Many of you may not be familiar with tempeh but I hope to persuade you to give it a try. Tempeh is a vegetarian soy product and is very different from tofu. It has a complex nutty, mushroom-like flavor and a firm texture. Crumbled or grated, it is an excellent vegetarian substitute for ground beef. Sliced into strips with a marinade, it can be grilled or tossed into a stir fry. If this is your first attempt at cooking tempeh, try this recipe because I think you will like the crumbled texture and familiar stir fry flavors of the sauce. This recipe is quick to prepare, making it an ideal choice for a Meatless Monday. 
Vegetarian Stir-Fry Salad with Tempeh
Recipe adapted from ohmyveggies.com
Servings: 4
Ingredients
Sesame Ginger Sauce
- ¼ cup water
- ¼ cup low-sodium tamari
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger or ½ teaspoon powdered ginger
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
Tempeh Veggie Mixture
- 1 teaspoon canola oil
- ½ cup onion, chopped
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 (7-ounce) package tempeh, crumbled
- 1 cup carrot, shredded
- 1 cup red bell pepper, diced
- 1 cup broccoli, chopped
- Chopped romaine lettuce or arugula
- Garnishes: chopped peanuts, chopped scallions
Directions
- Place all sesame ginger sauce ingredients in a small bowl and whisk until combined. Set aside.
- Heat a large skillet or wok over medium heat, add canola oil. Sauté the onion and garlic for a few minutes then add crumbled tempeh. Cook for 2-3 minutes.
- Add carrots, peppers, broccoli, stirring occasionally for another 3-4 minutes.
- Pour sesame ginger sauce over vegetable mixture and cook until sauce is thickened, about 5 minutes.
- Serve over chopped lettuce and top with peanuts and scallions.
Note: Tempeh comes is several flavors. I tend to use either the original or garden veggie. For a faster preparation of this recipe, you could substitute your favorite store-bought stir fry sauce. This mixture can also be served in lettuce cups or as lettuce wraps.
Nutrition Note: Tempeh (TEM-pay) is a traditional soy product made by a natural culturing and fermentation process that binds the soybeans into a cake form. Tempeh’s fermentation process makes it more digestible, reducing the phytic acid in soy, which allows the body to absorb more nutrients found in tempeh. Tempeh is also a source of beneficial bacteria, protein, fiber and B vitamins.
