This air fryer tempeh is made with a few staple ingredients in just 15 minutes! It's crispy, golden, and the perfect way to add plant-based protein to salads, bowls, and wraps.
Tempeh is a super convenient plant-based protein that has a naturally nutty flavor. As much as I love baked tempeh, you'll find me making air fryer tempeh more often because it cooks in under 10 minutes.
Air-frying tempeh also gives it a super crispy texture.
This recipe uses savory seasonings like nutritional yeast and soy sauce to give tempeh instant flavor. I love this seasoning combination so much that I also use it in my recipe for air fryer tofu!
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Why this recipe works
- Quick & easy: This recipe uses only 6 ingredients and it takes only 15 minutes to make.
- Flavors: Tempeh has a naturally nutty flavor. Toss it with a simple combination of soy sauce, nutritional yeast, onion powder, and garlic powder to make it even more flavorful.
- Texture: Air-fried tempeh is firm, soft on the inside, and lightly crispy on the outside. The tempeh is tossed with a little bit of olive oil to make it extra crispy.
- Versatile: This tempeh is perfect in bowls, salads, and in wraps. The crispy tempeh is a great blank slate that can be tossed in all kinds of different sauces and seasonings.
What is tempeh?
Tempeh is a fermented soybean product that originates in Indonesian cuisine. Unlike tofu, it is made with whole soybeans. It is fermented with the mold Rhizopus oligosporus, which is why some tempeh brands have a white fuzzy appearance.
Fermentation is what gives it a firm texture and nutty flavor, setting it apart from the naturally bland (but versatile!) flavor of tofu.
Tempeh can also be made with black beans, chickpeas, and other legumes.
Ingredients
- Tempeh: Find tempeh in the refrigerated section at most major grocery stores. It is usually next to the tofu and other "health food" items. Lightlife tempeh is my go-to tempeh brand.
- Oil: It is a misconception that air fryer recipes don't require oil. I use a small amount of canola oil in this tempeh recipe because it helps with browning and makes the tempeh more crispy. Avocado oil, olive oil, and other common cooking oils also work.
- Seasonings: This recipe features a combination of soy sauce, onion powder, garlic powder, and black pepper. Use an equal amount of tamari for gluten-free tempeh.
- Nutritional yeast: The nutritional yeast adds flavor but it also crisps up the tempeh. Feel free to add up to 3 tablespoons of nutritional yeast for even crispier tempeh.
How to make
Step 1: Start by dicing the tempeh into one-inch squares or triangles.
Step 2: Add it to a medium bowl and toss with the seasonings and soy sauce.
Step 3: Transfer the tempeh to the air fryer rack. Try not to overlap the pieces of tempeh. If necessary, cook it in batches.
Step 4: Air fry the tempeh for 10 minutes total at 375F. After 5 minutes, remove the air fryer rack and stir the tempeh. Continue cooking until the tempeh is golden and crispy but not burned.
FAQ
I recommend adding sauce after air frying. Heating sauce causes it to thicken up, especially if it's a sugar-based sauce. Adding sauce after air frying ensures the best tempeh consistency.
It does not need to be steamed but I do think that tempeh tastes better when steamed. Steaming removes some of the naturally bitter flavor tempeh sometimes has and it also helps it absorb seasonings better.
However, I think of air-fried tempeh as a quick and easy recipe, so I don't include steaming as an important part of the instructions as I do with baked tempeh.
Feel free to add other seasonings like 1 tablespoon of Cajun seasoning, my low-sodium taco seasoning, or Greek seasoning.
Fear not, this is actually the "good" mold that is part of the process that turns soybeans into tempeh. Some varieties of tempeh have more gray coloration than others. This mold sometimes also appears as black dots.
Equipment
This recipe works in all styles of air fryers. I tested this tempeh in two different air fryers:
There was no obvious difference between the two models of air fryer. If you have a more traditional basket air fryer this recipe will work as written.
Whichever air fryer you use, I recommend keeping an eye on the tempeh starting at the 6-minute mark. This is the point at which tempeh starts to become crispy.
Storage tips
Leftovers: Keep cooked tempeh refrigerated in a closed container for 3-4 days.
Freezing: Air-fried tempeh freezes well for up to 3 months. Let cool before transferring to an airtight freezer container.
Reheating: The quickest method is to reheat tempeh in the microwave. To reheat in the air fryer, simply air fry at 350F for 2 to 4 minutes, until warmed through.
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Recipe
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Air Fryer Tempeh
Ingredients
- 8 ounce block tempeh
- 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce or tamari
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon canola oil or other neutral oil
Instructions
- Slice tempeh into 1 inch cubes.
- Add tempeh to a medium bowl and toss with the nutritional yeast, soy sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, and canola oil.
- Transfer the tempeh to the air fryer rack. Try not to overlap the pieces of tempeh.
- Air fry the tempeh for 10 minutes total at 375F. After 5 minutes, remove the air fryer rack and stir the tempeh. Continue cooking until the tempeh is golden and crispy but not burned.
Notes
- Other seasonings: Feel free to add other seasonings like Cajun seasoning, taco seasoning, etc.
- Leftovers: Keep cooked tempeh refrigerated in a closed container for 3-4 days. Air fryer tempeh does freeze well for up to 3 months.
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