Let’s talk about tempeh
Soybeans and everything that can be made from them still have a bit of a hippie image. Unfairly so. Soybeans are versatile and delicious. When prepared properly, of course. We’re giving you fool proof tips for the perfect tempeh.
You can learn to ferment
Fermentation, the process used to make kimchi, radishes and yogurt, changes the acidity and texture of a product. You can easily do this yourself.
This is where you can eat Limburg asparagus in Amsterdam.
Tempeh originally comes from Indonesia. With the help of the mycelium fungus, Indonesians have been making soybeans grow together during the fermentation process and form tempeh since 1600. Mr. Wateetons explains in this video how to do it.
Marinating
Fortunately, you can also buy tempeh in any supermarket. It doesn’t have much flavor of its own, which certainly contributes to its dusty image. So it’s important to use a good marinade to give the tempeh extra flavor. Make sure the marinade combines sweet, sour, salty and fat. You can optionally add spices and some heat. You can’t go wrong with a combination of the following ingredients.
Sweet: honey, sugar, ketjap or maple syrup
Salty: soy sauce, (salted) peanut butter, fish sauce or sea salt
Sour: lemon juice, lime juice or rice vinegar
Fat: sunflower, sesame, olive, coconut or avocado oil
Spices: garlic, chili, ginger, lemongrass, cumin or paprika powder
Frying, stir-frying or steaming?
That’s entirely up to you. For a crunch, fry or stir-fry the tempeh; for a softer, less fatty result, steam it. This also removes some of the bitterness from the tempeh. Keep in mind that sugar and soy sauce can caramelize, but can also burn. So make sure you don’t set the heat too high.
Need more inspiration? This gado gado is delicious with tempeh, or go for this tempeh ‘bacon’ for a vegetarian version of the BLT.
Tempeh-making workshop
Want to make tempeh yourself—but really yourself? Mediamatic offers the ‘Make your own tempeh’ workshop, where you learn how mycelium and beans grow and work together. At the end of the workshop, you’ll take home your own grow kit. You can buy tickets for the event on their website.
