Tasty Tempeh Marinade for all your Tempeh Recipes (2024)

Easy and versatile, this Tempeh Marinade uses simple ingredients and can be made days ahead of time. Try it when you’re craving irresistible and flavorful tempeh in sandwiches, tacos, salads, or grain bowls.

Say goodbye to flavorless meat substitutes! This quick and easy Tempeh Marinade infuses layers of flavor into all of your vegan proteins so you never have to suffer from a bland meal again. All your tempeh needs is a 30 minute bath in the marinade, then you’re ready to get cooking!

The simple and gluten free ingredients in this marinade recipe, like tamari, apple cider vinegar, broth, and maple syrup, keep your budget low while infusing deep flavors into the tempeh.

As a bonus, the marinade can be made days ahead of time and can be adjusted to fit any dietary need or taste buds. Try it out when you’re making vegan tacos or when you’re adding tempeh to a grain bowl or salad.

What is tempeh?

Tempeh (pronounced “tem-pei”) is made from fermented soybeans and formed into a cake or loaf shape. Originally from Indonesia, it’s a popular choice in Asian-inspired dishes like teriyaki tempeh and spicy sesame noodles. It’s much more meaty, nutty, and firm than tofu but still soaks in flavor like a dream.

You can add tempeh to bowls or salads for added protein or layer it in a sandwich or wrap.

You should be able to find tempeh in most grocery stores nowadays near the tofu or produce. It’s almost always available in health food stores like Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s.

Some of the most popular brands are Lightlife and Tofurky. Try to find an option that’s both organic and non-GMO.

Benefits of tempeh

Tempeh is packed with nutrients and is an excellent source of plant-based protein. It actually contains over 50% MORE protein than tofu. As a bonus, it’s also low in sodium and carbs, making it a great alternative to meat.

You can eat just a 3 oz serving to receive about 12% of your daily iron and because it’s fermented, tempeh can also help balance the healthy bacteria in our guts.

What’s in tempeh marinade?

All you need are a handful of easy and gluten free ingredients. In the end, you’ll have a sauce that’s full of flavor and perfectly balanced:

• Vegetable broth - You can use water, but I find veggie broth produces a much more flavorful marinade.
• Tamari - Or you can use soy sauce if you don’t need the recipe to be gluten-free.
• Apple cider vinegar - Vinegar in the marinade is necessary and provides a bold flavor. It also helps break down the food and allows all of the flavors to soak in.
• Maple syrup - For a touch of natural sweetness and to cut through the acidity of the vinegar.
• Garlic powder - Because you can never have enough garlic.

How to prepare tempeh for cooking

Tempeh is first prepared by steaming. This helps to tone down any bitter or strong earthy flavors:

• Cut the tempeh: Slice the brick of tempeh into triangles or squares. Sometimes I like to cut the tempeh through the middle first so you have two thinner, same size blocks. This works when you’re serving tempeh by itself but if you need sturdier tempeh for a stir fry, don’t cut it through the middle.
• Steam it!: Place the triangles or squares in a steamer basket and steam for 10 minutes.

Even if you’re going to marinate the tempeh right away, it’s always a good idea to start by steaming the pieces.

How to marinate tempeh

Once the tempeh is cut and steamed, it’s time to place it in a marinade bath. It’s very easy to whip a tempeh marinade together using simple ingredients:

1. Make the marinade: Place all of the ingredients in a bowl and whisk together.
2. Marinate the tempeh: Lay the pieces of tempeh in a glass or pyrex bowl and pour the marinade all over. Let it marinate for at least 30 minutes. The longer you marinate, the more flavor will be given to the tempeh.
3. Flip the pieces: This is optional, but you can flip the tempeh triangles halfway during marinating to ensure the flavor seeps into both sides.

See Also

Chocolate Puffed Quinoa Bars - Vegan Family Recipes25 Traditional Croatian Recipes And FoodsHerby Bread-and-Butter Stuffing for Two RecipeHotteok Recipe (Sweet Korean Pancakes) - Went Here 8 This

How to cook marinated tempeh

After it’s been marinated, the tempeh can be sautéed, fried, grilled, or baked. Once cooked, tempeh can be cut into cubes for stir-fries, grilled with veggies on skewers, or used as a bacon or chorizo substitute and crumbled over breakfast, salad, or in pasta. Find plenty of more delicious recipes using tempeh here.

Frequently asked questions

You’ll be making and marinating tempeh over and over again after learning all there is to know:

What goes well with this marinade recipe?

Use this marinade recipe on tempeh, tofu, or as a sauce to season noodles, rice, and veggies! Try it with any of these recipes:

• Vietnamese Noodle Bowls
• Tofu Green Bean Stir Fry
• Thai Basil Noodles
• Vegan Kimchi Fried Rice

📖 Recipe