Help needed - Tempeh Virgin

[susumama]

I've been vegan for 10 years but I've never tried tempeh. It scares me

I've heard so many people say it has a fermented taste that you either love or hate and that you should steam or poach it before using. I'd like to try it, sooooo, how do you suggest I prepare it so that it has the mildest flavour for a first-timer? What's a good sauce or marinade?

Help me!

[lynsage]

When I first started eating tempeh, I prepared it steamed and topped with a simple sauce made from nutritional yeast, soy margarine and soy milk with garlic and tarragon. The flavor is really not that intense, IMO, miso is much more strongly flavored. It's great cubed in stir-fries as well.

[scottishmommy]

I usually break the tempeh up into little chunks like ground beef, and sauté it with oil and reduced sodium soy sauce. I prepare it that way for everything, spaghetti, tacos, etc.
You can also make tempeh burgers by baking tempeh at 350 or so with lime, oil and reduced sodium soy sauce. Yum yum.

[somegirl99]

I also cut into chunks and either saute or bake with olive oil and reduced-sodium soy sauce, along with some veggies, then sprinkle some nutritional yeast on top.

[citymagnolia]

I do always steam it first, no matter what I cook with it. Sometimes it can be a little dry and steaming it gives it a good consistency.

I don't think it has a strong flavor. Kind of nutty.

I used it in a vegan "chicken salad" recipe the other day and it turned out great. I got the recipe off of vegweb.com.

[Weevil]

I would recommend trying these. I've tried them all but the smoky maple and they're really good.

Too bad I can't eat more than a bite or two at a time because of a soy intolerance... DH loves them though, I make them for him all the time. They're super easy, I just toss them in a hot cast iron skillet, flip them a minute or two later and voila!

[vegankelly]

Steam it first. Then bake, fry, whatever.

We love the hot sauce tempeh from veganomicon.

Recipe here.

[faeriecurls]

I use it in stir fries (I don't usually steam it first either) or saute with oil & soy and toss into a salad.

I steam it ans serve it with brown rice gravy and mashed potatoes (yummy)!

I also recently made it in a mushroom lager sauce over mashed potatoes with roasted brussel sprouts on the side. I got the recipe here

[susumama]

Thanks so much for pointing me in the right direction ladies!

I will definately be trying it now. The tempeh bacon from V.com tempts me as do the recipes you have given me.

Unfortunately, fyvel, we don't have that type of tempeh in Australia - I'm envious at the convenience of so many of the vegan foods available in the US

I'll let you all know how I go!

[cocoanib]

The first time I attempted tempeh I pan seared it.
The I made a sauce of orange juice, mape syrup, mushroom sauce, garlic and ginger and poured that over top. I had it with some sauteed quelites and it was so good!

http://andeverything-in-between.blog.../quelites.html
BTW- tempeh tastes nutty to me, but not too strong at all.

[Caryliz]

Barbecued Tempeh is hands-down our favorite tempeh recipe - even my carnivorous husband loves it! My favorite recipe is from New Recipes from Moosewood Restaurant, and I was able to locate it online here: http://www.ivu.org/recipes/main/barbecued-j.html

You could also use your favorite bottled BBQ sauce, but this version is really quick and easy, despite the long ingredient list. Also, I don't bother with the final baking step - I just let it simmer on the stove until everything else (usually brown rice and coleslaw) is ready. As with so many dishes, this one is even better the next day.

[nikkidynamo]

I personally am not a huge fan of Tempeh, but my DH seems to love it. The only way that I really enjoy it is in the Veganomicon recipe for Spicy Tempeh Nori Rolls which I could eat every day for the rest of my life.

http://veganchickie.com/2008/11/30/s...i-rolls-vegan/

[jwoodbri]

I once tried tempeh to make vegan bacon but it didn't turn out so well. My next attempt was in coconut-tempeh stew from the Vegetarian Mothers Cookbook. And it was so delicious that I only ever use tempeh in it. I'm ready to branch out so I'm glad this thread is here!

[Otto]

Originally Posted by Caryliz

Barbecued Tempeh is hands-down our favorite tempeh recipe - even my carnivorous husband loves it! My favorite recipe is from New Recipes from Moosewood Restaurant, and I was able to locate it online here: http://www.ivu.org/recipes/main/barbecued-j.html

That one's always been a winner for me (I do bake it), as well as the tempeh reuben, sans the "Russian dressing" rigamarole. Simple stuff, but it seems to come together well.

[ETA.--The reuben of course isn't vegan without modification. Sorry about that, my head got rolling on the book.]

[clothdipemomof2boy]

I absoulutely love it like a barbeque sandwich and will hopefully be making this for my inlaws that love meat and see what they think. I try to cook for them once a week.