Lemon Garlic Tempeh with Turmeric Hemp Dressing
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This post is sponsored by Frontier Co-op.
As our diets started transitioning years ago, and we started to cook more from scratch and eating less meat (then eventually no meat), there were a few grocery store items that didn’t seem doable to make at home. Salad dressing was one of them, along with granola bars, cereal, hummus, and nut butter, just to name a few. It was something I never thought about, really, and it took me awhile to finally realize these items were more than feasible to make at home. And once I started experimenting with homemade dressing, it was like, GAME ON. I actually started to enjoy salads!
So when Frontier Co-op came to me and asked if I’d be willing to share how I Cook With Purpose, I knew homemade salad dressing was the perfect topic to start with. When I started making more things from scratch, I felt such accomplishment and also a bigger sense of purpose in the kitchen. I was no longer cooking to eat and be done. I was cooking for our health, for the enjoyment I felt, and because homemade food just tastes better.
I can’t think of one store-bought salad dressing I ever actually enjoyed. (Okay, maybe ranch as a kid.) Most bottled dressings use a multitude of cheap and highly processed oils like soybean, canola, safflower, etc. and rarely use actual cold-pressed olive oil. Making dressing at home might seem intimidating, but it can be as simple as whisking together lemon juice, olive oil, honey or maple syrup, salt + pepper. And half the time, I’ll squeeze lemon and drizzle olive oil right over my salad and call it a day.
But there are times where I want dressing with a bit more depth that can hold up to a big bowl of greens, protein, and grains. I developed this dressing from my recent orange hemp salad dressing (still in love with that one) but kept this more on the savory side. I wanted to infuse the dressing with turmeric for its vibrant yellow color and light, earthy flavor. (Bonus: Frontier Co-op’s turmeric is sustainably grown by small farmers in Sri Lanka!) And instead of all hemp seeds I used a combination of hemp seeds and cashews, for an unbelievably creamy texture. Using turmeric alone fell a bit flat. But with a little more experimentation, I figured out that smoked paprika and cumin compliment turmeric extremely well. With a whole bunch of lemon and a clove of garlic added in, it couldn’t get much better.
Besides the dressing, I cooked a simple batch of quinoa, steamed broccoli, and pan-seared tempeh that can marinate on your counter for 30 minutes or in the fridge overnight. I urge you to make enough for leftovers the next day!
Lemon Garlic Tempeh with Turmeric Hemp Dressing
gluten-free, vegan // yields: 3-4 servings
For the tempeh: adapted from The Full Helping
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons low sodium tamari
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil
- 2-3 teaspoons sriracha
- 2 medium cloves garlic, finely grated (I use a microplane for this.)
- 1 teaspoon turmeric
- 1 1/2 teaspoons maple syrup
- zest from 1 small-medium lemon (about 1 1/2 - 2 teaspoons)
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1, 8oz block tempeh (gluten-free if needed)
- 1 tablespoon oil, for cooking
For the dressing:
- 1/4 cup raw cashews (soaked overnight or at least 4hrs, then drained)
- 1/3 - 1/2 cup water
- 1/4 cup hulled hemp seeds
- 3-4 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 1/2 teaspoons maple syrup
- 1 1/2 teaspoons turmeric
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 medium clove garlic, peeled
- 1/4 teaspoon salt + pepper
For the meal:
- 2 large heads broccoli, chopped into florets
- 1 cup uncooked quinoa, rinsed + drained
- 1 1/4 cups water
Place tempeh marinade ingredients in an airtight storage container (medium size) and whisk to combine. Chop tempeh into 1/2 - 3/4 inch cubes and add to the marinade. Seal and gently shake to fully coat. Let sit on the counter for 30 minutes (up to 60 is fine), turning a few times. Or, refrigerate for 8-12 hours, turning a few times.
After about 15 minutes, add quinoa to a medium pot with the water and a big pinch of salt + pepper. Turn to high. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to simmer and cover for 15 minutes. Quickly check to make sure water is fully absorbed by tilting the pot, then replace the cover and let sit for 10-15 minutes. Fluff with a fork before serving.
Meanwhile, add all dressing ingredients to your blender. Turn on working to high speed until fully smooth, 30-60 seconds. Taste and add more lemon or water if needed. Dressing will thicken as it sits. Whisk in more water to thin if needed. Store in a sealable jar in the fridge for about 5 days. Shake before using.
Set up a pot steam your broccoli. Then, heat a medium-large pan over medium heat with a swirl of oil. Once the pan is hot, add tempeh with the marinade and cook for about 4-5 minutes on one side, until deep golden. Add your broccoli to the simmering pot right after you add the tempeh to the pan. Flip tempeh and cook for another 3-5 minutes, until golden. Toss for 1-2 minutes, then turn off the heat. Broccoli should be finished in about 8-10 minutes. Test with a fork.
Plate quinoa with broccoli, tempeh, and dressing. Add salt, pepper, and sriracha if desired.
Notes:
- If placing tempeh marinade in a plastic container, note that the turmeric may stain it. Turmeric will also stain clothing, towels, some types of counters, wood utensils, etc.
- In the photo I also chopped some fresh chard, which you can do as well or leave out. Other greens will also work well.
Don't forget to check out my live webcasts over on my Nom.com channel each week! You can still watch previous episodes and then sign up to tune in and chat with me live while I cook (or you can just watch and not sign up). My next episode is coming up this Friday. Stay tuned to Instagram + Snapchat: edibleash for more details!
Ashley
Today's post is sponsored by Frontier Co-op, and I received compensation for writing this post. Opinions are always my own. If I didn't love it, you wouldn't hear about it. Thanks for your continued support!
