Tempt Me With Tempeh!

When I was a veggie, I rarely became bored of my protein options. And tempeh was the reason! Tempeh (pronounced tem pay') is the only soy product I know of which originated in Indonesia (whereas most others came from Japan or China). It's unique in the soy world in so many ways.

This delicious, high-protein product is made through a process of slightly cooking soybeans, forming them into cakes, and then fermenting these cakes under the right conditions, which favor a certain bacteria, or mold, over other competitors.

Most often, people in the West buy it in supermarkets and health-food stores. It's always to be found either in the refrigerated section or in the freezer. Sometimes there is a dark coloration, an uneven gray or black spotting to be found on the cakes. This is only the natural spores and indicate a more mature product. The dark color should not affect its taste or use, and some even consider it a sign of good mature quality tempeh.

One aspect worth noting is that the partial cooking and fermenting of the soybeans makes them more digestible for most people. So this is one protein that even some soy-sensitive people can tolerate quite well. If you're one of those people who tend to have a sensitivity to soy, and find that most soy products give you indigestion, you may just be in luck. It's worth giving tempeh a try, as it may be easier on you. A word of caution, however, if you do have an intolerance to soy products, only introduce a small portion to begin with, just in case!

So Now I Know What It is, What Do I DO With It?

In the mood for Mexican? Make amazing fajitas by marinating it in some Mexican spices & lime juice & saute or grill with onions & peppers. Serve with warm tortillas, salsa & guacamole.

Fancy some Chinese noodles? Cube & dress the cakes with some tamari soy sauce & a bit of oil. Saute with chopped ginger in a wok until golden, add any veggies you want, then toss in rice or egg noodles. Season with a bit more soy sauce & any of your favorite Chinese flavors.

Do you like chicken satay? Because of its Indonesian heritage, this is one product that goes brilliantly with peanuts & peanut sauces. Try substituting it for chicken next time you go for the nutty satay.

And one of my favorite sandwiches of all time, check out my absolutely irresistible tempeh reuben.

I could probably think of as many uses for this incredibly versatile food as I can think of recipes! I used to live in a town that had its own farmer's market. We were so lucky to have a couple who lived locally and made their own homemade tempeh. Just about every Saturday morning, I'd ride my bike down and buy a few cakes. They had all sorts of varieties - made with different grains and beans. And all were amazing. I only wish I could have brought that couple to Scotland when I moved! Store bought is great, but I've never tasted anything like homemade. Someday, when I have the time, I'll attempt to make it myself - I'll let you know how it goes! In the meantime, my local shop sells a good one, so I'm in no rush. :)

If you're interested in making your own tempeh at home, this company sells tempeh starter and will ship anywhere.

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