Melbourne Holistic Health Group

Published in Recipes - Tofu and Tempeh on 09 October 2011 by Natalie Nguyen

Serves 3-4

This delicious and colourful salad combines phyto-oestrogen-rich tempeh with crunchy salad vegetables and a delicious dressing. Tempeh provides a reasonable amount of protein as well.

 If you are keen on spicy food, use chilli paste, or for a milder and sweeter version, the sambal olek is a better choice. You can also choose to use another salad combination, although this one has a distinctive Asian flavour that combines very well with tempeh.

Ingredients

• 1 block of plain organic tempeh, chopped into small cubes
• 2-3 tbsp of whole coriander seeds, crushed in mortar and pestle
• ½ tbsp tamarind paste
• ½ tbsp of chilli paste or sambal olek paste (can be purchased in the Asian section of the supermarket)
• 2 tbsp coconut oil
• 2-3 cloves of garlic, crushed
• Tamari (gluten-free soy sauce) to taste

Salad

• 2 cups red cabbage, finely sliced or grated (like coleslaw)
• 2 cups baby spinach
• Grated daikon (optional)
• Handful of mint and Vietnamese mint leaves, finely chopped

Dressing

• 1 tbsp of tamarind puree
• 1/3 cup of water
• 2 teapsoons of cumin powder
• 2 teaspoons of fish sauce or tamari for vegetarians
• 1 chilli, chopped (take care to wash hands thoroughly after chopping and avoid touching eyes)
• 1 teaspoon of palm sugar or brown sugar
• A handful of sesame seeds
• 1-2 tsp sesame oil (optional)
• Chopped green shallots
• Fried shallots/onion, garnish

You will need

• Chopping board and sharp knife
• Mortar and pestle
• Garlic crusher
• Measuring spoons
• Wok or large frying pan
• Heat resistant stirrer
• Grater
• Mixing bowls
• Serving bowl or platter

Method

In a wok or large frypan, heat coconut oil

When hot, add garlic and crushed coriander seeds, stirring until brown and fragrant. Add tamarind, chilli paste and tempeh it coating thoroughly with spices until tempeh has browned. Add tamari to taste

Combine first 6 dressing ingredients together and taste, amending quantities to taste. Reserve other dressing ingredients for garnish

Chop and grate salad ingredients. Combine and mix well in a bowl. Coat salad mix with dressing

Scatter the tempeh mixture over the salad and top with sesame seeds , fresh and fried shallots and a drizzle of sesame oil

Variation

• Instead of tempeh, use kidney beans or chicken (but tempeh is higher in beneficial isoflavones for menopausal symptoms)
• Add some shredded coconut at the end of cooking.

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