4 Tempeh Recipes for the Vegan-Curious

Tempeh recipes are among our favorite things to cook. We’ve selected a handful of our absolute favorites for you!

Vegans switching to a plant-based lifestyle are often challenged about what they eat and where they get their protein from (yawn). The response is often met with blank faces or even more questions. In fact, many vegans reading this post will remember their reactions when they’ve reeled off seitan, tofu, or tempeh recipes to their meat-eating colleagues. “What is tempeh?”

If you’re looking for a way to introduce your vegan-curious friends or family to tempeh, to show them what they’re missing out on, we’re here to help. We’ve got to admit we’re also envious of them for getting to try tempeh for the very first time – what an incredible (and mildly nutty) treat that will be!

We’ve listed some of our very favorite tempeh recipes below – each is packed with protein and taste. It’s a versatile food source so we think we’ve got something covered for everyone. If your friends are as impressed as we imagine they will be, maybe one day they’ll return the favor with their very own tempeh inventions!

Tempeh bacon bowl recipe
Image Credit: Laura Hemmington

Tempeh Bacon Bowl

Perhaps, only behind cheese, the item we hear vegans miss more than any other is bacon. Thankfully, though, we have a tempeh recipe that can replicate the bacon taste but with no animal suffering involved! This satisfying and mouth-watering bowl also packs something of a delightful floral aroma, thanks in no small part to the fresh thyme, making it a gift for all the senses. We recommend serving this tempeh recipe to non-vegans to see what they have to say – we doubt they’d be anything but ecstatic!

Find the full tempeh bacon bowl recipe in our recipe section!

Sesame Crusted Baked Tempeh

Sesame Crusted Baked Tempeh

This tempeh recipe is delicious served either hot or as a bento-style cold lunch. The garlic cloves, ginger, lemon, and sesame seeds combined with the tempeh make for a delightful experience, especially when served on steamed greens. If you cook the tempeh and save it until the next day, we recommend including it in sandwiches full of green salads, cucumber, or even vegan mayo to create a nutritious and delicious treat for yourself! Whilst the addition of sriracha sauce is optional, we can verify that it really takes this vegan recipe to the next level of taste!

Here is the full sesame-crusted baked tempeh recipe.

Mushroom Tempeh Soup
Image Credit: Vegan Chef Day

Mushroom Tempeh Soup

This soup may be quite different from what you are used to, but it is a hearty, protein-packed tempeh recipe that we recommend to any vegan looking for a simple, flavorsome meal. Few things in the world warm our insides like a good soup and we can confirm that this mushroom and tempeh concoction is a very good soup indeed! The addition of kale flowers (or brussel sprouts) and black pepper adds not just to the nutritional value of the meal but, also, to the overall taste. Try and it once and you’ll be hooked – we promise this will become a staple in any discerning vegan’s gastronomical arsenal!

Visit this page to see how to make one of our favorite tempeh recipes.

Tempeh Sausage and Heirloom Tomatoes over Black Pepper Cheezy Polenta
Image Credit: Dan and Annie Shannon

Tempeh Sausage and Heirloom Tomatoes over Black Pepper Cheezy Polenta

If you were searching for an indulgent weekend brunch, then look no further – this tempeh recipe is it! Whilst the polenta does take some effort to stir to perfection, we can’t state enough that patience is a virtue, and the virtue here is rewarded with one of the yummiest meals you ever will try! Creating your own sausage from tempeh is a satisfying experience but, we can’t state this enough, even that pales in comparison with the satisfaction of eating the meal itself! Serve with slightly crispy edges if you really want to give your palate a treat.

Follow this link to make your own tempeh sausage.

Fancy More Tasty Recipes?

Of course, you do!

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