Tempeh is a polarizing food. But if you’re not a huge fan, I’m confident that this smoky tempeh recipe will change your mind.
What even is tempeh? Like tofu, tempeh is made from soybeans. But, unlike tofu, the soybeans are kept whole and intact in tempeh and are fermented, forming the bricks of tempeh. This means that tempeh is also a source of probiotics!
Tempeh is a great source of plant-based protein, with one cup containing a whopping 30 grams of protein! Tempeh is also a great source of iron, calcium, and magnesium.
While tempeh has a nutty flavor, it tends to absorb the flavors of what it’s cooked with, as long as it’s cooked properly. One of the biggest mistakes I see people make when cooking tempeh is slicing it up and pan-frying, without letting it steam first. While this will get the job done in terms of cooking, it’s not the best way to achieve delicious, flavorful tempeh.
Tempeh naturally has a slightly bitter flavor, that’s reduced when we steam the tempeh before soaking and cooking in a delicious marinade. Sadly, this means tempeh usually takes longer to cook than I typically care to spend in the kitchen. I was looking for an easier way to achieve the mouth-watering flavor, without all the extra steps, which is when I stumbled across From My Bowl’s tempeh cooking method. Caitlin combines the steaming, marinating, and cooking into one easy step, cutting the cooking time in half. Genius.
Needless to say, this tempeh recipe is totally inspired and adapted from Caitlin’s cooking method. I’ve adjusted the recipe to suit my liking, but will always go back to this cooking method because it’s such a game-changer. If you’ve struggled to make delicious-tasting tempeh, this recipe is for you!
I love serving this tempeh on sandwiches, in bowls, or crumbled into salads or on top of soups to act as a vegan ‘bacon’. But if I’m being honest, I totally eat it plain too.
Let me know how the recipe turned out in the comments down below, and be sure to tag me on Instagram with your creation!
Easy Smoky Tempeh Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 block tempeh
- 1.5 cup low sodium vegetable stock
- 1/2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 1/2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1/2 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp liquid smoke optional
- 1 tbsp barbecue sauce optional
Instructions
- Cut tofu into 1 cm width slices.
- Blend or whisk together all remaining ingredients.
- Place tempeh strips in a large saucepan over medium heat. Pour the marinade mixture over the tempeh.
- Let marinade come to a simmer. Cook tempeh for about 15-minutes, or until marinade is completely soaked in, flipping the tempeh every 5-minutes or so. Serve and enjoy!
Want more recipes? Check out my Everyday Vegan Soups Ebook! 12 Vegan Sauces that Nourish from the Inside Out. All recipes come together in 30 minutes or less and use ingredients that you can find at any grocery store!
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