This Sticky Sesame Tempeh Recipe is better than takeout! Slightly sweet + perfectly sticky with a hint of ginger + garlic! The best part? This meal can come together in 20 minutes, faster than takeout!
I am totally obsessed with this tempeh! It has an addictive flavor that you will not be able to get enough of! You can eat this tempeh on its own, served over rice, paired with broccoli, green beans, or even cauliflower, yum!
Why Eat Tempeh?
Tempeh is a great source of protein + calcium + iron + magnesium! Above all, it is very high in prebiotics.Β If you are not familiar with prebiotics, time to get familiar!!!!! Prebiotics are a type of fiber that promote the growth of good gut bacteria. YES! To simplify this, we need lots and lots of good gut bacteria for our overall heath, to reduce inflammation, and so many more reasons!Β One way we get these is by eating a large variety of plants.Β Another way we accomplish this is by eating fermented foods.Β Tempeh is a fermented food ππ». Tempeh is on regular rotation in the MVF kitchen as one of our main sources of clean, plant-based protein.
Tara’s Tips For Sticky Sesame Tempeh Recipe Perfection:
- Boil the tempeh first!!!!! One of the main reasons people think they do not like tempeh is because it has a slightly bitter taste.Β Personally, I do not like tempeh in its original form, I always boil it. After boiling, the bitter taste is gone.
- No oil! Yep, you heard me correctly.Β You do not need any oil in the pan or in your air fryer to make these perfectly sticky + awesome!
- This recipe has been tested multiple times in the MVF kitchen.Β It turns out best with a mixture of coconut aminos, liquid aminos, and coconut palm sugar.Β You can substitute cane sugar for the coconut palm sugar if you like.Β If you substitute soy sauce for the coconut aminos, add an additional 1/2 tbsp sugar to your sauce to achieve the proper level of sweetness this dish needs.
- I use garlic paste and ginger past in this recipe that I buy in the Indian grocery store.Β If it is available to you, use it! If you prefer, you can use the fresh but be sure you shred or chop very fine pieces.
How To Cook Tempeh:
- Air Fryer Method:Β Air frying tempeh is AWESOME! I only recently started doing this and wow, I love it! After boiling the tempeh in water for 10 minutes, transfer the tempeh to your air fryer basket and set the temperature to 325 degrees, if you use oil, you can give them a little spray but it works without it (I don’t use any).Β Do not overcrowd them! Lay them in a single layer and cook in batches if necessary. They are done in under 10 minutes! Don’t overcook them or they will get too hard!
- Oven Method:Β If you don’t have an air fryer you can bake your tempeh.Β It’s easy!Β This takes a little longer than the air fryer method.Β After boiling in water for 10 minutes, lay the tempeh in a single layer on a parchment-paper lined baking sheet, give them a light spray of olive oil if you use oil. 25 minutes in a 400 degree oven to achieve the same golden brown + crispy tempeh.
Love Tempeh? Try My Other Tempeh Recipes:
Sticky Sesame Tempeh Recipe
This Sticky Sesame Tempeh can be whipped up on a busy night and on the table faster than you can order takeout! And healthier!
Ingredients
- 8 ounce package of tempeh
- 1 tbsp coconut aminos (or soy sauce)
- 2 tbsp liquid aminos (or soy sauce)
- 1 tbsp coconut palm sugar (sub cane sugar, if using soy sauce instead of coconut aminos, add an additional 1/2 tbsp sugar)
- 2 tsp grated ginger or ginger past (I use ginger paste)
- 1 tbsp finely minced garlic or garlic paste (I use garlic paste)
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 tbsp sesame seeds (more for topping/garnish to taste)
- finely sliced scallions/green onions for topping/garnish
Directions
- Step 1 Bring 3 cups water to a boil in a medium pot.
- Step 2 Remove tempeh from packaging, cut it into evenly sized strips.
- Step 3 Add tempeh to boiling water and boil for 10 minutes.
- Step 4 While tempeh is boiling, preheat air fryer to 325 degrees or oven to 400 degrees, and make the sesame sauce.
- Step 5 Combine coconut aminos, liquid aminos, sugar, ginger, and garlic in a bowl and whisk together until fully combined.
- Step 6 When tempeh is done boiling, drain the water from the pan and transfer tempeh to air fryer basket in a single layer. Do not crowd air fryer, may need to be done in batches. Air fry for 8-10 minutes or until brown and crispy.
- Step 7 If baking in oven, place on a silicone or parchment paper lined baking sheet in a single layer. Bake in 400 degree oven for 25 minutes or until golden brown and crispy.
- Step 8 When tempeh is browned, remove from air fryer or oven and set aside.
- Step 9 Heat a medium non-stick skillet over medium heat, add sesame sauce, heat until it comes to a simmer, add tempeh, simmer for 2 minutes. While tempeh simmers mix 1 tbsp cornstarch with 1/2 cup water to make a slurry. Add to skillet and gently stir. Cook for an additional 2 minutes until sauce thickens, add sesame seeds and turn off heat. Transfer to plate or bowl, top with additional sesame seeds and scallions. Enjoy!
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