Emily Han is a Los Angeles-based recipe developer, educator, herbalist, and author of Wild Drinks & co*cktails and co-author of Wild Remedies. For recipes and classes, check out her personal site.
updated Sep 7, 2022
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If you like store-bought tempeh, just wait until you try fresh nutty-tasting homemade tempeh. You might never go back! Plus, when you make it yourself, you can go way beyond soybeans and customize your tempeh with whatever kinds of legumes and grains you want.
To make tempeh at home, you just need some beans, a spoonful of tempeh starter, and a warm spot in your house. Today we’ll walk you through each step of the process, from preparing the beans to cooking it for dinner.
What is Tempeh?
Originating from the Indonesian island of Java, this fermented soybean cake is nutty, savory, and a great source of protein. Now a staple for many vegetarians and vegans, it can be marinated, fried, added to sandwiches, salads, stews, and more.
Why Make Fresh Tempeh?
Making your own tempeh takes more time and effort than going to the grocery store, and it may or may not be cheaper. However, I think it is completely worth it from a taste standpoint. Fresh, homemade tempeh has a fuller, more complex flavor than any store-bought version I’ve had. It’s so delicious that I often barely season it. Plus, if you’re a nerd like me, you’ll find it incredibly thrilling to watch the mold grow!
The Beans
Tempeh is traditionally made with soybeans, and that is what is shown in this tutorial. However, you can actually make it with any beans, like black beans, black-eyed peas, and chickpeas. You can also use grains such as brown rice, barley, or millet (in fact, tempeh can be made with just grains and no beans at all). Seeds like sesame, flax, or sunflower can also be added.
The Tempeh Starter
Making tempeh is a process of controlled fermentation. The beans are inoculated with a starter culture that contains Rhizopus mold spores (either Rhizopus oligosporus or Rhizopus oryzae), and then fermented at a warm temperature. As the mycelium grows, it binds the beans into a dense, white cake. There are many sources for tempeh starter; I usually get mine from Cultures for Health.
→ Tempeh Starter at Cultures for Health
The Container
Tempeh should be made in a vented container with the beans lightly packed and no more than 1 inch deep. The vents must be large enough to allow for air circulation, yet not so large that the beans dry out.
I like using perforated zip-top bags because they require little prep, they make it easy to see what is going on during incubation, and they form a tempeh cake with a good size and shape. All you need to do is prick the bags with a skewer or large needle. You can even wash and reuse the bags for future batches.
Other options include vented tupperware containers, a baking pan or pie plate with perforated aluminum foil or plastic wrap on top, or the traditional Indonesian banana leaves.
The Incubator
In order for the mycelium to grow, the beans must be kept at a temperature between 85° and 90°F for 24 to 48 hours. If the temperature is not warm enough, the tempeh spores may not grow and you may get unwanted bacteria. Conversely, if it is too hot, the spores may die.
A box-style dehydrator such as an Excalibur is a great incubator because it has a thermostat and room for air to circulate. Other options include an oven with the light on, a cupboard or cooler with a lightbulb or heating pad, or a warm place in your house. Whatever you do, you want to make sure your incubator has good air circulation, so crack the door open if using an oven, cooler, or cupboard.
Recipes For Using Tempeh
Need some ideas for cooking your homemade tempeh? Here are a few!
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To make tempeh all you need are soybeans (or other beans and grains), vinegar, tempeh starter, and water. (Image credit: Emily Han)
How To Make Tempeh
Makes 2 (14-ounce) cakes
Serves 4
Nutritional Info
Ingredients
- 1 pound
(about 2 1/2 cups) dried whole soybeans (see Recipe Note)
- 2 tablespoons
white vinegar
- 1 teaspoon
tempeh starter
Equipment
Large bowl
Colander
Potato masher (optional)
4-quart or larger pot
- 2
baking sheets
Paper towels or clean kitchen towels
Measuring spoons
Mixing spoon
- 2
quart-sized zip-top bags
Skewer or large needle
Incubator (see above)
Oven thermometer (if necessary to gauge temperature of incubator)
Instant-read thermometer (optional)
Instructions
Soak the beans: Place the beans in a large bowl and cover by 3 inches with water. Let stand overnight or at least 12 hours.
