Tempeh Bacon Recipe
Tempeh is one of those popular meat substitutes, that is commonly used in vegan sandwiches, burgers, soups and stir fries. It is a soy product that is of Indonesian origin. It is made by natural culturing and controlled fermentation of soaked, dehulled and partly cooked soybeans. In case of tempeh, the beans are used in whole and so, this soy food is considered high in protein, dietary fiber and vitamins. Apart from that, tempeh possesses a firm texture and a rich, nutty and meaty flavor. Nowadays, it is widely used in vegetarian dishes as well as a substitute for meat. It can be cut into thin slices or small pieces for stir fries. It can also be broiled, grilled or baked. You can also marinate tempeh, which gels well with dressings too.
Baked Tempeh Bacon
Ingredients
- Tempeh - 8 ounce packet
- Sunflower oil - 2 tablespoons
- Brewer's yeast - 2 tablespoons
- Oregano (dried) - 1 tablespoon
- Coriander powder - 2 teaspoons
- Chives (dried) - 1 tablespoon
- Fresh marjoram (chopped) - 2 teaspoons
- Salt - 1 teaspoon
Cut the tempeh to inch square pieces. Take a bowl and add the tempeh pieces along with other ingredients. Toss the ingredients, so that they get evenly coated on the pieces. Take a lightly oiled cookie sheet and spread a single layer of tempeh pieces on it. Now, bake it in an oven, preheated at 350 F. It will take around 25 to 30 minutes and after that, remove them from the oven and allow it to cool for two to three minutes. However, serve the tempeh pieces, when they are still warm. You can prepare this recipe within 40 to 45 minutes and it amounts to around 380 calories.
Vegan Tempeh Bacon
Ingredients
- Tempeh - 5 ounces
- Soy sauce - 1 teaspoon
- Agave syrup (or maple) - 2 tablespoons
- Olive oil - 1 tablespoon for marinade and 1 teaspoon for the pan
- Liquid smoke (can be replaced with BBQ spices) - 1 teaspoon
- Cumin - teaspoon
- Ground black pepper - teaspoon
- Cayenne pepper - a pinch
Cut the tempeh pieces to thin slices and combine it with other ingredients (except the olive oil for the pan) in a shallow dish. You have to gently toss the ingredients, so that the slices do not fall apart. You may also combine all the ingredients except the tempeh slices in a shallow dish and then, dip each slice, so that it gets evenly coated with the mixture. Allow the slices to soak in the marinade for another three to five minutes. Meanwhile, place a saute pan on the stove and add a teaspoon of olive oil. Now, lay the tempeh slices one by one on the pan. Make sure the slices do not overlap with each other. You can add some excess marinade on the pan. If you want crispy tempeh bacon, then, reduce the amount of extra marinade. Cook for one minute and then flip the pieces, so that the other sides get cooked too. Wait till both the sides get cooked and the tempeh slices turn crisp and brownish. Remove the slices from the pan and lay them on a parchment paper. They can be used in salads, soups and sandwiches.
Now you know how to cook tempeh bacon and use it in various food recipes. So, get some tempeh and try these recipes. However, make sure to buy good quality tempeh without any color change and foul smell.
