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Tempeh Delivery or Pickup
The Instacart guide to tempeh products
An Indonesian fermented food traditionally made from soybeans, tempeh is comparable to beef in terms of protein. It's also low in saturated fat, high in fiber, and has no cholesterol. Compared to tofu, tempeh has a higher protein content as well as more dietary fiber and vitamins. The texture of tempeh is also firmer and its flavor is stronger.
About tempeh
The production process of tempeh is similar to that of tofu, but it has a few differences. Tempeh starts with using whole soybeans instead of soy milk, which makes tempeh less processed than tofu. The soybeans are cooked until they become a cake-like substance.
During the fermentation process, enzymes begin to break down the soy proteins, carbohydrates, and oils. This makes the beans easier to digest. You can see the actual beans in the tempeh cake or block held together by a beneficial probiotic mold used during the fermentation process. The tempeh must incubate for 24-48 hours to give spores plenty of time to grow and create a bean patty. The entire process is similar to cheese making, resulting in a delicious flavor and meat-like texture.
Tempeh cooking tips
Its rich and nutty flavor makes tempeh the ideal addition to vegetarian cuisine. Because it's better at holding its shape than tofu, tempeh can act as a delicious replacement for a variety of meat-based dishes, including those that have bacon or ground beef. Its taste is often said to resemble that of mushrooms.
This extremely versatile food can be consumed in a variety of ways. Eating it raw allows you to enjoy all of its health benefits, while cooking can slightly reduce the number of vitamins consumed but enhances the flavor. Normally tempeh is cooked by frying or grilling, steaming, or boiling. If you plan on cooking it on its own to serve as a main dish, tempeh is best sliced crosswise so that it cooks evenly.
- Frying or Grilling: Placing the tempeh on a grill or pan-frying it can enhance its nutty flavor. Slice the tempeh about 1/4-inch thick, and cook it until the edges turn crispy. Doing this can maintain its chewy interior.
- Steaming: If you don't enjoy the flavor of raw tempeh, steaming it can help. Place a sliced piece in a pan, and cover it with either water or vegetable broth. Bring the liquid to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer on the stove for 10 minutes. Once you remove it, season the tempeh or continue grilling or baking it.
- Boiling: Bring a pot of water to boil or simmer, depending on how soft you want the tempeh to be. The hotter the water, the softer the tempeh will turn out. Place the entire block in the water, and cook for 8-10 minutes. Once you remove it from the pot, pat it dry.
Tempeh tends to be rather bland when served plain, but it absorbs flavor easily, so feel free to experiment with different marinades. Some common ones that might work well include vinegar, soy sauce, ginger, honey, maple syrup, and peanut butter.
When you're planning to make a dish using tempeh, open the Instacart app and add it to your order. An Instacart shopper will fulfill your order and get your tempeh to your house on the same day if possible. That way, you're spending less time at the store and more time figuring out what delicious dish to make with your tempeh!
Tempeh Near Me
Buy your favorite Tempeh online with Instacart. Order Tempeh from local and national retailers near you and enjoy on-demand, contactless delivery or pickup within 2 hours.
FAQs about tempeh
Yes, tempeh is a probiotic food because it contains bacteria that are beneficial to the human digestive system. It's considered a living culture, so you might notice that its packaging includes air to allow the culture to continue to grow. Once all the oxygen is used up, the culture will stop growing. The main bacteria in tempeh is Rhizopus Oryzae. Tempeh also produces a natural antibiotic that inhibits the growth of harmful bacteria in the body.