I’m thrilled to share this tempeh bacon recipe with you. It’s smoky, and mildly sweet and simple to prepare. If you are new to tempeh, here are a few things to know about it.
Demystifying Tempeh
Tempeh is made from cooked and fermented beans, sometimes with the addition of grains. Most commonly it is made from fermented soybeans. One of my favorite brands is made with soy and the addition of rice, barley and millet. Tempeh is common in Indonesian cuisine.
There are a variety of brands on the market. This Lightlife brand is one of them that is commonly carried in supermarkets.
Loving Tempeh
There are so many reasons to love tempeh!
It’s packed with protein, boosting the nutritional profile of your dishes.
It’s health promoting…packed with antioxidants, and phytonutrients.
It’s umami rich, offering a savory depth of flavor to your stews, casseroles, sandwiches and salads.
It’s hearty and flavorful, with a satisfying bite.
In fact, both my husband and I consider it one of my favorite plant based foods.
Absorbs Marinade
Another of tempeh’s great qualities is that it readily absorbs the flavors of a marinade. Thus, it is a very versatile ingredient. This recipe for Maple Marinated Tempeh is simple to prepare and very flavorful. We love to eat this tempeh in wraps with mashed sweet potatoes, hummus and kale.
Tempeh Bacon
This smoky bacon is mildly sweet and packed with protein. It’s a great addition to sandwiches and salads, adding a flavorful and hearty bite. It’s sweetened with a maple syrup and the smoky flavors come from liquid smoke and smoked paprika. Look for liquid smoke near the bbq sauces in your supermarket. This is the brand, I’ve got in my pantry.
If you have a smoker, of course, go for it and use it. In that case, you can eliminate the liquid smoke from the recipe. .
It’s whole foods plant based, made without the addition of any oils. This may be healthy heart promoting and certainly reduces the number of calories in the tempeh bacon.
This tempeh bacon is divine in vegan cobb salad with romaine, chickpeas, avocados, potatoes, cucumbers and cherry tomatoes. Health promoting, nutritional dense, and delicious. It’s a winner.
It’s also amazing on a Tempeh BLT with avocado on a hearty whole grain toast.
Try it! I wonder if you, like my husband and I, will love it too!
Tempeh Bacon
Ingredients
- 1 - 8 oz package tempeh
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- ¼ cup soy sauce or tamari
- 1 tbsp liquid smoke more drizzled on cooked tempeh, if desired
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
Instructions
- Either dice or cut the tempeh into long strips, depending on how you will be using it. I like to add tempeh strips to sandwiches and diced peices to salads.
- Stir remaining ingredients together in medium bowl.
- Add the tempeh to the marinade and stir to coat.
- Heat up a heavy bottomed pan (such as cast iron) over medium heat.
- Pour the tempeh and marinade into the pan and heat, stirring for about 9-14 minutes, until all of the marinade has cooked off. The tempeh will take on a nice dark coating.
- Taste the tempeh. If you desire a stronger flavor, drizzle some more liquid smoke over it.
- Use immediately or cover and store in refrigerator for up to 5 days.
