Instructions for Preparing Tempeh

For the Food Network Kitchen, by Fraya Berg

Fraya works as a chef and contributes to Food Network's blog.

As a plant-based alternative to meat, tempeh is a great source of protein. It can be found in sealed containers like tofu, but its firm, crumbly texture makes it a suitable substitute for ground meat. If you want to learn more about the health benefits of tempeh and how to prepare it, check out our story titled "Everything to Know About Tempeh."

Tempeh is a cake made from fermented whole soybeans that has its origins in Indonesia. Material Construction soybeans, either raw or cooked, and a culture consisting of bacteria, fungi, and yeast The protein has a nutty flavor and smells like fresh mushrooms; you can eat it cooked or raw.

Some people find the taste of tempeh to be strange because they weren't raised on it. Achieving maximum flavor with these suggestions.

• Enhance the amount of exposed area. Slice or cube tempeh to increase its surface area and thus its ability to absorb the flavors you'll be adding.
• For maximum flavor, marinate the meat in an acidic marinade that also contains oil to keep the meat moist. 4–6 ounces of marinade per pound of tempeh is recommended. Tempeh can be marinated for 20 minutes at room temperature or a full day in the refrigerator.
• Mellow the tempeh's flavor by simmering it. You can remove the bitter taste from tempeh by microwaving or simmering the cubes for a few minutes before using them in a recipe. Steaming the cubes for 10 to 15 minutes is an alternative to simmering them. Rinse and dry with a towel.
• Flavor it the same way you would meat. Add salt and pepper to taste before, during, and after cooking.

To use tempeh most conveniently, pretend it's meat. When the tempeh has been soaked, drained, and dried, it can be cooked in the same ways as meat, poultry, or seafood.

Pre-cooking tempeh in a steamer is ideal before crumbling it and adding it to sauce for pasta, sloppy joes, sloppy joe casseroles, tacos, or any recipe calling for cooked ground beef crumbles (may we recommend Lentil and Tempeh Sloppy Joes). ) Prepare tempeh by cutting it into chunks, covering it with water or stock, bringing the mixture to a boil, then reducing the heat to a simmer for 10 minutes.

The grill is your best friend when you want to give slices of tempeh that have already been precooked and marinated a crispy outer layer and a smoky flavor. Grill tempeh slices directly (and then use them in a variety of sandwiches, like our Chicken Bahn Mi with Apple-Kale Slaw) or make kebabs by threading cubes onto skewers.

Grilled tempeh is delicious and easy to make with this guide. If you want to prepare the tempeh ahead of time by steaming it, slice it into half-inch thick slices. Get a grill going with clean charcoal or gas and set it to medium heat. Prepare the marinade and get the grill going before adding the tempeh. Season the tempeh with salt and pepper after draining it and patting it dry. Brush the tempeh with more marinade after grilling each side for 5 minutes.

If you don't have a grill or deep fryer, baking tempeh is your best bet for getting it crispy. Pieces can be fried until crisp and then used in salads, stir-fries, or as a dipping snack. Methods for baking the perfect, crispy tempeh

1. Tempeh should be sliced and steamed. Pieces should be cut into cubes or sliced to a thickness of about a quarter of an inch before being precooked.
2. Preheat the oven Turn on convection if available and preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper or foil.
3. Vinaigrette marinated tempeh. Marinating the tempeh while the oven heats is a great way to ensure that it turns out perfectly. This Basic Vinaigrette recipe is a favorite of ours because it serves as a guide for proportions but allows you to use any vinegar you like.
4. Air-dry the tempeh and season it. Remove excess liquid and pat the cubes dry. Cook them in a pan with olive oil and season them with salt and pepper. Place them in a single layer on a baking sheet.
5. Leave the tempeh alone while it bakes. Bake tempeh cubes for 30–35 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy. Due to their reduced thickness, tempeh slices require only 25-30 minutes in the oven.

In the same way that you would air fry other vegetables, tempeh is also very simple to air fry. If you want to bake tempeh, just follow the first four steps. Air fryer temperature should be 380 degrees F. Shake the pan 2 or 3 times during the baking process, and put it in the oven for 10 to 15 minutes.

To imitate a steak-like dish, try making tempeh in a hot skillet.

To ensure that your tempeh steaks don't stick to the pan and turn out crisp, you should heat the pan, add the oil, and wait until the oil is hot before adding the tempeh.

1. Prepare the tempeh by cutting it into cubes. To prepare, slice thinly (about a quarter of an inch) and precook as instructed above.
2. Season the tempeh with a marinade. In a marinade, tempeh for 15 minutes; then, drain and pat dry. Liberally with kosher salt and black pepper, then season the tempeh.
3. Prepare the pan by heating it over medium heat. Add 1/8 inch of neutral oil to the pan once it is hot, and let it heat up until it shimmers when you tilt the pan.
4. Toast the tempeh on both sides. Carefully flip the slices after 3 to 5 minutes of cooking until they are browned and crispy on both sides.
5. Let the tempeh drain. Put the slices on paper towels so the excess oil can drain.

Slices of tempeh can be breaded and fried just like chicken, pork, or veal cutlets. If you want to master the art of breading, look no further than this recipe for Wiener Schnitzel (Breaded Veal Cutlets).

Tempeh in Peanut Sauce, Pan-Fried

Recipe for tempeh, a popular vegan protein source native to Indonesia. You can't beat the flavor of the rich sauce.

The Frittering of Tempeh

You can make your own tempeh from a bag of dry soybeans using this recipe. You can simplify matters by using the batter for a half pound of tempeh and still have some batter left over.

Tempura bacon and lettuce sandwich with tempeh

Bacon flavor is added to tempeh with a special marinade. We can promise that these TLTs will be on your mind for days to come.

Spiced Tempeh with a Sweet and Sour Peanut Sauce

We really appreciate that the tempeh can be seasoned, marinated, and cooked in a single pan. Blend the sauce ingredients together, and you're done!

Vegan Reuben Sandwiches with Tempeh

A classic Russian dressing, cheese, and sauerkraut make up this sandwich. Rather than using meat, tempeh is used as a protein source.

Follow these links for more information:

Top Vegan Dishes from Our Collection

Recipes for Delicious Tofu

Vegetarian Dishes We Love to Make