Easy Roasted Tempeh

Name: Easy Roasted Tempeh
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 65 min
Ingredients: 8 ounce block tempeh; 4 tbsp tamari (or shoyu); 2 tbsp mirin rice cooking wine; 2 tbsp maple syrup; 1 tbsp olive oil; ½ tbsp minced garlic; 1 tbsp fresh ginger grated

Are you looking for a tasty and nutritious protein source to add to your meals? Look no further than roasted tempeh! This plant-based alternative has flavor and texture that makes it perfect for salads, sandwiches, or even just snacking. And the best part? It's so easy to bake!

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Marinated and roasted tempeh on a baking sheet.

And the best part? It's easy to bake and tastes great, thanks to an easy tempeh marinade.

Roasted tempeh pieces on parchment paper after baking.

In this recipe, I'm going to show you how to turn plain old tempeh into a delicious and satisfying dish.

With just a few simple ingredients and a little oven time, you'll have a plate full of delicious roasted tempeh that's perfect for any meal.

So grab your apron, and let's get started! This is going to be so much fun!

🤔 What is Tempeh?

Tempeh is an ingredient that originated in Indonesia and is made from fermented soybeans. It's becoming more popular in the Western world as people discover how delicious and healthy it is!

Making tempeh uses cooked whole soybeans mixed with a special starter culture. The mixture sits and ferments for hours which causes the soybeans to stick together and form a cake-like shape.

The final result is a firm, nutty-flavored food that can be sliced, diced, or crumbled to use in all kinds of dishes. It's packed with protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals, making it a nutritious and delicious option for mealtime.

Whether you're a vegetarian, vegan, or just looking for a healthy alternative to meat, tempeh is definitely worth a try!

If you want to explore some more tempeh recipes, try making this veggie tempeh bolognese and this vegan tempeh tuna salad.

💚 Why You'll Love Roasted Tempeh

Healthy alternative to meat for meals.
A plant-based protein that has a more meat-like texture than beans.
Simple yet tasty way to cook tempeh using a handful of ingredients.
Versatile protein you can use to create a variety of different meals.

🛒 Ingredients

This roasted tempeh recipe uses simple ingredients you can find at most stores. The tempeh marinade infuses the store-bought tempeh with tons of flavor.

Tempeh: Sold in many large supermarkets or health food stores. It's usually found in the refrigerated section along with tofu and other plant-based meat alternatives.
Tamari: Similar to soy sauce, tamari is often a gluten-free alternative to soy sauce and is found in large grocery stores along with soy sauce. You can also use soy sauce instead.
Mirin rice wine: This wine made from rice adds a bit of sweetness and flavor to the marinade for the tempeh. I recommend using Eden Mirin Rice Cooking Wine, but you can substitute it with rice or white wine vinegar. These substitutions are very acidic, so you will need to add one teaspoon of sugar per 2 tablespoons of vinegar.
Maple syrup: A less processed way to add a bit of sweetness to the marinade.
Olive oil: Just a touch for cooking.
Aromatics: Use fresh garlic and ginger for the best flavor. Make sure both are grated or chopped finely so they better mix into the marinade.

🌿 Variations

The possibilities for flavoring tempeh are pretty limitless, but here are a few favorites.

Smoky: Add liquid smoke or smoked paprika to the marinade to add hints of smokiness..
Spicy: Add crushed red pepper or Sriracha to the marinade for a bit of heat.
Spicy BBQ: Combine ¼ cup barbecue sauce, 1 tablespoon maple syrup, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 1 tablespoon sriracha sauce, ½ teaspoon smoked paprika, ¼ teaspoon cumin, salt, and pepper to taste.
Lemon Garlic Tempeh Marinade: Mix together 2 tablespoons olive oil, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 2 cloves minced garlic, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, and salt and pepper to taste.
Honey Mustard Tempeh Marinade: Combine 2 tablespoons dijon mustard, 1 tablespoon honey, 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, and salt and pepper to taste.
Teriyaki Tempeh Marinade: Mix up ¼ cup soy sauce, 1 tablespoon honey, 1 tablespoon rice vinegar, 1 clove minced garlic, ½ teaspoon grated fresh ginger, and ¼ teaspoon black pepper.

