HOW TO COOK TEMPEH: 4 EASY TEMPEH RECIPES
What is tempeh? What does tempeh taste like? How do I cook tempeh? What tempeh recipes would you recommend? Those are few of the questions that we’ve heard a lot since the beginning of the Better Nature journey. So, in this post we’re going to tackle some of the most common questions we get and hopefully get you as excited about tempeh as we are!
What is tempeh?
Tempeh is a fermented plant-based protein originating from Indonesia. In fact, it was discovered in Indonesia over 300 years ago! Tempeh is typically made of soybeans but you can make it out of basically any legume, nut, grain or seed. For example, in addition to tempeh made with soybeans, our range includes products made with lupin beans. The fermentation process transforms the beans into a firm block that is packed with (complete) protein and fibre, and has a meaty bite and a slight nutty flavour. Not only is tempeh super nutritious and tasty, it is also extremely versatile which we’ll elaborate on in the next section.
How to cook tempeh?
Basically whichever way you wish - Tempeh lends itself well to various cooking methods, cuisines and dishes. It sure ain’t no one-trick pony! In general, the options for cooking are:
- Fry in a pan with oil for 10 mins
- Bake in an oven for about 10 mins (till browned)
- Steam for 5 mins
Easy, peasy! (Side note: Out of the three methods, the first two are our favourites!) You can slice and dice tempeh into any shapes and sizes that tickle your fancy - there is no one right way to do it. Also, tempeh takes on flavours really well so get your favourite marinades, spices and sauces out and let tempeh absorb all the delicious flavours you love so much. There is no need to wait for hours for the tempeh to marinade, a few good minutes is enough. As we said, easy peasy!
Tempeh recipes
Oh, where to begin? There are so many scrumptious tempeh recipes out there - they could be turned into a book series! Tempeh sure is the gift that just keeps on giving, definitely a top notch meat alternative. However, for the purpose of this blog post, we’re going to share just four of our favourite tempeh recipes.
How could we have not included this oldie but goodie in the list? There is just something so soothing and satisfying about a good ol’ spaghetti bolognese! We mean vegan bolognese, of course. Tempeh mince adds a delicious bite to this spag bol and makes it not only super tasty but filling as well! Whoever says plant-based food leaves them hungry, needs to tuck into some tempeh. However, we still always seem to find room for dessert… Funny, isn’t it?
Avocado and Tempeh Bacon on Toast
The toastess with the mostest! Tempeh Rashers definitely take this avocado on toast to the next level - the rashers are the perfect alternative to bacon. Even if you were never a fan of bacon, we’re pretty confident our Tempeh Rashers aka vegan bacon will delight your taste buds to no end! In the process, you’re also getting a good dose of protein and fibre to keep you going.
Our go-to way to eat tempeh! If you want to convert a doubting Thomas into a tempeh fan, we recommend serving them this dish - based on our empirical research, the results have always been positive ;) Tempe Kecap is an Indonesian dish that is bursting with amazing flavours, yet easy to make. This dish made with our Original Soy Tempeh is an all-around winner!
You know what they say, you can’t go wrong with a stir-fry, or at least they should be saying that! Stir-fries are great as you can use up whatever veggies you have at hand and then bulk them up with some tasty tempeh, adding a punch of protein, meaty bite and even more taste to the simple, yet scrumptious dish. If your fridge is looking empty and you need to go get some veg anyway, you can get some inspiration for what veggies to put in your basket from our Saucy Stir-Fry recipe. This recipe is made with our pre-marinated and cooked new range (made with lupin tempeh), which make cooking super easy and quick. The result is, of course, absolutely delicious.
Happy cooking folks!