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!

EM

I don't doubt that I may have done something wrong but this did not taste good or like I hoped. Just blech. I'll be having toast for dinner instead.

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.

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Crispy Coconut Tempeh Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Do you need to boil tempeh before frying? ›

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.

How do you make tempeh taste better? ›

Its naturally bitter and earthy flavors make raw tempeh quite unappetizing. To enjoy tempeh to the fullest, I always recommend soaking it in a marinade and/or pan-frying it with a tart, sweet, and salty sauce.

When preparing a dish with tempeh What first step is recommended? ›

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.

Should tempeh be rinsed before cooking? ›

Rinse and dry the tempeh with paper towels. Cut tempeh into triangles. To do it, first cut it in half lengthwise, then make a diagonal cut lengthwise and slice it into thin triangles.

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.

Is it better to steam or boil tempeh? ›

Neither of these microbes are harmful to humans. But both of them can create bitter tastes in fermented foods. Luckily, throwing tempeh into a steam bath before cooking with it helps to purge the flavours these food-fermenting organisms can leave behind.

Is there a downside to tempeh? ›

Tempeh, along with other fermented soy products, is generally considered safe for most people. However, some individuals may want to consider limiting their intake of tempeh. Those with a soy allergy should avoid tempeh altogether. Eating tempeh may trigger an allergic response for these people.

Can you eat tempeh straight from the package? ›

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!

Why add vinegar to tempeh? ›

The acid from the vinegar helps to prevent the growth of unwanted bacteria. Add the tempeh starter: Sprinkle the tempeh starter over the beans and mix well to evenly distribute the starter throughout the beans.

How do you know when tempeh is cooked? ›

Kindly note microwaving is NOT a sufficient method to thoroughly cook our tempeh. Please cook to an internal temperature of 165° F (75° C).

How do you know when tempeh is done? ›

And over the next day or so, the mycelium will start to completely cover the beans. 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!

How do you know when tempeh is ready? ›

The tempeh is ready to be consumed when a white film covers the entire soybeans, and the beans form a solid loaf. Fermentation of the tempeh can take from 24 to 72 hours. Refrigerate or freeze the tempeh to stop fermentation.

What is the GREY stuff on tempeh? ›

Yes grey spots are okay. Occasionally you may see your tempeh has black spots most commonly found on the corners.. This does not mean your tempeh is '”off” or “moldy” in the bad sense of the word. These spots are where the Rhizopus has formed spores - a sign of the beginning of overripe tempeh.

Can you eat tempeh uncooked? ›

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.

Is it OK to boil tempeh? ›

Boiling tempeh helps to break down its fibrous texture, making it softer and more palatable. Additionally, boiling can help remove any potential bitterness and impart flavors from the broth or marinade. Boiling is also a convenient cooking method, as it requires minimal effort and preparation.

Can you eat tempeh not cooked? ›

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.

Can you eat packaged tempeh raw? ›

Can tempeh be eaten raw? Yes. There is nothing wrong with eating it raw. However, when raw tempeh is coated with any oily mix like mayonnaise moisture gets sealed in and air gets sealed out and this creates a favorable environment for some anaerobic bacteria which will give tempeh an unpleasant taste.

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