For each variation, mix the ingredients together in a bowl, add sliced tempeh, and let marinate for at least 30 minutes before cooking.

You can adjust the amounts of each ingredient to taste and experiment with different spices and seasonings to find the perfect marinade for your taste.

✅ How to Cook Tempeh in the Oven

Slice the tempeh into even-sized pieces.
Place them in a steamer basket and set them over a pot with 1 inch of water. Simmer covered to steam for 10 minutes.

TOP TIP: The tempeh soaks up the flavor from the marinade better when steamed first, but you can skip this step if pressed for time.

Whisk together the tamari, mirin rice wine, maple syrup, olive oil, garlic, and ginger in a small bowl.
Place the tempeh in a shallow dish and pour the marinade on top to coat. Marinate for at least 30 minutes.

Sliced tempeh in a container with the marinade poured over the top.

Preheat the oven to 375°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Arrange the slices on the baking sheet. Save the extra marinade for later.

Marinated tempeh on a parchment-lined baking tray.

Bake the tempeh for 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and brush more of the marinade on the tempeh strips. Bake them for an additional 10 minutes or until the slices are crispy brown.

❄️ How to Store

Leftovers or Meal Prep: Store the roasted tempeh in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days or in the freezer for up to one month.

Reheat: Return the tempeh pieces to a baking sheet and cook them in the oven at 350° F for 10-15 minutes or until heated through. To cook from frozen, extend the cooking time by 5-10 minutes.

🍽️ Serving Ideas

Tempeh can be used to create a wide variety of meals!

Enjoy it hot or cold.
Serve it as a main dish along with your favorite side dishes such as apple fennel slaw or vegan turnip gratin.
Add it to a salad, grain bowl, or buddha bowl.
Top it with a tasty sauce such as this homemade chimichurri sauce.
Add it to your favorite stir fry.

👩🏻‍🍳 Expert Tips and❓FAQs

Brush as much or as little of the marinade during baking, depending on how strong of a flavor you want from your roasted tempeh.
Don't skip the step of steaming the tempeh. In the end, your tempeh will taste better since it allows the tempeh to soak up more of the tasty marinade.
If using vinegar as a swap for the mirin, don't forget to add one teaspoon of sugar per two tablespoons of vinegar to achieve a similar flavor to the mirin.

What does tempeh taste like?

Since it's made from soybeans, it has a nutty flavor but will take on the flavors of marinades and sauces very well when given time to soak it up.

Is tempeh gluten-free?

No, not always. Some varieties of tempeh are gluten-free, so check the labels, but many brands of tempeh include some form of wheat in the ingredients.

Is tempeh supposed to be cooked?

Yes, tempeh should be cooked before eating, even though most brands are pasteurized and safe to eat out of the package. Cooking takes some bitterness away, makes it crumble easier, and soaks up marinade better.

🌎 Sustainability Suggestions

First, soybeans, the main ingredient in tempeh, are a highly efficient crop in terms of land use and resource utilization when grown for food consumption by humans. They require less land, water, and energy to produce compared to many other protein sources, such as beef or pork.

Also, the production of soybeans for tempeh and tofu generates fewer greenhouse gas emissions compared to the production of beef or pork. Tempeh is made from fermented soybeans, which require less water and land use than livestock.

Choosing tempeh over meat can also benefit animal welfare by reducing the demand for animal products.

Overall, tempeh can be a sustainable food choice when compared to many other protein sources and can contribute to a more environmentally-friendly and health-conscious diet.

➕ More Vegan Protein Alternative Recipes

If you made this recipe, please leave a star 🌟 rating on the recipe card right below! You can also drop a review in the comment section. Your feedback is appreciated! And don’t forget to tag @themindfulfork so we can see your creations.

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