21 Delicious Vegan Tempeh Recipes (2024)

FAQs

How do you eat Trader Joe's tempeh? ›

Trader Joe's tempeh can be used in a variety of recipes. It can be cubed and added to stir-fries, sliced and used in sandwiches or wraps, or crumbled and used in vegetarian chili or tacos. It pairs well with sauces like soy sauce, teriyaki, barbecue, or peanut sauce.

Tempeh works well in a variety of dishes, including soups, stews, stir-fries, sauces, kebabs and sandwiches, whether it's treated the same way as meat or not. Tempeh can be cut into strips, cubes or steaks. It can be grated or crumbled.

Doesn't cooking tempeh kill the good bacteria? Just on the outside. As long as the internal temperature doesn't get too hot the probiotic stimulators will remain alive. That's why we recommend you don't cook in the microwave.

Luckily, throwing tempeh into a steam bath before cooking with it helps to purge the flavours these food-fermenting organisms can leave behind. Which means that your steamed tempeh will be ready to take on whatever flavours you want to give it through marinades, rubs, or sauces!

Because of this potential, to ensure food safety, all tempeh should be pasteurized or cooked before it's eaten (FYI, pasteurization and thorough cooking are pretty much the same thing). This is why tempeh, though fermented, should not be considered a probiotic food. But don't worry!

Unlike other fermented foods, tempeh cannot be eaten raw. It must be cooked, which deactivates the culture, meaning it is not, technically, probiotic. However, it does contain plenty of prebiotics, like fiber, which promote gut health by feeding the good bacteria in your system.

Start by sticking to a single three-ounce serving a few days per week, and slowly increase your intake as tolerated. Because tempeh is made from soybeans, those with a soy allergy should avoid tempeh altogether.

“It's completely safe and healthy to eat up to two to three servings of soy products, such as tempeh, daily,” says Palmer. Of course, if you're allergic or sensitive to soy, you'll want to avoid it.

Tempeh should be cooked before being eaten and should not be eaten raw. Prior to being cooked, tempeh has almost no nutritional value and doesn't have a very pleasant taste.

Acidity protects against harmful bacteria. It is therefore important to add vinegar when preparing tempeh. Vinegar can be added at two different times: when soaking the legumes, or when adding the culture.

What does vinegar do in tempeh? ›

vinegar (like apple cider vinegar): adding vinegar creates an acidic environment. This is important to prevent the growth of unwanted bacteria. a warm place: like an incubator or simply an oven with the light on. Temperatures of 30-37°C (85-98°F) work best to make tempeh.

Its naturally bitter and earthy flavors make raw tempeh quite unappetizing. To enjoy tempeh to the fullest, I always recommend soaking it in a marinade and/or pan-frying it with a tart, sweet, and salty sauce.

Trader Joe's tempeh is a delicious and nutritious plant-based protein option that is perfect for vegetarians and vegans alike. Made from fermented soybeans, tempeh is a great source of protein, fiber, and probiotics.

My favorite way to make tempeh taste amazing is to marinate it! You can marinate in the fridge anywhere from one hour to overnight. The longer it marinates the longer the tempeh has time to soak up all the flavors. I'm sharing a simple tempeh marinade below made of maple syrup, balsamic vinegar, oil, tamari and garlic.

This is a crunchier, crumbly, nutty meat sub. I cooked up some onions, garlic and broccoli first. Then, chopped the tempeh into bite sized pieces. Tempeh is precooked so it doesn't require the same amount of time as animal protein or bigger veggies.

The most popular way is to pan fry it but the recipes that I have listed below offer a few different ways of cooking it including frying, baking, and even cooking it in the air fryer. Baked tempeh is my second favorite way to enjoy it but again, try them all out and see what you like!

You can. Raw tempeh contains all of the benefits and is mostly eaten when the product is very fresh, right after the incubation period. That said, we recommend cooking tempeh prior to consumption for safety and better taste.

Simply remove your frozen tempeh from its plastic packaging, wrap it in kitchen towel and transfer it to your fridge. Let it defrost for two or three hours. We recommend cooking the tempeh shortly after thawing.