Looking for a hearty vegan meal with tempeh that’s packed with plant-based nutrients? This Smoky Tempeh with chickpeas and veggies is the perfect dish! With earthy mushrooms, smoky tempeh, and vibrant beets, this one-pan recipe brings a blend of bold flavors and textures to your table.
Prep Time: 10 minutes – Cooking Time: 20 minutes – Total Time: 30 minutes
For some reason, yes, beets are once again involved in this recipe 🤣 Whenever I think about publishing the recipe for a new dish I made, I show a picture to my Instagram community and ask if anybody wants the recipe. If there is genuine interest in having the recipe, I then write it out and put it up here. And for some very odd reason the last few times it always involved beets. While I do go through beety phases, I can assure you that I don’t eat beets everyday and that there are plenty of other things I cook and eat. So as I already shared my personal beet story with you in my last recipe, how about we dive into the tempeh temptation of the dish this time, as you might wonder: “What is Tempeh and Why is it So Healthy?”Well, I am glad you asked…
What is Tempeh and Why is it So Healthy?
Tempeh is a traditional fermented soybean product that originates from Indonesia. It has a firm texture and a nutty, earthy flavor that absorbs marinades and seasonings beautifully. Tempeh is packed with protein, probiotics, and essential vitamins like B12, making it a great meat alternative. Its fermentation process enhances digestibility and nutrient absorption, contributing to gut health and overall well-being. I am a big tempeh fan and think it goes well with most dishes as a protein source. Now that you know a bit more about tempeh, are you ready to start cooking this hearty vegan meal with tempeh?
Recipe: Smoky Tempeh With Chickpeas and Veggies
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 block of tempeh, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1/2 a leek, thinly sliced
- 6 mushrooms, chopped
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1 jar (about 14 oz/400g) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 1 medium beet, cut into bite-sized pieces (no need to peel if organic)
SPICES:
- salt
- pepper
- soy sauce
- balsamic vinegar
- liquid smoke (or substitute with 1/2 tsp smoked paprika or a dash of chipotle powder)
- olive oil (or any cooking oil)
PREPARATION:
- Chop up all veggies. I like leaving them chunky so I have something to chew on.
- Cut up tempeh: Contrary to the veggies, I like my tempeh in small bite-size pieces.
- Fry Leek and Garlic: In a large pan or skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the sliced leek and minced garlic, cooking until the leek softens and the garlic becomes fragrant, about 3 minutes.
- Add Tempeh: Add the tempeh pieces to the pan, stirring to combine with the leeks and garlic. Cook until the tempeh starts to turn golden brown, about 5-7 minutes.
- Add the Sauce: Pour in the soy sauce, balsamic vinegar, and liquid smoke (or your alternative). Stir well to coat the tempeh and leeks, letting the flavors absorb. If this is your first time using liquid smoke you might wanna start with just a dash as it is quite strong. You can always add more if needed 🙂
- Season: Season the mixture with salt and pepper to taste.
- Add Mushrooms: Add the sliced mushrooms to the pan, stirring occasionally until they soften and begin to brown, about 5 minutes.
- Add Beets: Add the chopped beets. Stir and cook for another 5-7 minutes, allowing the beets to soften slightly but still retain some bite.
- Add Chickpeas: Finally, add the drained chickpeas, mixing everything together.
- Put the lid on the pot and let everything simmer for another 5 minutes, allowing the chickpeas to warm up and absorb the sauce.
- Do a taste test and add more spices as needed – done!
👩🏼🍳 Serve in a pretty bowl and enjoy the colors and the flavors!
NOTE: I never peel my veggies to add more nutrients and also to increase the chances of more B12 in my dishes. At least in theory – with regards to B12 – as it is a bacteria that comes from our soil. However, nowadays our soils are not very rich in B12 anymore and also of course I wash my veggies, which rinses the B12 away with the “dirt”. However, I buy organic veggies only and do not recommend consuming unpeeled non-organic ingredients!
Need some more food for thought?
Shampoo Thoughts on Happiness is a collection of epiphanies inspired by life, nature and Hawai’i. Told chronologically in order of their appearance. An easy and entertaining read with profound thoughts, based on true experiences and encounters. Whether you read one Shampoo Thought a day or the entire book in one go, you will find inspirational sparks of happiness and a fun game of Truth or Dare – both leaving space for your own revelations.
For more (vegan) inspiration you can follow me on Instagram, where you can find more than just a hearty vegan meal with tempeh 🙂
Wanna know more about my vegan journey and how my book Shampoo Thoughts on Happiness came about?
A few weeks ago I had a lovely conversation with Kathleen Gage and VLynn Hawkins on their Podcast Veganpreneur Revolution™ , in which we talked about the interconnection of veganism, health, and spiritual awakening. I shared about my own transformative story of weight loss paired with gain of spiritual awareness after going vegan in 2013. A highlight was also the impromptu oracle reading in Shampoo Thoughts on Happiness that triggered some interesting contemplations. And – of course- we also talked a bit about beets and recipes. You can listen to our whole conversation in the video below or you can read a summary of it here.
Latest posts on the blog …
- Hearty Vegan Meal: Smoky Tempeh With Chickpeas and Veggies
- Beety Curry for Beet Lovers
- Einfacher Eintopf
- 🇺🇸/🇩🇪 Vegan Chili & Chakric Eating
- My vegan journey
Here you can read more about me and this blog.
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