Sweet, salty and satiating, this simple tempeh bacon will be your new favourite protein addition to any meal!
This simple, 8 ingredient tempeh bacon will leave your mouth watering, your belly full and your body nourished. Enjoy the smoky, salty and sweet flavours of bacon while getting the health benefits of tempeh. Tempeh is a power house food for plant-based individuals and meat eaters alike – not only is it packed with protein, it’s also fermented, being full of probiotics to support a healthy gut.
What is Tempeh?
Although it may seem that tempeh is a trendy new delicacy that came with the increasing number of vegans/vegetarians. The truth, is that tempeh originated in Malaysia and Indonesia around 400 years ago (source). It is a combination of fresh or cooked beans ( typically soybeans, kidney beans, adzuki beans) with the right addition of bacteria, fungus and yeast. Fermenting the beans allowed longer storage times and also introduced a unique flavour to the typical bean (source).
How to Cook Tempeh
Tempeh can be cooked basically the same way as any other protein (such as tofu/meat etc.). It is common to find tempeh cooked in restaurants with a nice oily crunch as they often deep fry it. But, to reduce the calorie count of adding excess oils, here are my favourite simple ways to cook tempeh:
- Baked
- Fried
- Air fried
Health Benefits of Tempeh
Tempeh is a compact form of high protein beans (such as soybeans). With this condensed form, it allows tempeh to pack in more protein than your typical plant based protein sources such as tofu, lentils or cooked beans. It is also a complete protein source which is very useful for plant-based eaters. Along with it’s high protein content, tempeh also contains vital nutrients such as vitamin B12, iron, fibre and calcium. Various studies have proven that including fermented foods in our diet will help support the microbiome and gut health, making our bodies more resilient. According to WebMD and Healthline.com, some of the health benefits of tempeh include:
- Improved cholesterol
- Lower blood pressure
- Protect the heart
- Lower insulin levels
- Reduce inflammation
- Promote bone health
Ingredients for the Simple Tempeh Bacon
- Tempeh
- Olive oil
- Soy sauce
- Maple syrup
- Liquid smoke
- Nutritional yeast
- Chilli powder
- Garlic powder
Simple Tempeh Bacon Recipe
Simple Tempeh Bacon
Ingredients
- 1 package soybean tempeh 8oz
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1/2 tsp maple syrup
- 1/4 tsp liquid smoke
- 1 tbsp nutritional yeast
- 1/2 tsp chilli powder
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
Instructions
- Cut tempeh into 1/4 inch strips
- Heat olive oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Add tempeh strips and fry until lightly browned on both sides, flipping halfway.
- While the tempeh cooks, combine remaining ingredients in a small bowl and mix well.
- Once the tempeh is browned, add the sauce to the pan and mix well to evenly coat tempeh. Fry another minute on each side.
- Consume hot or cool off completely before placing in the fridge for later use.
Recipes with Simple Tempeh Bacon
Check out my Vegan BLT here!
For a Full Breakfast of Champions, Pair With
Nutrition
Nutrition facts are for 1 serving, assuming this recipe makes 2 servings.
These nutrition facts are for the simple tempeh bacon only and do not include any other items that may be suggested in photos above.
These nutrition facts may vary based on individual ingredients used.
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