Tempeh or Tofu- which do you prefer??

xTenaciousJx
xTenaciousJx Posts: 555
in Food and Nutrition
I'm thinking about making some Tofu dishes for the family. My hubby doesn't like that it's "squishy" inside no matter what and a friend suggested to try Tempeh which is firmer. So what do you all think?

Any great recipe's you all can share or websites with some??

Thanks!!!
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Replies

  • xTenaciousJx
    xTenaciousJx Posts: 555
    help!
  • xTenaciousJx
    xTenaciousJx Posts: 555
    i know there are vagan's out there!
  • xTenaciousJx
    xTenaciousJx Posts: 555
    what do ya say?!
  • xTenaciousJx
    xTenaciousJx Posts: 555
    just need a little help from my friends!
  • UrbanRunner81
    UrbanRunner81 Posts: 1,207 Member
    I don't like the taste of tempeh. You can make tofu firmer by pressing the water out. get a tofu press or put tofu between two cutting boards and put a couple big books on top for 30 minutes.

    also freeze and thaw helps the texture.
  • xTenaciousJx
    xTenaciousJx Posts: 555
    thanks!!! I'll def try that!
    I don't like the taste of tempeh. You can make tofu firmer by pressing the water out. get a tofu press or put tofu between two cutting boards and put a couple big books on top for 30 minutes.

    also freeze and thaw helps the texture.
  • xTenaciousJx
    xTenaciousJx Posts: 555
    anyone else?
  • xTenaciousJx
    xTenaciousJx Posts: 555
    no one?? sheesh
  • xTenaciousJx
    xTenaciousJx Posts: 555
    i guess i'm silly to keep trying
  • xTenaciousJx
    xTenaciousJx Posts: 555
    bump!
  • nazashi
    nazashi Posts: 93 Member
    I love both!

    I usually use few drops of oil to lightly fry tempeh and tofu(which i cut into small
    pieces) then add vegs - carrots/cauliflower/long beans/onions/chillies
    -cover and let vegs cook!
    Just before done, make a hole in centre of pan put little water and add glass noodles.
    Season to taste.
    Enjoy!!
  • geekyjock76
    geekyjock76 Posts: 2,720 Member
    Tofu is heavily processed so I prefer tempeh when I do eat it.
  • kklemarow
    kklemarow Posts: 167 Member
    I prefer tofu, as long as you spice it properly you can make some really tasty meals with it. It's a great egg substitute for a 'scramble' in the morning too!
  • downwithbottledwater
    downwithbottledwater Posts: 44
    I like tofu way better.
    But tempeh is definitely much firmer.
  • ColleenRoss50
    ColleenRoss50 Posts: 199 Member
    I am not a vegetarian but I prefer not to eat too much meat and am trying to find some more protein alternatives. I am not fond of tofu but I have heard and read a lot of great things about tempeh and I am planning to try it soon. Because it is fermented it does not have the bad reputation that many other soy products have gotten in recent years and it is considered by many sources to be a healthier choice.

    I found a lot of interesting ways to serve it at the following website and am looking forward to trying some of them:

    http://www.tempeh.info/recipes/recipes.php

    Three reasons to try tempeh:

    http://www.thevegetariansite.com/health_tempeh.htm
  • skywa
    skywa Posts: 901 Member
    i love tofu. its so versatile. i usually buy the firm/extra firm kind.

    i dont know about tempeh though. i've definitely never tried it.
  • rudegyal_b
    rudegyal_b Posts: 593 Member
    i like tempeh a lot more than tofu, but seitan and tvp (texturized veg protein) are even better!!
  • Rubyayn
    Rubyayn Posts: 433 Member
    I very rarely eat anything other than tempeh, miso or natto. They are fermented, which makes then safer and less of a hormone disrupter. This link is pretty informative, but you can also just google fermented vs unfermented soy for more info. :)

    http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/12/08/the-dirty-little-secret-hidden-in-much-of-your-health-food.aspx

    Also, something else important to mention is that over 90% of the soy in America is genetically engineered. It is always best to buy organic if you are trying to avoid GMO foods for the adverse health effects.
  • rumpusparable
    rumpusparable Posts: 160
    I usually much prefer tofu to tempeh... Tempeh has to be flavored just so for me to like it. Tofu can be used so many ways and with so many textures and flavors that I like and use it much more.