De-hull and split the beans: The hulls or skins need to be removed in order for the spores to inoculate the beans. Using your hands or a potato masher, knead and squeeze the beans so that the hulls fall off and the beans split in half. This is the most labor-intensive part of the tempeh-making process and may take 10 to 20 minutes. Don't worry about de-hulling and splitting every last bean, but do try to get a majority of them. Periodically stir the water so the hulls to float to the surface; skim them off and discard them.
Cook the beans: Drain the beans, transfer them to a large pot, and cover by 2 inches with fresh water. Bring to a boil. Skim off and discard any foam or hulls that rise to the surface. Reduce the heat and simmer, partially covered, until the beans are tender but not mushy, about 45 minutes.
Prepare the zip-top bags: While the beans are cooking, prepare the bags. Using the skewer or a large needle, prick holes in the bags at 1-inch intervals.
Dry the beans: Drain the beans. Spread them out on two towel-lined baking sheets and pat them dry.
Cool the beans: Let the beans cool to below body temperature.
Add the vinegar: Transfer the beans to a clean, dry bowl. Sprinkle the vinegar over the beans and mix well. Adding vinegar lowers the pH and prevents the growth of unwanted bacteria.
Add the tempeh starter: Sprinkle the tempeh starter over the beans and mix for about a minute to distribute evenly.
Fill the bags: Divide the beans between the two bags.
Flatten the bags: Seal the bags and flatten the beans out evenly.
Incubate the tempeh: Place the bags in the incubator. The temperature must be between 85°F and 90°F for the next 24 to 48 hours, so periodically check to make sure the temperature is consistent.
Check at 12 hours: Between 12 and 24 hours you should start to see some white mycelium growing on the beans. You may want to lower the heat source because the beans will start generating their own heat as the mold grows; an instant-read thermometer is handy for checking the internal temperature of the fermenting tempeh.
Continue to incubate up to 48 hours: Depending on your conditions, the tempeh may take up to 48 hours total. The mycelium will continue to thicken, forming a white layer around the beans and binding them into a dense, firm cake. The tempeh is done when the entire surface is covered with dense, white mycelium (some black or gray spots are okay), as well as the spaces between the beans. The beans should be bound together firmly as a cake. You may want to slice a small piece off the edge to make sure the cake is firm all the way through. The tempeh should smell pleasantly nutty and mushroomy. It may also have a light ammonia smell.
Stop the fermentation: Remove the bags from the incubator and let the tempeh cool to room temperature. Transfer the tempeh cakes to airtight bags or containers and store in the refrigerator up to 1 week.
Using tempeh: Use freshly-made tempeh in your recipes! Tempeh can be eaten raw or cooked. Cooking brings out the nutty flavor, and some people prefer cooked because it can be slightly bitter raw.
Freezing tempeh: To freeze the tempeh, steam it for 20 minutes and then freeze in an airtight container up to 3 months.
Troubleshooting: You may see some black or gray spots on the tempeh, especially near the air holes — this is completely normal and safe. If you see any other colors or if the tempeh is mushy, slimy, or smells bad, you should discard it.
Recipe Notes
Soybeans: If you have access to pre-hulled and split soybeans, you can skip steps 1 and 2.
Other beans: To make tempeh with other beans, process them like soybeans. Boiling time may vary.
Grains: To substitute grains for some or all of the beans, soak them overnight and cook them separately from the beans. Cool and dry the grains and then mix them with the beans before adding the vinegar and tempeh starter.
Seeds: To substitute seeds for some of the beans, you can soak them or not. If soaking, be sure to dry them well. Mix the seeds with the beans before adding the vinegar and tempeh starter.
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