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    Home » Recipes » Grilled Tempeh with Sesame-Lime Marinade

    Grilled Tempeh with Sesame-Lime Marinade

    Aug 21, 2023 by The Pesky Vegan | This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission on any purchases made through those links. | 2 Comments

    133 shares
    Jump to Recipe >
    Marinated Barbecued Tempeh Steaks Pin

    This delicious grilled tempeh is a winning recipe and an excellent meat-free option for your next barbecue. Featuring lime juice, sesame oil, and various spices, the mouth-watering marinade takes this popular plant-based ingredient and sends it into the stratosphere.

    Best Grilled Tempeh Recipe

    When it comes to vegan barbecuing, I enjoy shop-bought burgers and sausages as much as the next person. But creating something yourself that'll put a smile on faces without any of the food-industry additives? That's always worth giving a go.

    Looking for more top-notch vegan barbecue recipes this summer? Check out these grilled tofu skewers, this teriyaki grilled aubergine, and this grilled asparagus in foil.

    I create new content every single week. Subscribe to keep in touch and get a free download of The Vegan Kitchen – My Top 10 Tips.

    Jump to:

    • Why I love it 💚
    • Grilling 🔥
    • Test notes 📝
    • Ingredients 📋
    • Step by step 📷
    • To serve 🍽️
    • FAQ ❓
    • Variations 🔀
    • More ideas 💡
    • Recipe 👨‍🍳

    Why you'll love this grilled tempeh

    • The marinade is mouth-watering
    • The lime juice takes it to another level
    • Tempeh is an excellent source of plant-based protein
    • It makes for a great vegan meat substitute at barbecues without always relying on burgers and sausages (although there's nothing wrong with those)
    Marinated Grilled Tempeh Steaks on Barbecue

    Can you grill tempeh?

    You certainly can! You'll just want to make sure the pieces are large enough to sit across the grill bars and you've used a good marinade to add plenty of flavour.

    I usually cook with fresh tempeh found in the refrigerated section of stores or supermarkets, i.e. not frozen or jarred (which are also available).

    Block of Fresh Tempeh in Bowl

    Fancy trying out more vegan tempeh recipes? Take a look at these: 👇

    • Teriyaki Tempeh Stir-Fry in Wok
      Teriyaki Tempeh Stir-Fry (Vegan + Gluten-Free)
    • Creamy Vegan Tempeh Pasta in Black Serving Bowl
      Creamy Tempeh Pasta with Cashew Tarragon Sauce
    • Tempeh Bolognese with Pasta Feature
      Tempeh Bolognese (Vegan + Gluten-Free)
    • Vegan Jambalaya Recipe Feature
      Hearty Vegan Jambalaya (Cajun-Spiced Rice)

    Recipe testing notes

    • Microwaving: Tempeh isn't always bitter, and so it's not always necessary to try and soften the taste. If you do want to, however, microwaving the tempeh in a little water is a great trick to use instead of steaming (as it essentially does the same thing).
    • Marinating time: For the best results, prepare the tempeh ahead of time and marinate for several hours or even overnight.
    • Grilling: The barbecue/grill you use will have an impact on the cooking time. Feel free to adjust the heat and move the pieces around to find the best spots.
    • Excess marinade: By continuing to brush this over during cooking, you'll add more flavour while preventing the tempeh from drying out too much.
    • Pan-frying: The first time I tested the flavours in this new recipe, I fried the tempeh in a pan and also got great results.
    Grilled Tempeh on Barbecue Ready to Serve

    What you'll need

    To make this top-drawer barbecued tempeh, you'll need:

    • Fresh tempeh as the star of the show
    • Spices in the form of cumin, coriander, garlic, smoked paprika, and chilli
    • Tamari and sesame oil for classic Asian-inspired flavours
    • Agave syrup for sweetness
    • Lime juice to help marinate the tempeh and bring it to life
    List of Ingredients to Make Delicious Marinated Grilled Tempeh

    How to make delicious grilled tempeh

    Cut the tempeh into 6-8 even slices, roughly ½ inch thick. You want them to be large enough to sit across grill bars and a consistent size to ensure even cooking.

    Optional step: To help remove any bitterness, add the pieces to a wide microwaveable bowl with a small amount of water and microwave for a couple of minutes.

