Tempeh recipes are a great way to incorporate more plant-based protein into your diet, and this Kung Pao Tempeh recipe is a delicious one to try. The original Kung Pao was made with chicken, dried chillies and Sichuan peppercorns, which are traditionally thought to impart spicy and hot flavours. In this version, the meat is replaced with tempeh but all the ingredients that make the dish worth eating are maintained. It has the numbing heat and the sticky-savoury sauce, roasted peanut crunch and charred chilli smokiness.
This vegan stir fry is easier to make than it sounds. The tempeh is lightly blanched, cubed and then set aside in a simple marinade. They are then tossed with crunchy peanuts, bell peppers, and aromatic ginger. Each step is brief, yet they all rely on the previous step and end up making the dish taste like it took a long time when it really didn't.
This is also a fantastic recipe for a busy week. The sauce may be prepared one day in advance and stored in the refrigerator. You can keep leftover kung pao tempeh for up to 3 days if stored well in an airtight container in the fridge. It reheats without losing too much texture. Marinate the tempeh overnight if you want to get dinner on the table faster.
Ingredients
UNITSIngredients
225 gTempeh (For Tempeh Marinade)
1 tspSoy sauce
1 tbspRice cooking wine (optional)
1 tspCornstarch
1 tbspSesame oil
2 tspSoy sauce (For Stir Fry Sauce)
1 tbspSugar
1½ tspBalsamic vinegar
1½ tspRice vinegar
1 tspSesame oil
¾ tspCornstarch
1 tspWater
2 tbspCooking oil (For Stir Fry)
2 tbspDried red chilies, divided
1 tspSichuan peppercorns
1 tbspFresh ginger, minced
6Scallions (white parts), chopped
½ pepperRed bell pepper, diced
½ cupRoasted peanuts
From 1 scallionScallion greens, thinly sliced
Follow
Directions
Description - Step 1
Step 1: Prep the tempeh
Bring a small pot of water to a boil and blanch the tempeh for 1–2 minutes. Once blanched, pat the tempeh dry and cut it into ½ inch cubes. Transfer to a bowl, pour over the soy sauce, rice cooking wine, cornstarch, and sesame oil. Stir well until every cube is evenly coated. Set aside for 15 minutes.
Description - Step 2
Step 2: Make the stir fry sauce
While the tempeh marinates, mix together separately in a small bowl the soy sauce, sugar, balsamic vinegar, rice vinegar, sesame oil, cornstarch and water. Stir until the sugar fully dissolves and the cornstarch is no longer clumping.
Description - Step 3
Step 3: Bloom the spices
Place a wok or large skillet over medium heat and add one tablespoon of cooking oil. Let it heat until it begins to shimmer. Add half the dried red chillies and all of the Sichuan peppercorns. Fry them in the oil, stirring occasionally, until the chillies deepen to a dark colour. Once the chillies darken, remove and discard the spices, and leave only the flavoured oil behind.
Description - Step 4
Step 4: Build the aromatics
Into the same spiced oil, add the minced ginger and the white parts of the scallions. Stir and fry over medium heat for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
Description - Step 5
Step 5: Stir fry the tempeh
Increase the heat to high. Add the marinated tempeh cubes directly from the bowl, along with any remaining marinade and the second half of the dried chillies. Cook, tossing regularly, until the tempeh is heated through and turns lightly golden around the edges. Now, add the diced red bell pepper and toss to combine. Continue cooking for another 1–2 minutes.
Description - Step 6
Step 6: Add the sauce
Give the prepared sauce a quick stir to redistribute the cornstarch. Pour it into the wok and toss everything quickly and continuously for 30–45 seconds. The sauce will thicken, tighten, and cling to the tempeh and vegetable.
Description - Step 7
Step 7: Finish and serve
Turn off the heat and add the roasted peanuts. Fold them through the stir fry so they distribute evenly without losing their crunch from residual heat. Proceed with garnishing and serve hot.
Blanching pulls out tempeh's natural bitterness and softens the texture slightly, helping it absorb the marinade more deeply.
Absolutely yes! Marinating tempeh overnight also deepens the flavour considerably with no extra effort on cooking day.
Yes, but you will lose the signature numbing quality. Black pepper works as a substitute but delivers straight heat rather than the tingling, citrusy sensation Sichuan peppercorns are known for.
This tempeh recipe works for beginners because each step is short and sequential. The marinade handles the heavy flavouring, the wok does the rest, and it doesn’t require timing precision or advanced technique.