Crispy Coconut Tempeh Recipe (2024)

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Cooking Notes

Ezra

"Crumbled" is misleading, I think they really meant "broken." You would break into large pieces rather than cut to give more crags and surface area for the breading to stick, and because having irregular shapes will be more visually interesting since it's standing in for shrimp. Tofu would work just fine (also try breaking it!)

Suzanne

Underwhelmed. The coconut dipping sauce (which also acts as the binder for the coconut/ crumb coating) is so bland. I love tempeh and will try some version of this again but I will be attempting to really amp up the flavor. As is the tempeh was tasteless. The lime salt is good but can't make up for the lack of flavor inside. Maybe some garlic paste?..liquid aminos? Anyone else agree? How would you doctor the sauce?

MMC

Honey is an interesting ingredient in a recipe claiming to be vegan: Many vegans do not eat honey. While agave syrup is often a good substitute, it is not as sticky as honey, so that substitution might not work here.

Use Tofu Instead

This was pretty good the first time we tried it, but we made it a second time with extra-firm tofu and it was amazing!! Would definitely recommend swapping it out for the tempeh (even though I normally like it more than tofu). I also added a little salt to the batter, which was good.

Meghan Ryan

Yes, honey may not work for vegans. But agave or maple syrup may do the trick I am going to give it a shot this week!

Kim

Didn’t have tempeh on hand so used tofu. We tried both pan frying and baking in the oven and the baking kept the coating on much better. Also we used sweetened coconut flakes. So good with the salty lime! Skipped the sauce because reviews were not great and we didn’t miss it. Delicious and easy.

LF

This was very tasty and not at all bland. The tempeh was crispy and flavorful, with the coconut nicely balancing the earthiness of the tempeh. We used the dipping sauce as a drizzle and served the tempeh over rice noodles. This is a keeper.

vanessaT

This took more like 40 minutes due to the two-step breading and then multiple batches of frying. I liked the texture combination of the crispy coconut tempeh and the rich, slightly-spicy coconut&lime dipping sauce. Considering the effort it took to fry them, I’ll try baking them next time.

Tim D

A rare NYT miss. Both the tempeh and sauce were bland. We salvaged the dish for our company by substituting and modifying to the point it wasn’t the same recipe at all, but have to give this one my first ever thumbs down.

MrsChill

This is just okay. Even after steaming the tempeh, marinating it in the batter, using coconut cream, and upping the spice it was still pretty flavorless. The lime salt does add something special though- I’ll use that for other recipes! Air fried instead of pan fried because I was feeling lazy. I did enjoy the texture of the tempeh and would like to try it made other ways.

Jessi

A big miss for me; as others have said, the tempeh is tasteless and the coconut milk did a poor job binding the coconut and breadcrumbs to the nugget.Air fried for 10 minutes @ 400 to cut back on oil.

Christine

Used flavoured tempeh (Indonesian spices) and the result was very tasty. However I must have gotten the wrong coconut milk: it was mostly translucide, so ended up adding sour cream for the dipping sauce. Also used tajin for the lime salt: excellent!

Alison

In case anyone else does not have coconut milk around or well just forgot to buy it, milk with peanut butter added to thicken was a reasonable substitute.

Monica

I forgot the cornstarch and it was still great. Next time I’ll try to remember the cornstarch and see if I can tell the difference. We loved it.

Lisa

Dipping sauce is visually unappealing and taste is just OK. Much prefer sweet chili sauce with this. Also, agree with others that recipe is better with tofu.

JayKP

After reading other notes about the bland flavor, I decided to marinate the tempeh in the mix. It makes more then enough. I also added black pepper and some garlic Chile paste to the mix for a little more punch.

Arthur

I made this with firm pressed tofu instead of tempeh and it turned out great!! A few things: i made this a little too salty, I think I put too much lime salt on - I’d use about half as much instead. Also i ended up with a lot of extra panko coconut and extra sauce/cornstarch mix. In the future I’d make about half as much to cover 16oz of tofu. Its hard to dip tofu cubes in The “dipping sauce” but its still lovely drizzled on top!

Sarah P

This was excellent. We fried in the airfryer to use less oil and subbed gluten free panko it still came out fantastic. I will say the “dipping sauce” was quite thin, but maybe it was the brand of coconut milk we used. It still tasted great spooned over rice. We will definitely make this dish again.

AAlexander

Used extra firm tofu and sambal. Made to recipe otherwise. Got rave reviews. Keys are 1/4 inch oil to fry and coconut cream not milk. Had about 3 tablespoons each of panko and coconut flakes left over.

Laysha

This was good and easy. After reading the reviews, I added a tablespoon of coconut aminos to the marinade after I separated the dipping sauce. I mixed the sauce with plain Greek yogurt to thicken and add some sour, which I'm glad I did because the sauce was a bit too spicy for the level of flavor. Next time I would crumble the tempeh a little smaller, and also try firm tofu.