    Remove and set aside.

    Recipe Process Shot – Microwaving Tempeh in Water to Remove Bitterness

    Discard any water from the bowl, then add all of the remaining ingredients to this.

    Mix well to create your marinade.

    Recipe Process Shot – Mixing Marinade Ingredients in Bowl

    Add the tempeh pieces to the marinade bowl, making gentle fork pricks in each to help absorb the flavours.

    Make sure everything is well coated, then marinate in the fridge for at least 20 minutes, but ideally several hours or overnight.

    Continue to coat the pieces in the marinade from time to time.

    Recipe Process Shot – Marinating Tempeh Pieces Before Grilling

    Preheat the barbecue/grill to a medium heat.

    Brush the bars with a little oil, then add the tempeh pieces and cook for 3-4 minutes on each side until cooked through and starting to crisp up on the outside.

    Recipe Process Shot – Placing Tempeh Pieces on Hot BBQ Grill

    Brush with extra marinade during cooking and be careful when turning over (use tongs or oven gloves if necessary).

    Once cooked, remove the grilled tempeh from the heat, brush once again with the remaining marinade, and serve.

    Recipe Process Shot – Grilling Tempeh Steaks and Brushing with Extra Marinade

    Serving suggestions

    Serve the grilled tempeh as is or top with sesame seeds, sliced spring onions, and fresh coriander. You could also drizzle with vegan raita or cashew lime crema for something a little different.

    I've hand-picked a few serving suggestions below (you can also check out my full list of vegan side dishes):

    • Dairy-Free Vegan Potato Salad Recipe Feature
      Zingy Vegan Potato Salad (Mayo-Free)
    • Vegan Slaw Feature
      Vegan Slaw with Sesame Ginger Dressing (GF)
    • Vermicelli Rice Noodle Salad Feature
      Rice Noodle Salad with Peanut Dressing
    • Vegan Couscous Salad Recipe Feature
      Easy Vegan Couscous Salad (Mediterranean-Style)

    Recipe FAQ

    Do I need to cook or steam tempeh before grilling?

    It's not strictly necessary, but I like the simple approach of microwaving the tempeh in a little water before marinating (which is essentially steaming it quickly). This helps to remove any potential bitter flavour and also helps soften it up to absorb the marinade.

    How do I prevent tempeh from sticking to the grill?

    It can help to brush the bars of the grill or barbecue with a little oil before adding the tempeh.

    Is this recipe gluten-free?

    Yes, this recipe will be gluten-free provided you use tamari or a soy sauce that is certified gluten-free.

    How long will the cooked tempeh keep in the fridge?

    Once cool, store the cooked tempeh in the fridge for up to four days.

    Variations and tips for grilled tempeh

    • Spices: If you don't have all of the spices listed in the recipe, just work with what you have. You could also replace them with a similar amount of your favourite spice blend (I like homemade Cajun seasoning).
    • Tempeh alternatives: This marinade would also work well with tofu, mushrooms, or veg such as aubergine.

    Hey you – let me know what you think

    If you made this recipe and enjoyed it – or did anything differently – I'd love to hear from you down below in the comments 👇

    You can also find me and let me know on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook @thepeskyvegan 🌿

    Keep in touch

    Subscribe below to get your free download of The Vegan Kitchen – My Top 10 Tips, featuring 10+ pages of personal experience and advice to set you up for success with your plant-based cooking. 👇

    More vegan recipe ideas

    If you liked this recipe, you might also enjoy:

    • Grilled Tofu Skewers Recipe Feature
      Irresistible Grilled Tofu Skewers (Vegan Kebabs)
    • Grilled Teriyaki Tofu Steaks on Rice
      Grilled Teriyaki Tofu Steaks (Vegan + Gluten-Free)
    • King Oyster Mushroom Steaks on Grill
      Grilled King Oyster Mushroom Steaks (Vegan + Gluten-Free)
    • Marinated Baked Miso Tofu Steaks Feature
      Miso Baked Tofu with Lemon and Garlic

    You can also check out my full list of vegan BBQ recipes.

    Full recipe

    Grilled Tempeh on Barbecue Ready to Serve

    Grilled Tempeh with Sesame-Lime Marinade

    The Pesky Vegan
    This delicious grilled tempeh features a mouth-watering marinade to take a popular vegan protein option and send it into the stratosphere.
    5 from 1 vote
    Rate this Recipe Pin Recipe Print Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 10 minutes mins
    Marinating Time 20 minutes mins
    Total Time 40 minutes mins
    Course BBQ, Main Course
    Cuisine Asian-inspired, Gluten-free, Vegan
    Servings 2
    Calories 302 kcal

    Ingredients
     

    • 7 oz (200 g) tempeh
    • ½ teaspoon ground cumin
    • ½ teaspoon ground coriander
    • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
    • ½ teaspoon chilli powder
    • ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
    • 1 tablespoon tamari (or soy sauce if not GF – see notes)
    • 1 tablespoon sesame oil
    • 1 tablespoon agave syrup (or maple syrup)
    • 2 tablespoons lime juice
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    • Remove the tempeh from any packaging and cut into 6-8 even slices, roughly ½ inch thick. You want them to be large enough to sit across grill bars and a consistent size to ensure even cooking.
    • Optional step: Add the pieces to a wide microwaveable bowl with a small amount of water and microwave for a couple of minutes. This can help to remove any bitterness from the tempeh (see notes below for more info). Remove and set aside.
    • Discard any water from the bowl, then add all of the remaining ingredients to this. Mix well to create your marinade.
    • Add the tempeh pieces to the marinade bowl, making gentle fork pricks in each to help absorb the flavours. Make sure everything is well coated, then marinate in the fridge for at least 20 minutes, but ideally several hours or overnight. Continue to coat the pieces in the marinade from time to time.
    • Preheat the barbecue/grill to a medium heat. Brush the bars with a little oil, then add the tempeh pieces and cook for 3-4 minutes on each side until cooked through and starting to crisp up on the outside. Brush with extra marinade during cooking and be careful when turning over (use tongs or oven gloves if necessary).
    • Once cooked, remove the grilled tempeh from the heat, brush once again with the remaining marinade, and serve (see serving suggestions above).
      📸 See recipe steps >
      📖 Table of contents >
    Rate this recipe 👇

    Notes

    Microwaving: This step is to help remove any bitterness from the tempeh, but is not always necessary depending on your preferences or the variety you're using. There's no need to fully submerge the pieces in water – just covering the bottom of the bowl will be enough to create steam in the microwave.
    Spices: If you don't have all of the spices listed in the recipe, just work with what you have. You could also replace them with a similar amount of your favourite spice blend (I like homemade Cajun seasoning).
    Servings: This would provide two servings as a main or more servings if included as part of a larger meal.
    Gluten-free: This recipe will be gluten-free provided you use tamari or a soy sauce that is certified GF.
    Storage: You can store the cooked tempeh in the fridge for up to four days.
    * The nutrition info below is for one serving, based on a total of two servings.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 302kcalCarbohydrates: 20gProtein: 20gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 7gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gSodium: 307mgPotassium: 495mgFiber: 1gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 285IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 126mgIron: 3mg
    Nutrition Facts
    Grilled Tempeh with Sesame-Lime Marinade
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 302 Calories from Fat 162
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 18g28%
    Saturated Fat 3g19%
    Polyunsaturated Fat 7g
    Monounsaturated Fat 6g
    Sodium 307mg13%
    Potassium 495mg14%
    Carbohydrates 20g7%
    Fiber 1g4%
    Sugar 8g9%
    Protein 20g40%
    Vitamin A 285IU6%
    Vitamin C 6mg7%
    Calcium 126mg13%
    Iron 3mg17%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Keyword bbq tempeh, tempeh steaks, vegan barbecue recipe, vegan grilling recipe
    Did you make this recipe?Leave a comment down below or tag me on Instagram @thepeskyvegan along with the hashtag #thepeskyvegan
    Get ingredientsBrowse ingredients for this recipe and more at Zero Waste Bulk Foods! UK only. Free delivery on orders over £60. I may earn a small commission on purchases made through the link above.

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Simone

      March 31, 2024 at 7:57 pm

      5 stars
      SO good! We've been trying out a few different plant based recipes ahead of summer season and this will definitely be added to our favourites list!

      Reply
      • The Pesky Vegan

        April 22, 2024 at 9:02 am

        Great to hear, thanks for the review!

        Reply

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