March 26, 2012

Healthy Dinner

The weeks after a nice break are always the hardest, don't you think? You've just had a relaxing break from work, but you are now thrown directly back into the normal, daily routine very abruptly and its hard to find your daily pattern.

Well that exactly describe last week for me. Trying to find my normal routine again posed a bit of a challenge, but I'm back and ready as ever to give you all yummy recipes! I'll start with this one:

Stir Fry Tempeh
This meal is super delicious and nutritious! Colorful vegetables provide the nutrients while tempeh provides a lean source of protein.

Not too familiar with tempeh? Well it is made from soybeans that have been fermented via a special process. It is a great meat alternative and has A LOT more texture than tofu (personally, I've never been a fan of the stuff). It is super simple to marinade (Example) and easy to incorporate into any recipe!

So if you're in the mood for an asian inspired dish but don't want to shell out the bucks for chinese takeout (or wasted calories on white rice and deep fried everything), take this recipe for a spin! From start to finish, this took only about 20 minutes to make....WAY faster than delivery! 

Print this recipe!

Stir Fry Tempeh

Ingredients
  • 1 - 8 oz block tempeh
  • 1/2 pound asparagus spears (or other green veggie of your choice)
  • 1 red bell pepper, cut into strips
  • 3 tablespoons stir fry sauce, divided
  • 2 teaspoons agave nectar 
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper
  • 2 teaspoons olive oil
  • 1 avocado
  • brown rice for serving
Directions

Take your block of tempeh and cut it into 1/4 inch thick strips. Each strip will be thick so cut in half lengthwise.

In a shallow dish, combine 1 tablespoon stir fry sauce, agave nectar, garlic, red pepper flakes, ginger, and pepper. Toss the tempeh in sauce until evenly coated and allow to marinade for about 10 - 15 minutes (For extra flavor, double the amount of marinade and allow tempeh to marinate for 30 minutes, flipping halfway through).

In the mean time, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium to medium high heat. Sauté your vegetables and bell pepper, until they are tender, about 10 minutes.
Once the tempeh has had some time to marinade, push the vegetables to the sides, and add the tempeh to the middle of the pan. 
Try to get all of the tempeh directly touching the pan and not on top of the vegetables
Allow to cook for about 2 - 3 minutes per side or until it looks golden brown and heated through. Once browned, remove the pan from the heat and add 2 tablespoons of the stir fry sauce and stir to evenly coat.
sufficiently browned! add the sauce!
Serve with a side of brown rice and garnish with a few slices of avocado. Douse on the hot sauce (optional) and enjoy your healthy, flavorful meal!




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