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Crispy Coconut Tempeh Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Do you need to boil tempeh before frying? ›

Steaming the tempeh will remove some of the bitterness before cooking it further. This step isn't always necessary, especially if you're pairing the tempeh with a boldly-flavored sauce. You can steam tempeh using a steamer basket in a saucepan or a microwave-safe dish covered with water or vegetable broth.

What are some tricks to cooking tempeh? ›

Simmer the tempeh to soften the flavor.

Before using tempeh in any recipe, you can soften its bitter flavor by simmering the cubes for a couple minutes in the microwave or in a saucepan on the stove. An alternative to simmering: set a steamer basket in a pot and steam the cubes for 10 to 15 minutes. Drain and pat dry.

How to get the bitterness out of tempeh? ›

To remove bitterness from the tempeh, add to rimmed skillet or saucepan filled with 1 inch of water and bring to a low boil over medium heat. Steam tempeh for a total of 10-12 minutes, flipping once at the halfway point. Then rinse, pat dry, and cut into thin, bite-size pieces.

How to cook tempeh without killing probiotics? ›

Cooking tempeh kills the bacteria on the outside, but the probiotics on the inside should remain intact. If you want to maintain maximum probiotic benefit, keep your tempeh's internal temperature below 115˚!

How long should tempeh be cooked? ›

To steam the tempeh, cut it as desired, place in a steamer basket, cover and steam for 10-15 minutes. If you don't have a steamer basket, you can fill a saucepan with 1-2 inches of water and bring it to a boil. Once boiling place the tempeh in the saucepan, cover and reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 10-15 minutes.

How to tell when tempeh is cooked? ›

A: Tempeh is done when it holds together firmly in a solid cake. It will be entirely covered in white mold and may have spots of black or grey mold as well, especially near the holes in the bags. It will also have a pleasantly nutty aroma and feel warm without the aid of any heating devices.

How to know when tempeh is done? ›

Eventually the mold will completely envelop the beans and you'll end up with a solid cake of mold and soybeans. Your tempeh is now done!

Why add vinegar to tempeh? ›

Adding vinegar lowers the pH and prevents the growth of unwanted bacteria. Add the tempeh starter: Sprinkle the tempeh starter over the beans and mix for about a minute to distribute evenly. Fill the bags: Divide the beans between the two bags.

What does vinegar do in tempeh? ›

vinegar (like apple cider vinegar): adding vinegar creates an acidic environment. This is important to prevent the growth of unwanted bacteria. a warm place: like an incubator or simply an oven with the light on. Temperatures of 30-37°C (85-98°F) work best to make tempeh.

Why does my tempeh taste bad? ›

As they point out, if tempeh ferments for even just a little too long the bitter flavours of lactic acid bacteria and acetobacter (a microbial companion to vinegar) overwhelm the mushroomy flavour of the rhizopus oligosporus used to make tempeh.

Can you eat too much tempeh? ›

It's completely safe and healthy to eat up to two to three servings of soy products, such as tempeh, daily,” says Palmer. Of course, if you're allergic or sensitive to soy, you'll want to avoid it.

Can I eat uncooked tempeh? ›

Can You Eat Raw Tempeh? Tempeh should be cooked before being eaten and should not be eaten raw. Prior to being cooked, tempeh has almost no nutritional value and doesn't have a very pleasant taste. Before adding tempeh to anything you should cook it to ensure you get the most flavor and nutrition out of your food.

Can you overcook tempeh? ›

When cooked, tempeh should have a chewy, meat-like texture. If it's rubbery, that means it's probably overcooked. It's a delicious and healthy way to replace meat in stir-fries, salads, wraps, sandwiches, and Bolognese dishes, but it may take time and practice to get it right.

How long to boil tempeh before cooking? ›

Place sliced tempeh in a saucepan and cover with water or vegetable broth. Bring liquid to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 10 minutes. Then remove the tempeh and proceed with marinating, grilling, baking, or otherwise seasoning and cooking it.

Do you have to cook tempeh before eating? ›

The most important thing to be certain about is whether the tempeh has been cooked or not; if nothing is said, tempeh must be cooked before being used in any way. Cooking reduces the strength of flavour, especially the bitterness, and also helps tempeh more readily absorb other flavours.

Should you boil tempeh before marinating? ›

Don't skip this step! Steaming tempeh before baking or grilling it helps it soak up a marinade and infuse it with extra flavor. Steam the cubes for 10 minutes, and whisk together a marinade while they cook.

Can you eat tempeh straight from the packet? ›

Because of this potential, to ensure food safety, all tempeh should be pasteurized or cooked before it's eaten (FYI, pasteurization and thorough cooking are pretty much the same thing). This is why tempeh, though fermented, should not be considered a probiotic food. But don't worry!

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