    As another said, you can make tofu Very firm and even meaty if you get the extra firm tofu and then press it. I like to get a good solid texture using a tofu press overnight in the fridge. Pressing it and freezing it for later use can also give it a less squishy texture.
  • SafireBleu
    SafireBleu Posts: 881 Member
    Here are some recipe sites I use. I am not crazy about tempeh or tofu but I am learning to eat it and enjoy it. http://www.vegancoach.com/tempeh.html
    http://www.cookinglight.com/food/vegetarian/tempeh-recipes-00412000072060/
    http://www.tempeh.info/recipes/recipes.php
    This site has no Tempeh recipes but has great vegan ones http://mouthwateringvegan.com/
  • Alexstrasza
    Alexstrasza Posts: 619 Member
    I've only ever had tofu and I agree with your husband, it's just too damn squishy!

    If that tempeh stuff works out for you let me know!
  • julieh391
    julieh391 Posts: 683 Member
    Everyone in my family LOVES tempeh. Even my 3year old and meat loving husband. I like to slice it into strips and sautéed it in olive oil and tamari/soy sauce. It's delish on salads (like an alternative to a chicken or steak salad.)
  • lyttlewon
    lyttlewon Posts: 1,118 Member
    It depends entirely on what you are cooking. I like both of them, but use one in the wrong way and it won't taste good.
  • rhichi
    rhichi Posts: 133
    I'm not a tempeh person. I prefer to take tofu, squeeze all the water out of it, and fry it into tofu chips. Adds...well...a considerable amount of fat...but they're crispy and tasty.
  • xTenaciousJx
    xTenaciousJx Posts: 555
    thanks everyone! i def would rather something not processed and healthier....for sure.
  • kalynn06
    kalynn06 Posts: 368 Member
    I like the versatility of tofu better (prefer sprouted tofu), and I like that I can buy it cheaper. That said, I'm trying not to eat so much heavily processed soy, so I've mainly switched to tempeh. It's not quite so versatile, but I do like it.
  • Picola1984
    Picola1984 Posts: 1,133
    We don't have, as far as I'm aware, tempeh here in the UK. I get a brand called Cauldron tofu which I press to get the extra water out before cooking

    Also Mori-nu is another brand, I use that for mousses and desserts as its a silken variety.
  • clh126
    clh126 Posts: 115 Member
    I'm not a fan of tempeh. The texture is definitely firmer than tofu and therefore may work better for people who are carnivores or tofu averse, but the taste just doesn't do it for me. For tofu I always buy the extra firm kind and let it rest for a half hour with a cutting board on top to squish the water out as someone else suggested. Freezing it alters the texture too and makes it firmer.

    Another option someone mentioned is seitan. This is my favorite out of all of them. It's not soy though, but wheat gluten, so if you have any sort of gluten sensitivity, steer clear of that one
  • Benn70
    Benn70 Posts: 1
    I prefer tofu. I find that using a tofu press..I use the EZ Tofu Press (sold on Amazon) gets more water out and allows for a better texture and flavor absorption. When tofu is not properly pressed the tofu can be watery!
  • UrbanRunner81
    UrbanRunner81 Posts: 1,207 Member
    thanks!!! I'll def try that!
    I don't like the taste of tempeh. You can make tofu firmer by pressing the water out. get a tofu press or put tofu between two cutting boards and put a couple big books on top for 30 minutes.

    also freeze and thaw helps the texture.

    I should add you should wrap it in towels when pressing it.

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