The Best Teriyaki Tempeh

This delicious Teriyaki Tempeh is as good as eating out in a restaurant. The deliciously sticky and sweet and savoury umami bomb teriyaki sauce combines perfectly with the meaty texture of tempeh.

this recipe

I wanted to find more ways of using tempeh, which is protein-rich, great for your gut health and a delicious meat substitute. This dish is actually very simple to make, and basically involves making a delicious and thick teriyaki sauce that coats pan fried or air fried tempeh. You can use the teriyaki sauce recipe for other dishes like stir fry too, but I warn you, you may get addicted to this sauce!

Teriyaki simply means 'Glossy Broil' or 'Glossy Grill' . Teri means 'Shine' and Yaki means 'Grill' and refers to foods such as tempeh, tofu, meat, fish or veggies glazed with a sweetened soy sauce glaze and then grilled. The result is a yummy sticky dish that pairs perfectly with veggies. I like to serve it with some rice, and maybe my favourite Japanese Green Beans with Gomae Sesame Sauce. To make a bigger Japanese inspired feast, why not also make this Japanese Miso Glazed Aubergine (Nasu Dengaku) or this Cauliflower Steaks with Miso & Sesame Dressing.

Jump to:

• 🍴Tempeh
• 🥢Ingredients
• 👩🏽‍🍳How To
• 🥫Storage
• 🌶
• ❓FAQ
• 🍽️Similar Recipes
• 📖 Recipe
• 💬 Comments

🍴Tempeh

Tempeh is a healthy and tasty meat substitute, full of protein. It is usually made from fermented soya beans, although now you can find artisan tempeh makers that will use other beans (such as black beans and fava beans), which is perfect if you're looking for a soy-free version. Tempeh has quite a sour taste, and has a fantastic, 'meaty' texture. A lot like tofu, though, it will take on the flavours you give it (in this case, the teriyaki), which makes it really versatile. There are many other natural meat substitutes and vegan recipes for 'meaty' dishes - check out our round-up of the meatiest vegan dishes! You might also like to check out this post about The Best Sources of Vegan and Plant Based Protein

If you're looking for more ways to use tempeh, you have to try these Vegan Christmas Tempeh 'Sausage' Stuffing Balls which are great for any Sunday dinner, and just taste divine with my best in the world roast potatoes and gravy!

🥢Ingredients

The ingredients for this teriyaki tempeh are:

1. Tempeh - described in detail above. Great source of protein!
2. Soy Sauce /Tamari this is the body of the teriyaki. Tamari is gluten-free where as soy sauce generally isn't, but either will do unless you want this dish to be completely gluten free.
3. Olive oil - for frying the tempeh.
4. Cornstarch/cornflour - this is to thicken up the sauce. Check this is a gluten free cornstarch or use potato starch if you want this to be gluten free.
5. Garlic and ginger - key to flavouring the teriyaki sauce.
6. Brown sugar - the sauce needs a little sweetness, which brown sugar is great for. For a healthier sugar, try coconut palm sugar.
7. Vinegar - traditionally, rice vinegar would be used, but apple cider vinegar also works fine.

To serve up, it's your choice of things like vegetables, rice, and perhaps sprinkling over chopped spring onions/scallions and sesame seeds.

👩🏽‍🍳How To

This is such a simple recipe. All you do is:

1. Finely grate and chop the garlic and ginger
2. Add to a pan along with the sugar and heat.
3. Add the cornflour/cornstarch at the end to thicken it. Turn off the heat and add the vinegar.
4. Fry them tempeh so it's just a little crispy.
5. Add some of the teriyaki sauce to the tempeh and cook for a bit. Reserve some for drizzling.
6. Pile the teriyaki tempeh on top of rice and vegetables, then drizzle on extra sauce!

🥫Storage

The pan fried tempeh with teriyaki glaze will keep in a container in the fridge for 4-5 days. To eat, reheat in a pan or just eat straight from the fridge!

Any extra teriyaki sauce will keep well for several weeks in an airtight container in the fridge. The sugar and salt content will preserve it and keep it safe to eat, so you can use it in other stir fries or over veggies or tofu.

You can freeze both the teriyaki sauce and the tempeh. Use within three months of freezing.

🌶

❓FAQ

🍽️Similar Recipes

If you love this teriyaki tempeh recipe, then you may also love:

Crispy Black Bean Tofu Noodle Bowl

Hoisin Tofu Skin & Mushroom Noodle Bowl

Tasty Crispy Tofu, Veggies & Soba Noodles!

📖 Recipe

This recipe was developed by Vanessa, one of the original co-founders of this site. Vanessa is now working on her plant based health coaching business, Energise and Thrive Plant Based.

She’s also brought out her FREE Guide - 5 Steps to Balanced Plant Based Eating which you’re welcome to download. Of course, all the recipes she has created for The Vegan Larder (like this one!) will remain here for you to access.