Salisbury Tempeh

Babe is watching the Lakers Game at his own place. So I am at home... doin' my own thang. Cooking things that he would NEVER eat.

Salisbury Tempeh (serves 3-4)

Ingredients:

1 8oz Package Whole Grain Tempeh
1/2C water
2T Braggs Aminos
4 cloves garlic sliced or minced or 2T fried garlic (optional)
1-2 drops liquid smoke (optional)
4 T oil

1T oil
8-10 sliced crimini (brown) mushrooms
2C raw spinach (optional)
1/2 sliced brown onion
fresh ground pepper

1 Package Hain vegetarian brown gravy mix
1 C water

Method:

Take the tempeh out of the package and slice lengthwise so that you have two thinner pieces. Cut each slice into 2 squares then into triangles. Heat oil in a large frying on medium heat and add tempeh.

Fry on one side for about 8 minutes moving from time to time. Turn tempeh over and add the 1/2C water, Braggs (you can substitute soy sauce), optional garlic and liquid smoke. cover and simmer for another 8 minutes moving from time to time. If the pan gets dry add about 1/4C of water only at a time. Transfer to bowl and set aside.

While pan is still hot add 1 tablespoon of oil and then add the sliced crimini mushrooms and onion. You can use white mushrooms and onion if you want but the flavors are not as savory and in my opinion not as good. Saute for a couple of minutes then add spinach (sorry, but i put spinach in EVERYTHING. I love it) and saute till spinach has wilted. Add to bowl with the tempeh.

Turn pan down to low and add 1 cup of cold water. Add Hain vegetarian brown gravy mix and cook according to package. Once thickened add the tempeh, spinach and mushrooms and gently heat through.

I serve this dish atop mashed potatoes with broccoli on the side but this can easily be served over rice or egg noodles if you're vegetarian.


My Two Cents:

when you look in my cabinet you'll see all sorts of crazy shit like fried garlic, braggs aminos, vegetarian gravy and liquid smoke. I seriously recommend having stuff like this on hand in your pantry at all times. Stocking up on "basics" like these in addition to vegetarian chicken stock, tandoori powder and steak seasoning make your possibilities endless when it comes to vegan and vegetarian cooking. Nobody eats beans, tofu or tempeh plain... SPICE IT UP!

fried garlic - Ranch 99 market (99 Ranch market... whatever the fuck you call it) Asian markets are the shit. Ever wonder where to buy mock chicken or duck..? Here mother fuckers!

Hain Vegetarian Brown Gravy - I get mine at Henry's Marketplace. I buy at least two if i need to pick up one. they make a "chicken" version too but i don't find it all that often.

Braggs Liquid Aminos - apparently this shit is really good for you. I don't cook with it much but i do like it as a salad dressing with fresh lemon juice and maybe a drop of sesame oil. This is a great alternative to soy sauce if you're gluten free since this is not fermented and does not contain yeast. i dont' know what the fuck is in it... i never read the label.

Liquid smoke - i got this at Henry's. This stuff goes a long way. Literally all you need is a drop or two. I'll post the recipe for Fakin' Bitz which uses this with TVP (Texturized vegetable protein... yet another random vegan item i keep in my pantry)


till then... i'm outta here! time to clean up the kitchen and straighten my hair. This is my last day at the office being 30 (my barfday is Sunday) and i got new jeggins (yes... jeggins) so i gotta look at least remotely decent. plus my hoegaarden is gettin' kinda warm. i'll try to post more but i have adult ADD so.... look! bears!