What is Tempeh?

[Guest guest]

Tempeh is a cultured cake of beans and/or grains that has been a

staple food in Indonesia for centuries. It is made by cooking and

dehulling grains and inoculating them with a culture called rhizopus

oligosporus. The product is then incubated overnight at the tropical

temperature of 88 Degrees Fahrenheit. During this time the beans or

grains are covered with a thick, white mat of mycelia that binds them

together into a solid cake. The next day, Tempeh is harvested at

the peak of its flavor, (before the dark spots of sporulation

appear), steamed to make it ready to eat and packaged for shipping.

 

Like the making of cheese, yogurt or other fermented foods, it is the

incubation process that makes Tempeh delicious and digestible.

 

 

----

----------

 

Why Eat Tempeh?

 

People eat Tempeh for a wide variety of reasons -- from nutritional

to environmental to ethical. Some of those reasons are:

 

EXCELLENT SOURCE OF HIGH QUALITY, CHOLESTEROL FREE PROTEIN. Tempeh is

full of " complete " protein that contains all 9 of the essential amino

acids. The protein found in Tempeh is every bit as high quality as

the protein derived from meats. Like all vegetable proteins, Tempeh

has no cholesterol.

LOW IN SATURATED FATS. Protein derived from Tempeh has a great deal

less saturated fat than protein derived from animal sources.

Saturated fats can be a large contributing factor in the development

of coronary heart disease.

 

 

 

GOOD SOURCE OF DIETARY FIBER. One 3 ounce serving of Tempeh contains

over 25% of the adult daily requirement for dietary fiber. Dietary

fiber helps keep your digestive track clean and may prevent certain

types of cancer.

 

HIGHLY DIGESTIBLE. The fermentation process used to make Tempeh

greatly reduces the oligosaccharides that make beans hard to digest

for some people. Studies have shown Tempeh to be " essentially non-

flatulent " and producing no more gas than non-legume food.

 

RICH IN ISOFLAVONES. Soybeans are the only food to contain

significant amounts of isoflavones, a phytoestrogen, which research

now indicates may reduce the risks of some kinds of cancer (according

to Soybeans and Your Health, by Mark and Virginia Messina by Avery

Press, Garden City, New York).

 

 

Nutritional Comparison Chart

(per 3 oz. serving)

 

Product Protein SatFat TotFat Chlst Fiber

Soy Tempeh 13g .6g 3g 0mg 7g

Ground Beef 15g 9.0g 18g 58mg 0g

Lean Ground Beef 18g 4.5g 9g 56mg 0g

Chicken Breast 14g 1.0g 4g 45mg 0g

Chicken Drumstick 10g 2.0g 6g 45mg 0g

 

 

 

, Joy A Nealy

<drjanealy.1@j...> wrote:

> OK - Duh here, what is tempeh?

>

> On Tue, 05 Nov 2002 10:49:27 -0500 " ItsMe Fawnie "

> <fawnrhodes@h...> writes:

> > CRANBERRY BRAISED TEMPEH

> >

> > Serves 8

> >

> > 4 8-ounce pkgs. tempeh

> > 3 cups fresh cranberries

> > 4 cups unfiltered apple juice

> > 1/2 tsp sea salt

> > 1 1/2 " x 4 " piece of orange peel studded w/ 4 whole

> > cloves

> > 1/4 cup maple syrup

> > 2 T tamari

> > 2 T fresh grated ginger

> > 1 T mirin

> > 1/2 tsp each: ground allspice & cinnamon

> > 1/4 tsp each: ground nutmeg and clove

> > Pinch cayenne

> > Fresh rosemary sprigs for garnish

> >

> > 1. Cut each block of tempeh crosswise into halves.

> > Slice each half diagonally into 2 triangles. This

> > will yield 16 triangles. Steam tempeh for 20 minutes

> > in a steamer basket.

> >

> > 2. While the tempeh steams, wash cranberries and place

> > them in a small saucepan with apple juice, sea salt

> > and orange peel. Bring to boil and cook 15 minutes or

> > until cranberries are soft. Add maple syrup, tamari,

> > ginger, mirim and dried spices to cranberries. Puree

> > cranberry mixture in a food processor or blender until

> > smooth.

> >

> > 3. Place tempeh in a casserole or baking dish. Pour

> > cranberry glaze over tempeh. Bake in a 350° oven for

> > 40 minutes.

> >

> > 4. To serve, arrange tempeh on a platter, top with

> > crannberry glaze and garnish with sprigs of fresh

> > rosemary.

> >

> >

> > Language is an _expression of thought. Everytime you speak, your

> > mind is on

> > Parade Exodus 20:8-11 & Hebrews 4:9

> >

> > _______________

> > Unlimited Internet access -- and 2 months free! Try MSN.

> > http://resourcecenter.msn.com/access/plans/2monthsfree.asp

> >

> >

> >

> >