It's so easy to cook with tempeh! Here are a few basic recipes to get you started, and you will probably become creative with tempeh in no time, googling for more and inventing your own!

5) Tempeh in Miso & Spiced Coconut Sauce

This recipe is adapted from an Indonesian one called Tempeh Masak Taucho (described in The Book of Tempeh - 130 recipes, by W.Shurtleff and A.Aoyagi). I replace some of the exotic Indonesian ingredients with spices easier to find in the UK. The recipe works very well with either soybean or split pea tempeh! Soybean tempeh can be either sliced into thin slices, or cubed. As the split pea tempeh is naturally drier and therefore more brittle than soybean tempeh, it is often better to cut it into small cubes rather than slice it, especially if you air-fry it.

Ingredients:

- 250g Tip Top Tempeh’s Soybean or Split-pea Tempeh.

- One large onion, finely chopped

- 3 cloves of garlic, finely chopped

- 1 cup of water

- Spices to taste: smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, mixed herbs, lemongrass

- 1 cup of coconut cream or coconut milk

- 1 large tablespoon of miso paste

- 1 tsp of dark brown sugar

Step 1: Slice or cube your tempeh block with a sharp knife, and fry or air-fry the pieces. Slices should be pan-fried about 5 min per side until golden. With an air-frier, at 180C, 15-20 minutes should be enough; shake, or mix with a wooden spoon half-way through. While you air-fry or fry the tempeh:

Step 2: Fry the thinly chopped onion and garlic with a stick of lemongrass. Add a cup of water, and sprinkle in the spices. Simmer 1 minute.

Step 3: Add to the pan a cup of coconut milk or coconut cream (or you can grate part of a block of dry coconut and dissolve in 1/2 cup of warm water to reconstitute a cup of coconut cream). Add the brown sugar, mix and simmer 1 minute.

Step 4: Add the previously fried or air-fried tempeh and simmer on low heat for 10 minutes.

Step 5: Stir in the miso and immediately turn off the heat

Step 6: Serve on rice, garnished with some fresh coriander, or simply on toast with a salad.

Enjoy the rich flavour and texture of a delicious and healthful meal!