WHAT IS TEMPEH?

I wanted to give a quick run-down on tempeh as a meat alternative and wanted to have a photo. So, I contacted my daughter to see if she had some she could loan me.  I knew Erika usually had plenty of plant-based products on hand.  In fact, when I asked, she said, “Sure, I have two in the freezer.”  Two?! Yep, that’s my girl, so she gave me a package.  This is what it looks like: pressed into long flat cakes and shrink wrapped tightly. 

Many people enjoy using tempeh as plant-based protein, but what is it and how is it different from tofu?

Tempeh, like the better-known tofu, is a processed soy product.  Tofu is made from soy milk curds, then pressed into solid white blocks.  Tempeh is made from soybeans that have been fermented and compacted into a firm, dense cake. Tofu is probably the best alt-meat for plant-based beginners, but tempeh is the best for gut health because of the fermentation.

Various beans, whole grains, and other flavorings are often added.  Tempeh has more texture than tofu because the soybeans are left whole or in halves.  It absorbs the flavor of ingredients around it, although it has a distinct tang and nutty kind of texture.  It is quite different from tofu’s soft and silky texture. 

Tempeh, like most foods, can spoil after it’s opened and grow mold, like cheese. It should be refrigerated and has an expiration date just as milk does.  If you are not going to use it soon, it can be frozen until you need it.

The taste of tempeh can be described as earthy, hearty, nutty and chewy when cooked.  Unlike other fermented foods, though, tempeh cannot be eaten raw. Higher in fiber than tofu, tempeh also is a good source of protein iron and potassium. 

How can you use it? Substitute it for small chunks of pork or chicken in soup recipes such as this Comfort Soup. Crumble and cook it to use for tacos or burritos. Slather it with BBQ sauce and bake. Top salads or burrito bowls with cooked crumbles. Use it in stir-fries.

My grandson 4 year old grandson Eli just called via Face Time to show how he was making a stir-fry “with vegetables”. Then his parents pointed out that the meat was sliced hot dogs! His older brother, Colin, is the the grandson who is a vegetarian, and just one of the reasons I like to try meat alternatives.

Watch for some upcoming blog posts with tempeh recipes, including bacon tempeh. I plan on making a BLT, or I should say, TLT sandwich. I am sure Colin will be a willing guinea pig. Not sure about Eli…