Saturday, October 27, 2007

Book review: Tempting Tempeh

Many people say that a vegan diet is restricted. If you are refering to the difficulties of finding vegetarian food when eating out, perhaps that's true depending on where you live. But if you are talking about the kinds of food you can come up with on a vegan diet, that's absolutely untrue.

One of the things that I have not eaten when I was an omnivore is tempeh. It's after becoming a vegetarian did I know what tempeh is. If you are a newbie to vegetarianism and the world of vegetarian foods, this is one great food you must know. Tempeh is a kind of fermented soybean cake invented by the Indonesians. Tempeh has a higher content of protein, fibre and vitamins compared to tofu.

How do you cook tempeh? I have tried smoked tempeh at a potluck party which was very nice, but I usually eat it deep fried and curried. But now, things are going to change! I received a copy of "Tempting Tempeh" from aduki independent press from Australia the other day. It opened my eyes to how tempeh could be used - rissoles, sushis, and kebabs! My next BBQ would probably be much better that the recent one. :)

There are a total of 20 tempeh recipes in this cookbook all with nice pictures, and all the recipes are vegan. Of course, if you just want to learn one way of cooking tempeh, aduki press also provided a sample recipe.

13 comments:

madeinalaska said...

okay.. maybe I should get this book! I happen to LOVE tempeh but, my family has repeatedly snubbed it! try try again!

Fredrik said...

I only tried tempeh once and was not very impressed. I rarely see it in restaurants so I never seem to get to try it again. Do you know any Sg restaurants that serve it?

Jari (travelling-vegan) said...

Actually my favourite thing with tempeh is a simple pasta sauce. It works as a much better replacement for meat in bolognese than TVP. For a very quick meal, just chop the tempeh to really small bits, and fry along with your favourite pasta sauce and some vegetables, beans are beautiful.

bazu said...

I LOVE tempeh! It is the wonder food of the gods! One of my favorite things to do with it is make homemade sausage patties - it is amazing, and so easy. I think I linked to the recipe on my blog a long time ago.

a veg*n @ Blog*Spot said...

Me too, i have never tried tempeh when i was non-vegetarian.

I seen one veg. stall crush it and stir-fry with firm tofu. Green Connection add some of it to their gado gado, if i remember correctly.

Thanks travegan, for the mentioning chopping the tempeh into smaller bits. Shall use this to replace minced pork for stir-fry egg-plant with basil leaves :)

dreamy said...

Hi madeinalaska, One of the most unhealthy ways to cook it is to deep fry 1st, and do whatever you want with it later, that's the way I eat it before I got the book :)

Eda, I know the NIE canteen sells it sometimes, if you are still in NTU... :)

Thanks Travegan, I got to suggest that to my cook (mum) then I can eat more healthily :D

Have to go to ur blog and dig it out bazu, i hope it doesn't require an oven cuz I haven't got one...

Stirfry with eggplant... hmm have to suggest to my cook :)! Yea Last time mum cuts it too big, and I don't like it. When it's mashed or into little pieces it taste great with curry :d

Anonymous said...

I didn't like tempeh before, it tasted a bit too much like blue cheese to me, but now I'm beginning to get the hang of it. I agree that the smaller/thinner the bits the better, and it needs to be fried until crispy and brown.

Anonymous said...

Hmm.. I was just reminded by a colleague again today that "women should not drink too much soya milk or eat too many beans".

Just two days ago, she told me that "Do you know that animals will die even if you don't eat them?" To prevent, unhappiness, I just said, "I know." Actually, I am thinking in my heart, "Will you eat your pet dog?"

dreamy said...

Hey anni, how about a tempeh recipe on ur website?

What a silly comment made! Hey VB, u shld have just tell her to let u eat her up hahaha ;)

Anonymous said...

hehee.. i don't think she ever realise she is also animal. :P

mustardseed said...

AHH!!! I want that book!! Where do you get it? Is it expensive?

This is melissatsang from the S'pore Veg Society forum(:

dreamy said...

Hey melissa, you can buy from aduki press
http://www.aduki.net.au/component/page,shop.product_details/flypage,shop.flypage/product_id,27/category_id,7/manufacturer_id,0/option,com_virtuemart/Itemid,35/vmcchk,1/

It's 11.95 Au dollars.

dreamy said...

Ah.. can't see the link.. u can go to their homepage at aduki.net.au the book link is on the left

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