Tempeh Curry Salad
Tempeh is a cultured, fermented soybean product that stores well in the refrigerator and is ready for many recipes. Originally from Indonesia, tempeh is less processed than tofu. Rich in protein and fiber, tempeh also offers iron, calcium, potassium, and other nutrients. It’s usually sold near the tofu in the store, in flat, rectangular packages. Keep it refrigerated. Because it has a stronger, nutty flavor than mild tofu, try pairing tempeh with robust flavors.
If you’ve never cooked with tempeh before, when you open a fresh package you may see some grey or black spots on the tempeh cake. This is completely normal and does not affect the taste. Remember, tempeh is made with cultures that bind the soybeans together. Spots are part of that culture and are not a problem. However, it is possible for an opened package of tempeh to spoil after a while, just like other foods, so if it doesn’t smell fresh or has other spoilage signs, don’t use it.
This curried tempeh salad recipe is great to make ahead and store in the refrigerator, ready to add to a meal. You can be very flexible with the fruit and veggie add-ins, but try for something flavorful from the onion family, something crunchy (seeds, celery, bell pepper), and something sweet (raisins, chopped apple, or mango) among your selections.
Tempeh Curry Salad
Ingredients
1 8-oz package tempeh
1 T curry powder (or more to taste)
2 T vegan mayonnaise (such as Vegenaise)
1/4 C unsweetened applesauce
Pinch of salt
Ground black pepper
1/2 C grated carrot
1 stalk chopped celery
1/4 C chopped scallion or red onion, or more to taste
1/4 C raisins
2 T pepitas or sunflower seeds
Instructions
Finely chop the tempeh (or pulse in food processor to a coarse chop). Mix together the curry powder, vegan mayonnaise, applesauce, salt and pepper. Add applesauce mixture to tempeh. Add other ingredients and stir well.
Serve as desired, in a sandwich, wrap, on a salad, or atop a grain bowl. When serving in a wrap or sandwich, as shown below, add some greens and mango chutney for a colorful and delicious dish.
