Tempeh: The Best Plant Protein Replacement

alfina0
Jul 24, 2023
2 min read

Tempeh is unique in its taste and texture. It is a fermented whole soybean product, that originated in Indonesia (where I am from hehe hehe). It is a great alternative to meat or as an addition to stir-fries or as a standalone side dish. If you are starting to get sick of Tofu, try Tempeh. It's high in protein and a good source of B vitamins.

Delishawishus - my mouth

Life in Indonesia was full of yummy snacks made by my mum or aunties. Tempeh included. I always had it thinly cut and fried, almost crispy and it was seasoned with salt and aromatics. However, It's slightly harder to get hold of Tempeh in England. It's not something you can get in Tesco's but you will most likely find it in the freezer of your nearest Asian food store.

This recipe is something I recently developed when thinking about a quick cook. The Tempeh soaks up the oyster sauce so well creating a juicy, flavourful spoonful. Enjoy!

Tempeh in Oyster Sauce

Ingredients

Serves: 1 Hungry Individual

Tempeh - defrosted
Choice of greens - I used choi sum
Optional meat (I use frozen hot pot rolled beef)
2 birds' eye chilies
1 shallot
2 cloves garlic
Few thin slices of ginger

Seasonings and Sauce:

Oyster Sauce
Soy Bean Paste (optional but recommended)
Salt
MSG

Directions

Prep your ingredients by slicing up the shallots, garlic, chilies, and ginger. Cut your tempeh into cubes and chop your vegetables and meat if necessary.
In a hot deep oiled pan, fry your tempeh until it has developed a deeper golden crust. Then, add in the garlic, shallots, chilies, and ginger and let the aromatics cook in the oil for about 40 seconds before adding in any meat. season with salt and MSG to taste.
Continue to add the soybean paste and oyster sauce (about a couple of splashes of each or to taste) and then finally, add your vegetables. Stir-fry until meat and veg are cooked and the dish up and add a garnish of your choice. Best served with white jasmine rice and cucumber for a cooling factor.