I was a bit wary when starting this recipe, because it calls for either a bamboo steamer or a metal colander. I had neither. But, as an intrepid cook, I went to a nearby Chinese grocery and bought a new steamer. It fit perfectly in my wok and was extremely easy to use. A steamer, whether professional or homemade, is a useful tool to have in your kitchen. It will allow you to create steamed dumplings, vegetables, and rolls which would otherwise be impossible.
One of the great things about a real bamboo steamer is that the bamboo emits a wonderful sweet, woody smell when you use it. In addition, the tempeh has a savory, nutty grain odor. The melding of these two aromas made my kitchen smell lovely. You'll recall from past weeks' articles that tempeh is fermented soybean cake which is an Indonesian specialty. Tempeh is also great if you marinate it. I think a marinade will be my next tempeh experiment.
Have a look at Amanda's winning recipe and don't forget to give it a try!
Tempeh Salad
2 8 oz packages of tempeh
1 celery stalk, diced
½ small onion, diced
2 tablespoons mayonnaise**
to taste: celery salt
onion salt
cumin
garlic powder
pepper
dill
whole wheat bread or rolls
your favorite cheese, cheddar works well**
mustard
**note (soy mayo and soy cheese may be used)
Cube tempeh and steam for 20 minutes.
[If you do not have an electric or bamboo steamer simply place tempeh in a metal pasta strainer. Bring a pot of water to a boil, place strainer on top and cover with a lid. Make sure the water does not boil over into the strainer.]
Remove from heat and mash. Stir in the celery, onions, mayo and spices. Spread mustard on bread and top with tempeh salad and cheese. Melt cheese in microwave or oven. Serve with salad or steamed fresh vegetables.
This recipe is also well-organized as far as preparation is concerned. While the tempeh is steaming, there is time to chop, measure and prepare the other ingredients. What a great timesaver! I rarely have more than 45 minutes to prepare dinner and I found that this recipe took about 35 minutes from start to finish.
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