Meatless Monday #98: Tempeh Lettuce Wraps

This is such a fast and easy meal!

You may be asking: What in the heck is tempeh? Tempeh (pronounced ‘tem-pay’) is a patty made from cooked soybeans. Many brands also add other grains, like barley, and may add spices or flavors as well. Although tempeh is made from soy, it is NOT AT ALL like tofu! Tofu is made from soy curds (basically soy “milk”), but since tempeh is made from whole soybeans, it is very thick, firm, and hearty. And unlike tofu, which doesn’t really have a taste on its own, tempeh does have a mild, nutty taste on its own. What I’m trying to say is: don’t rule out tempeh just because you don’t like tofu! Tempeh is entirely different. So different, in fact, that my fiancee who hates tofu, loves tempeh.

One brand of tempeh. There are many!

This is tempeh!

Ingredients
1 package of tempeh (usually found in the produce section, by the tofu)
1/2 cup raw, unsalted cashews
1 shredded carrot
Chopped green onion
Teriyaki sauce or other Asian-inspired marinade/sauce (I used Trader Joe’s Island Soyaki)
1 head of lettuce
Optional: You can always add more veggies to this recipe! I think cabbage, eggplant, or bell pepper would all make excellent additions!

Directions

1. Chop the tempeh into cubes. In a pan, cook the cubed tempeh and cashews in the teriyaki sauce. This shouldn’t take long – maybe 5-10 mins.

2. Mix the tempeh & cashews with shredded carrots and chopped green onion.

3. You can actually just eat the meal like that (without the lettuce wrap). But to make it fun and fancy, use lettuce leaves to make your lettuce wraps.