SMOKY TEMPEH
Tempeh strips marinated in a smoky, tangy sauce and air-fried until crisp. An excellent, protein packed, plant-based substitute for meat.
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Move over ham and bacon, there’s a new kid in town! This Smoky tempeh is rich in protein and vitamins, helps keep you full and satisfied, and is simply delicious. With its smoky, meaty flavor, these Tempeh strips are an excellent addition to any sandwich, salad, taco, or bowl….really anything at all!
TEMPEH
Tempeh is a plant-based Ingredient made from fermented soybeans that was originally made in Indonesia. Due to its high protein content, tempeh has made its way into many vegan dishes as a meat alternative.
Tempeh is not only high in protein, it’s very nutrient dense as well! It’s a great source of calcium, magnesium, iron, and fiber.
Amongst many benefits, tempeh is believed to support gut health and bone health. It’s also a wonderful source of antioxidants.
Tempeh has a unique, strong, nutty flavor, but it is incredibly versatile because it is excellent at absorbing the sauces and flavors it’s cooked in. Because of this, tempeh makes the perfect vehicle for a meaty, bacon flavored source of protein to pop on sandwiches.
THE SMOKY FLAVOR
As mentioned above, tempeh is an excellent vehicle when it comes to absorbing flavor. To make this Smoky Tempeh, I just added a few simple ingredients.
The marinade includes liquid smoke and smoked paprika, which brings that Smoky element to the table. Then it’s balanced out with soy sauce, for a hit of salt and umami. And the flavor is rounded off with ketchup, bringing some sweetness and tang to the marinade. If you want to make the flavor a bit more complex, add a touch of garlic and onion powder, or cumin.
PERFECT FOR FOOD PREP
This tempeh is marinated, so the longer it sits in the sauce, the better. This makes it a perfect food for meal prep. I love to double or triple this recipe at the beginning of the week, making it a delicious, protein packed ingredient that is at my fingertips all week long. When you prep it in large batches, just let it sit uncooked on the sauce in a ziplock bag or covered container. Then pop it in the air-fryer, oven, or on a skillet when you are ready to use it.
Smoky Tempeh
Ingredients
- 1 package of tempeh
- 3 tbsp ketchup
- 4 tsp soy sauce
- 1/4 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp liquid smoke
Instructions
- Slice the tempeh into slices about 1/4 inch thick
- Mix all other ingredients in a bowl
- Place tempeh in bowl or a ziplock bag and mix with sauce until evenly coated
- You can air-fry right away. But for best results allow tempeh to marinate at least an hour. But the longer the better. You can store in fridge for several days.
- Place strips in air-fryer and fry on high for 5 minutes. Air-fry longer if desired
- **Don't have an air-fryer? Cook on a non-stick skillet with a touch of oil for a 3-5 minutes on each side or until desired crispness is reached.
- Serve on a sandwich, salad, or bowl and enjoy!
