Tempeh Tacos – Candy Potato Soul by Jenné Claiborne

These daring and vibrant Tempeh Tacos are straightforward to make, filled with plant-based protein, and have a vibrant colour palette as festive as scrumptious! Elevate your loved ones taco night time or double this recipe to deal with feast visitors.

This recipe was written on March 30, 2021. It was up to date with extra recipe info on June 5, 2024.

Fulfill your taco cravings with this nutritious and flavor-backed Mexican tempeh taco recipe. Soy-based tempeh is marinated in a smoky, candy, tangy mix of umami soy sauce, balsamic vinegar, maple syrup, and a kick of chipotle chili powder, then pan-fried till golden brown. The tempeh taco meat is loaded into heat tortillas with creamy, zesty selfmade guacamole, and a recent cabbage and carrot slaw. 

These vegan tempeh tacos’ pleasant mixture of textures and tastes is festive sufficient for group gatherings and simple sufficient to whip up for a satisfying weeknight meal. It solely takes 35 minutes to organize this dish from begin to end, making it an excellent meal so as to add to your dinner rotation! 

For extra plant-based taco recipes, strive my lentil tacos, mushroom carnitas tacos, and jerk jackfruit tacos.  

Elements

Tempeh: A protein-rich meat different constituted of fermented soybeans. Its agency meaty texture is ideal for this tempeh taco recipe. If desired, substitute for additional agency tofu, mushrooms, or chickpeas.

Soy Sauce: That is used within the tempeh meat marinade to reinforce the savory taste and add umami notes. Go for a low-sodium soy sauce in case you favor much less saltiness or use tamari or coconut aminos for a gluten-free different. 

Balsamic Vinegar: Provides a tart, barely candy depth to the marinade, balancing the flavors. Use a high-quality balsamic vinegar for the most effective style. Searching for a substitute? Swap for purple wine vinegar with a pinch of sugar. 

Maple Syrup: Offers a pure sweetness to the tempeh marinade and helps carmelize the tempeh when pan-fried. You can too use agave nectar if desired. 

Chipotle Chili Powder: Provides the tempeh taco marinade a smoky warmth. Regulate the quantity to fit your style preferences. For a milder taste, substitute common chili powder or smoked paprika.

Avocados: Used as the bottom of the selfmade guacamole. Go for Haas avocados for the most effective guac style and texture and select ones which can be barely delicate to the contact for peak ripeness. 

Pink Onion: Provides a pointy, tangy, barely candy chew to the guacamole. Finely mince it to distribute the flavour evenly. Use yellow onion for a extra impartial style. 

Cilantro: Contemporary cilantro provides a shiny, herbaceous be aware to the guacamole. When you don’t favor cilantro, substitute parsley—simply know it’ll contribute a barely totally different taste. 

Jalapeño Pepper: Offers the guac with a spicy kick that elevates the tacos. Regulate the quantity to fit your style preferences, or substitute with a milder pepper in case you favor much less warmth. 

Limes: Contemporary lime juice provides a tasty acidity to the guacamole and cabbage carrot slaw. Roll the limes on a tough floor to launch the juices earlier than slicing them open.

Sea Salt: Enhances the flavors of the guacamole. Begin with the beneficial quantity and add extra to style as wanted. You can too use Kosher salt. 

Pink Cabbage: Garnishes the tacos, including a crunchy texture and vibrant colour. Finely shred it for the most effective texture. Swap for shredded inexperienced cabbage or use a bagged coleslaw combine if desired. 

Carrots: Offers sweetness and a colourful crunch to the tacos. Peel and shred them finely, or go for pre-shredded carrots to save lots of prep time. 

Further Virgin Olive Oil: This oil provides a wealthy taste to the cabbage and carrot slaw. Use a high-quality additional virgin olive oil or one other impartial oil, like avocado, for the tastiest tempeh tacos recipe.

Corn Tortillas: Heat them earlier than serving for the most effective texture. Substitute flour tortillas or a grain-free different as wanted.

Find out how to Prepare dinner Tempeh Tacos

• Crumble or cube tempeh into small items. I like to make use of my fingers to crumble tempeh into dime-sized items. I like the feel of the irregular items. You would additionally cube the tempeh with a knife.

• Put together Tempeh Marinade. Combine the soy sauce, balsamic vinegar, maple syrup, and chipotle chili powder in a medium-sized mixing bowl till effectively mixed.
• Add Tempeh. Add the tempeh items to the blending bowl. Gently toss the tempeh within the marinade to mix. Cowl the bowl with plastic wrap and let it marinate within the fridge for a minimum of quarter-hour or in a single day for optimum taste. 

• Pan-Fry Tempeh. Warmth a medium-size skillet over low-medium warmth. Add the marinated tempeh, together with the additional marinade juices, to the skillet and cook dinner for 5-7 minutes, stirring ceaselessly, till it’s sizzling and golden and the marinade has cooked off (no liquid remaining). 

• Put together Guacamole. Place the guacamole substances in a mortar and pestle or mixing bowl and mash till you attain your required texture. Season the guacamole to style with extra salt and lime if desired. Put aside.

• Put together Slaw. Mix the shredded purple cabbage and carrots in a bowl and toss with olive oil and lime. Season to style with salt if desired. Put aside.

• Warmth Tortillas. Heat the tortillas over the flame of your stovetop burner or in a toaster oven at 350°F for about 2 minutes. Wrap the tortillas in a kitchen towel to maintain them heat.

• Assemble Tacos. Construct the tacos by layering the marinated tempeh, cabbage carrot slaw, and guacamole into the nice and cozy tortillas. Garnish with extra cilantro, a squeeze of lime juice, and sizzling sauce if desired. Take pleasure in sizzling!

Recipe Professional-Ideas

• Let the tempeh marinate. The most effective tempeh marinade recipes enable the tempeh to take in all of the scrumptious flavors. Marinate for a minimum of quarter-hour, a number of hours, or ideally in a single day; the longer it sits, the higher it’ll style!
• Crumble the tempeh. Break the tempeh into bite-sized items. This makes tempeh recipes straightforward to completely coat within the marinade and evenly cook dinner within the skillet. 
• Customise the guacamole texture. Flippantly mash the avocados for a chunkier texture, or mash till clean and creamy to fit your style. 
• Regulate the spices. Customise the warmth by adjusting the chipotle chili powder within the marinade and the quantity of jalapeño within the guacamole to fit your spice preferences. 
• Heat the tortillas. Don’t skip this step! Warming the tortillas makes them extra pliable and enhances the flavour of the tacos. 
• Double the recipe. Simply multiply this recipe to make the servings you’ll want to feed a crowd!

Serving Ideas

Take pleasure in these festive tempeh tacos for a satisfying lunch or weeknight dinner with easy sides like a inexperienced salad, seasoned black beans, or roasted veggies. Or serve them at your subsequent feast accompanied by a few of our favourite Mexican-inspired recipes beneath: 

Storage Instructions

• Refrigeration: Retailer leftover cooked tempeh, ready guacamole (with an avocado pit in it to sluggish the browning course of), and cabbage carrot slaw individually in hermetic containers for 2-3 days. 
• Reheating: Heat the tortillas individually and reheat the tempeh in a skillet over medium warmth or microwave for 1-2 minutes. Assemble the tacos, including the toppings.

Regularly Requested Questions

Extra Tempeh Recipes

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