!

I was going to suggest anchovies or worcester sauce. Agree re celery - celery salt is also good.

I do Nigella's beef stew which uses anchovies in place of bacon. Gorgeous. Add at the start so they ooze their flavour and melt gradually.