This kung pao tempeh stir-fry has fresh veggies and a spicy orange Szechuan sauce and comes together in less than 30 minutes. Perfect for Meatless Monday!
Fermented foods have amazing health benefits. We should all be eating more of them! Tempeh, in particular has a fungus called rhizopus oligosporus which produces an antibiotic that is effective against certain bacterias. The protein and nutrients in the soybeans are easier to digest after the fermentation process and tempeh is less likely to cause gas or indigestion. Less gas is always a good thing in our house. 😉
I love cooking with tempeh because it cooks up quickly, easily takes on whatever seasonings you’re using and it’s loaded with protein (1 cup = 31 grams). Tempeh is at most (if not all?!) major grocery stores! You’ll find it in the refrigerated section near the produce. It comes in a rectangular package. My favorite brand is Lightlife. You can use their handy product finder to find a store near you!
The Kung Pao Tempeh recipe I’m sharing makes is crazy easy to enjoy all the health benefits of tempeh. It’s not only flavorful, but the whole meal can be prepared in less than 30 minutes, in one large skillet. Perfect for a weeknight, plant-based meal!
Onions, peppers, fresh broccoli and snow peas are tossed with the stir-fried tempeh and coated in spicy, but somewhat sweet orange Szechuan sauce that’s really flavorful and delicious. This stir-fry served over brown rice with a garish of crushed peanuts = perfection!
low-sodium tamari or soy sauce – tamari is gluten free but has the same taste as soy sauce!
unseasoned rice vinegar
fennel seeds
cinnamon
ground cloves
broccoli florets
mini bell peppers
snow peas
roasted, salted peanuts
rice, for serving – you could swap out for quinoa or cauliflower rice if you want!
Tempeh Stir Fry Recipe
Instead of marinating the tempeh first, we’re going to do a quick fry and then have it absorb all of the flavors of the final dish. In a large nonstick skillet, heat your oil over medium high heat. Add the cubed tempeh and cook until golden brown. As your tempeh is cooking, you’ll make the sauce! Whisk together the orange juice, Szechuan sauce, tamari, rice vinegar, fennel seeds, cinnamon and ground cloves in a small bowl.
After your tempeh is done cooking, remove from the pan and set aside. Use the same skillet to cook your veggies. Add the onion, bell pepper and broccoli to the pan and cook over medium high heat until the veggies begin to soften. Add the fresh ginger and garlic and cook until fragrant. Reduce the heat to low and add the sauce mixture to the pan.
Add the cooked tempeh back to the skillet along with the snow peas and stir to coat everything with the sauce. Serve the tempeh and veggies over warm rice and crushed peanuts on top! Sesame seeds and green onion would also be delicious toppers… just in case you want to take this dish to the next level!
If you make this kung pao tempeh please be sure to leave a comment and star rating below letting me know how it turns out. Your feedback is so helpful.
A flavorful tempeh stir-fry with fresh veggies and a spicy orange Szechuan sauce. The dish comes together in less than 30 minutes, making it quick and easy to enjoy the benefits of fermented foods.
Scale
Ingredients
2 Tablespoons coconut or olive oil, divided
1 package (8 oz) Lightlife Tempeh, chopped into 1/2-inch cubes
4 cups broccoli florets, trimmed and cut into bite-size pieces
4 multi-colored mini bell peppers, thinly sliced
1/2 cup snow peas
2 Tablespoons roasted, salted peanuts, crushed
2 cups rice, for serving
Instructions
Heat 1 Tablespoon of oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add cubed tempeh and cook, stirring often, until golden brown. It should take about 7 to 9 minutes. Transfer cooked tempeh to a plate.
While tempeh is cooking, whisk together orange juice, Szechuan sauce, tamari, rice vinegar, fennel seeds, cinnamon and ground cloves in a small bowl.
Using the same skillet, heat another tablespoon of oil over medium-high heat. Add onion, bell pepper and broccoli and cook, stirring occasionally, until the veggies begin to soften, about 5-7 minutes. Add ginger and garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about one minute. Reduce heat to low, add the Szechuan sauce mixture and cook, stirring for another minute.
Return the tempeh to the skillet along with snow peas and stir to coat with sauce. Serve tempeh and veggies over warm rice with crushed peanuts on top.
Oooh, I love tempeh and use it sliced and crumbled. I’ve tried General Tso’s cauliflower but this is a great idea along those lines. Thanks for the idea!
This looks delicious and easy – thanks for the recipe! Congrats on the new partnership, I look forward to adding more tempeh to my life as I usually love fermented foods.
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Oooh, I love tempeh and use it sliced and crumbled. I’ve tried General Tso’s cauliflower but this is a great idea along those lines. Thanks for the idea!
This looks delicious and easy – thanks for the recipe! Congrats on the new partnership, I look forward to adding more tempeh to my life as I usually love fermented foods.
Yum! I love tempeh