Things my friend Hugo says

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Orange Tempeh


Introduction

When I lived on Canal street, a naked guy covered in KY jelly was running down the street, being chased by the police. It took a half hour for the police to pin him down because he was so slippery. When they finally did, they beat the shit out of him and threw him in a van and sped away.

Ingredients

  • 8 oranges
  • Ginger
  • 4-5 garlic cloves
  • 2 packages of tempeh or pumfu
  • Barley or rice
  • Broccoli or kale
  • Coconut oil
  • Sesame oil
  • Corn starch
  • Olive oil
  • Soy sauce
  • Mirin
  • Maple syrup
  • Coriander
  • Garam masala or Fly by Jing Mala Spice
  • Szechuan peppercorns
  • Sesame seeds
  • Cilantro
  • 1 Lime

Makes enough for three people.

Instructions

  1. Begin cooking the barley or rice.
  2. Juice the oranges into a bowl.
  3. Peel several chunks of ginger, and send them through a garlic press into the juice.
  4. Crush / loosely chop the garlic, add to the juice.
  5. Add a hearty splash of soy sauce and mirin, 1-3 tablespoons of maple syrup (to taste).
  6. Add a blend of oils—primarily coconut oil—to thinly cover a cast iron or thick-bottomed pan and heat at medium. Make sure the pan is hot but not so hot that the oil starts smoking.
  7. Add the coriander and other spices to the oil.
  8. Cut the tempeh into bite-sized triangles and add to the oil. Fry both sides till crispy and golden. Remove from the oil and place on a plate lined with paper towels. Salt the tempeh.
  9. Stir your orange mixture and add to the hot oil. Add a bit of corn starch. Reduce heat and simmer until it thickens into a nice sticky sauce.
  10. Rinse and chop the broccoli or kale into bite-sized pieces.
  11. When the sauce is about the right consistency, add the broccoli/kale to sauté.
  12. Serve tempeh over barley (or rice). Smother in the orange sauce and kale. Garnish with crispy shallots, sesame seeds, cilantro, sriracha, and a wedge of lime.

Inspired by a recipe from Jude Blereau.