10 Best Tempeh Recipes Tutorials|Health and Nutrition Facts

Tempeh recipes – A key to unique recipes

In this lockdown, due to coronavirus threatening lives throughout the world, people are in quarantine where they are trying out new hobbies now and then.

They are even utilizing their time to brush up their old hobbies and become more skilled in it. The hobbies range from reading books to trying out hand at art. Cooking is a popular hobby among the majority of the world population.

In quarantine, people are trying out new recipes and cuisines from around the world. From continental to Italian, with the help of internet suggested recipes and YouTube tutorials, every cooking fanatic is trying out experimental recipes. If anyone is up for cooking nutritious yet delicious dishes then one can try out ‘Tempeh dishes’.

What is Tempeh?

Tempeh is a food that is commonly a part of Indonesian cuisine. It is a soy product as it is made through a traditional process of fermenting soya beans.

The scientific name of the fungus which is used for the fermentations of the soya beans is known as ‘Rhizopus oligosporus’. This is almost the shape of the cake and the Tempeh recipes are served as starters in the restaurants where it is available.

Therefore, these dishes are also known as ‘tempeh starters.’ Historians suggest that tempeh has derived its name from the old Javanese recipe ‘Tumpi’, which is made from fried batter made from rice flour.

What is Tempeh made of?

As mentioned above, tempeh is generally made up of fermented soybeans. But in includes fermentation of other varieties of beans, whole wheat grains, or even their mixture. The fungus ‘Rhizopus oryzae’ may also be used sometimes in place of ‘Rhizopus oligosporus’.

Fermentation of tempeh is done at a controlled temperature ( around thirty degrees Celsius) for two days. This would help in the germination of the spore to form the mycelium. Then after this process, has been done, different acids are added to it, for instance – lactic acid, vinegar, acetic acid, etc. Ammonia is added in some cases after all the additions. Then the tempeh is packaged and finally delivered to the stores. Thus, this is how the tempeh cakes are prepared and are ready for the tempeh recipes.

Is tempeh healthy?

Tempeh nutrition value is high and is also accompanied by vitamin value. It has a balanced amount of –

carbohydrates (oligosaccharides)
Fats
Proteins
Vitamins (Vitamin B12, Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2,)
Calcium
Iron
Potassium
Sodium
Zinc

Thus, providing us a combination of taste and health in single food content. The important vitamins present in the tempeh recipes also add like a cherry to the cake.

In addition to it has dietary fiber and rich proteins. In a nutshell, these are some of the tempeh nutrition facts. Tempeh does not make a person gassy nor does it have gluten (especially the traditional ones). Moreover, tempeh is a good source of estrogen.

How to Cook Tempeh?

Cooking tempeh is a very simple process, as it is prepared very simply with the help of sauces (often salty sauce) and frying it. According to the ancient recipes, tempeh recipes are prepared with the help of garlic (ground garlic to be precise), turmeric, and coriander.

While frying, the right amount of salt and water determines the taste. It generally served along with Sambal Ulek – which is a chili paste. It is consumed in the form of stews, soups, salads, sandwiches, chili fries, etc.

It can be shredded well when used in a cheese grater. The sliced as well as grated tempeh can be used in different tempeh recipes. It aids in marinating the dish faster. Besides the soy product and the grain type tempeh, there are other types of tempeh as well which are made up of tofu (ampas tahu), Coconuts (ampas kelapa), peanuts, etc, which are the popular ones. ’Tempeh kedalai’, ‘Tempeh gembus’, ‘Oncom’, ‘Tempeh menjes kacang’, ‘Tempeh bongkrek’, ‘Oat tempeh’, etc, are other types which exist.

Several innovative recipes can be made by using tempeh as the main ingredient. The following dishes can be made using tempeh –

Tempeh Goreng

This is probably one of the most popular tempeh recipes among all as it has the simplest method of cooking out of all the other recipes. It may be coated with batter and sometimes may not be. And it is then fried vigorously (deep-fried) especially in palm oil.

2. Tempeh Bacem

A traditional dish of Javanese origin that is commonly found being served in the restaurants located on the streets of central Java, Indonesia, etc. It involves a unique cooking method that includes coconut water, bay leaves, shallots, spices, palm sugar, and coriander seeds.

Also,It has a dark and shady appearance, but on the contrary, tastes sweet and even sometimes spicy (according to the addition of spices). It has a unique moist texture as well.

3. Tempeh mendoan

This dish is famous in the region of Purwoketo. It is one of the variations of the tempeh recipes. ‘Mendoan’ in the regional dialect means ‘flash-fried’. A layer of flour is added to the tempeh before it is released into the oil for frying. This makes the tempeh crispy on the outside yet soft and crunchy on the inside.

4. Tempeh Kering

It is one of the varieties of tempeh recipes that are consumed along with sambal sauce. They are generally fried after cutting sticks into them. It is fried thoroughly until no moisture is present on the surface of the tempeh. Then the other ingredients are added to it like the soy sauce, chili pepper, spices, and palm sugar.

The most interesting fact is that this variety of dry tempeh can be consumed up to a month if it is kept in proper storage and cooked in the proper cooking method.

5. Tempeh satay

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aD4CTM-i0cM

It is one of the varieties of tempeh recipes were the tempeh is thoroughly grilled. Satay is also a staple Javanese food where the main ingredient is grilled thoroughly. It is more popular in the region in Kebuman, Central Java.

A chicken satay known as sate ambal is available as ground tempeh in this area. Peanut sauces are more common but here it is sometimes replaced with spices and chili sauces.

6. Tumis / Oseng Tempeh

Another variety of fried tempeh with vegetables like basil, green bean, or onion with spices. In addition to it, coconut milk is also added to it to add to the flavor and to obtain the milky color shade in the preparation.

7. Tempeh sandwiches and tempeh burger preparations

Alike a normal sandwich or a burger preparation, the tempeh sandwiches and burgers are prepared similarly. The tempeh is found between the two slices of bread ‘sandwiched’ in the tempeh sandwiches. In a tempeh burger, it is found ‘sandwiched’ between two hamburger buns along with sausages.

8. Kripik Tempeh

It is one of the usual tempeh recipes which involves – thin-slicing, battering, and deep-frying. It has a crispy outer layer which makes it tasty. It is majorly produced in the areas of Bandung, in West Java.

9. Tempeh bacon

10. Smoked tempeh

Where to Buy Tempeh?

Tempeh is well available on online shopping websites, especially online food shopping websites (like lightlife tempeh), in shopping malls, and reputed food marts.

Thus, we see tempeh recipes, can be made at our homes and would allow us to try something new and innovative.