I’ve realized we only have two tempeh recipes on the blog: tempeh bacon and vegan Cobb salad . Just in case you don’t know, tempeh is made of fermented beans and is a great meat substitute. We don’t use it very often because is not as easy to find as tofu and is also more expensive (at least in our country), but it’s totally worth it!
Reading about macrobiotic cuisine and how to cook tempeh, I learnt that it’s better to boil it first for at least 10 or 15 minutes with some tamari or soy sauce, that way the tempeh will be less dry and will have a better texture. Then, we can eat it or cook it using any cooking method we like.
There are so many recipes you can make with this marinated tempeh, but my favorite ones are wraps and salads. Wraps are so portable and convenient, perfect for a healthy and light lunch meal and you can eat them cold or hot. I prefer to use all the ingredients cold and add the tempeh hot, but they’re always delicious.
We love our oil-free vegan yogurt sauce because is so tasty and a super healthy option, but for more sauce options, check out these recipes: vegan yogurt sauce, vegan Caesar salad dressing, tahini salad dressing, 2-minute healthy ketchup and simple restaurant-style salsa.
If you make this recipe, please leave a comment below, rate it or tag a picture @simpleveganblog on Instagram and hashtag it #simpleveganblog. We’d love to see what you cook!
📖 Recipe
Marinated Tempeh Wraps
Ingredients
For the marinated tempeh:
- 8 ounces tempeh
- 2 tablespoon tamari or soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon agave syrup
- 1 tablespoon tahini
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
For the wraps:
- 6 wraps/tortillas
- 2 julienned carrots
- 1 julienned red bell pepper
- ½ julienned red onion
- 3 cups chopped lettuce
- Marinated tempeh
- Vegan yogurt sauce, optional
Instructions
- Place the tempeh in a saucepan and cover it with water. Add 1 tablespoon of tamari or soy sauce and bring it to a boil. Then cook over medium-high heat for at least 10 minutes.
- Drain the tempeh and slice it. Put the tempeh in a mixing bowl with the other tablespoon of tamari or soy sauce and the rest of the marinade ingredients.
- Let the tempeh marinate for at least 1 or 2 hours, better overnight. This step is optional, although if you don’t marinate your tempeh, it will have less flavor.
- Preheat the oven to 400ºF or 200ºC for at least 10 minutes.
- Place the tempeh onto a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for about 10 minutes or until golden brown.
- To assemble, top each wrap/tortilla with the veggies (carrots, red bell pepper, red onion and lettuce), marinated tempeh and yogurt sauce to taste. I prefer my wraps/tortillas cold, but you can warm them in the oven or a frying pan.
- Best when fresh. Store leftovers separately in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Notes
- Lemon juice can be used instead of the vinegar.
- Feel free to use any sweetener, healthy fat, spices, herbs, veggies or sauces.
- Tofu and seitan are also a great choice instead of the tempeh.
- Use any leafy greens you want.
- You don’t have to bake the tempeh, you can also saute it, grill it or just use your favorite cooking method.
Matt says
This was a delicious recipe, as always! This blog has made it so much easier for me to eat vegan!
I subbed tahini for sesame oil in the marinade (but half the amount), I threw a bit of spinach on, and I could only find cashew yogurt at the store and that worked out perfectly.
Iosune Robles says
Hi Matt! Thanks for your kind comment 🙂 Have a nice day!
Marina says
I just marinated my tempeh and I taste tested the marinade sauce and I was surprised at how delicious it was ! I'm letting it marinade overnight and can't to eat it tomorrow ! Thanks so much for sharing such an amazing recipe !
Iosune says
Hi Marina! You're so welcome 🙂 Hope you enjoyed it!
Annie says
This was super yummy, fresh and healthy, thank you! I am making for my friend tomorrow I enjoyed it so much.
Iosune says
Hi Annie! You're so welcome, I'm so glad you liked it 😀
Lupi says
Thank you for using and eating tempe...
Tempe is my country authentic food! I have no idea why people outside Indonesia say it tempeh with h which change the pronunciation.. But I think the American want to differ it from Tempe city.
So proud of this magnificent cheap (it's cheap here xxx) delicious food that can be eaten raw. We have sambal tempe, fried tempe, tempe bacem etc etc
How much is 1 block of tempe in your country?
To be honest, I hate plastic block tempe. It's the most undelicious tempe! Even I hate the banana wrap block.
It should be in small single wrap with banana/teak leaves.. This is the splendour of tempe.
I always give my tempe slice to my friends, when I get free lunch box. They finally understand why I only eat single wrap tempe, when they finally taste how different it taste ?
The single wrap cost USD 0.03-0.05/piece where as the block start at USD 0.20 depend on how big the block.
So when you coming to my country, be sure to try single wrap tempe with leaves, because it only exist in Indonesia!
Happy tempe feast.. xoxo
Iosune says
Hi Lupi! Tempeh costs about 4 euros (4.5 USD) for 8 or 9 ounces here in Spain. We want to visit your beautiful country next year, we're even thinking about living in Bali 🙂 Have a nice day and thanks a lot for your comment!