We love tempeh recipes, and when we don’t make tempeh tacos or tempeh meatballs, I like to marinade slices and eat this as a simple meal. It goes so well into creamy dipping sauce like avocado dip.
What’s Tempeh?
Tempeh is made with fermented soybeans. As a result, it’s higher in protein than tofu and contains vitamin B12. The texture of tempeh is tough and mimics meat very well, with a slightly nutty flavor that goes well with Asian-inspired recipes.
How To Make Tempeh Marinade
Marinating tempeh is a simple process that adds a bunch of flavor to this high-protein vegan dish.
Ingredients
All you need to marinade tempeh are:
Sesame Oil or peanut oil. These options both bring great flavors to the recipe. Use refined oil for a higher smoke point Soy Sauce – You can also use coconut aminos or tamari sauce if gluten-free. Maple Syrup, brown sugar, or any sweetener you like, including low-carb, sugar-free sweeteners if needed. Rice Vinegar or sushi vinegar. It must be vinegar with a sweet note for the best flavors, like balsamic vinegar or sushi rice vinegar. Garlic Ground Ginger Red Pepper Flakes
Tempeh Preparation
First, prepare the tempeh block, slice it into thin 0.4-inch slices (1cm). Feel free to slice the tempeh thicker, but the flavor can be bitter if the slices are thick. I don’t normally boil tempeh as I don’t think it’s bitter at all but we all have different taste buds. Some people find tempeh bitter. To avoid this, you can boil some water, add it to a pan, and add the slices. Cook the tempeh for 5 minutes in the boiling water, discard and cool down on a rack before marinating.
Preparing Marinade
Place all the marinade ingredients into a small bowl, stir to combine. The best way to entirely cover the tempeh slices is to use:
A Bag – There are many eco-friendly bags where you can add the marinade and tempeh slices, zip, and refrigerate. A Dish – Make sure your dish is not too wide, or the tempeh won’t soak very well in the marinade. As a result, it won’t get all the flavor from the marinade.
Place the slices in the baking dish, cover with the marinade, film the dish with foil or wrap, and refrigerate it for 30 minutes to 2 hours or overnight. I like to flip the slices in the bag after 1 hour to make sure both sides gets all the flavors.
Cooking Tempeh
There are many ways you can cook tempeh. You can use three main methods
Oven-Baked Tempeh
Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Line a baking sheet with lightly oiled parchment paper and lay the slices of tempeh. Bake the tempeh for 10 minutes, then remove it from the oven. Now, flip the slices, brush some of the rest of the marinade, and bake again for 15 minutes or until golden brown. Note that baked tempeh dries out quickly, so the extra brushing halfway through baking is highly recommended to add flavor and texture.
Fried Tempeh
That’s my favorite method for making tempeh. Warm some olive oil or sesame oil in a large pan, add the slices and cook for 3 to 4 minutes. Flip the slices, cook for another 3 to 4 minutes, and at the end, add a splash marinade.
Air-Fryer Tempeh
Spray some oil in the air fryer basket to prevent the temp from sticking to the air fryer basket. Line the tempeh slices in a single layer in the basket and air fry for 10 to 12 minutes at 400°F (200°C). Flip the slices halfway, and like for the oven method, brush some of the leftover marinade on the slices for extra flavor and to prevent them from drying too much.
Storage Instructions
Cooked tempeh can be stored in the fridge in a sealed container for up to 3 days. You can also freeze it cooked or in the marinade and thaw it in the refrigerator the day before.
Serving Tempeh
Tempeh is a wonderful high-protein vegan source. As a result, it’s a great addition to a homemade sandwich like in my 2-ingredient flatbread. You can also serve tempeh as a main dish with some of the side dishes below:
Coconut Jasmine Rice Sweet Potato Cubes Roasted Cauliflower Salad Air Fryer Potato Wedges
Below are the answers to your most frequent questions about this tempeh marinade recipe.
More Tempeh And Tofu Recipes
Below are some more tempeh and tofu recipes for you to try:
