Grilled tempeh skewers with peanut sauce
Satay (sate) is one of Indonesia's most famous dishes: cubes threaded onto skewers, grilled, and served with peanut sauce.
The tempeh version (tempeh satay) is well known at street stalls there, where the fermented soybean replaces the meat, making it a complete plant-based meal with a grilled flavor and a rich sauce.
Place the tempeh cubes in a steamer basket over boiling water on medium heat for ten minutes, stirring once halfway through. This step removes the natural bitterness of the fermented soybean and opens the tempeh's pores so it absorbs the marinade better.
In a bowl, mix the soy sauce, sesame oil, crushed garlic, grated ginger, date syrup, and half the lemon juice. Add the steamed tempeh cubes and toss to coat, then leave them to marinate at least half an hour.
In a small pot over low heat, whisk the peanut butter, coconut milk, hot chili sauce, and the remaining lemon juice until the sauce is smooth and uniform. If it thickens too much, add a spoonful of warm water until the consistency is smooth.
Thread the marinated tempeh cubes onto the water-soaked wooden skewers, leaving a small gap between the cubes so they brown on all sides.
Brush the skewers with a little oil and grill them on a hot grill or ridged pan for ten minutes, turning them every few minutes until the edges brown and grill marks appear.
Serve the skewers hot with the peanut sauce in a side dish for dipping, and they can be served with white rice or a green salad.
The glycemic index (GI) measures how quickly a food raises blood sugar, while the glycemic load (GL) measures how much a full serving raises it. Together they give the complete picture.
A low value (≤55) means a gradual rise in blood sugar — the most suitable range for diabetes and insulin resistance.
Glycemic load reflects the impact of the full serving. To lower it: take half a serving, or pair the recipe with a source of protein and fiber.
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet per FDA food-label reference values — your daily needs may be higher or lower. Values are derived from the recipe's ingredients via the USDA database.
The most common problems when preparing Grilled Tempeh Skewers with Peanut Sauce, and how to fix them:
It was not steamed before marinating. Steaming for ten minutes over boiling water removes the natural bitterness of the fermented soybean and helps it absorb the marinade.
Cut slightly larger cubes and insert the skewer gently into the center of the cube, and grill over medium heat, not too high, so it does not dry out and crumble.
Peanut butter thickens quickly over heat. Add warm water or coconut milk a spoonful at a time until the consistency is smooth and dippable.
Soak the skewers in water twenty minutes before grilling so their ends do not catch fire over the heat.
Served hot from the grill with the peanut sauce.
Keep the skewers and the sauce separate in a sealed container for three days, and reheat before serving.
The marinated tempeh can be frozen before grilling for one month, and thawed in the fridge before grilling.
| Original Ingredient | Tested Substitute | Ratio | Flavor Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tempeh | Firm tofu | 1:1 | A soy plant alternative with a softer texture, needs good pressing before marinating |
| Peanut butter | Tahini | 1:1 | An alternative for those allergic to peanuts, with a different flavor |
| Date syrup | Maple syrup | 1:1 | Both are plant-based sweeteners |
| Coconut milk | Unsweetened soy milk | 1:1 | Lower in fat and fewer calories |
| Ingredient | 3 servings | 1 1/2 servings | 6 servings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tempeh | 300 g | 150 g | 600 g |
| Peanut butter | 60 g | 30 g | 120 g |
| Coconut milk | 90 ml | 45 ml | 180 ml |
Tempeh is a fermented food rich in plant protein, and combining it with peanuts provides a mix of complementary plant proteins. For vegetarians, vitamin B12 remains unavailable in meaningful amounts from plants, so it is advised to obtain it from fortified foods or supplements.
The EEINA app saves your favorite recipes, calculates them from their real ingredients, and shows your daily numbers toward your goal. Try it free now.
