Description
These baked al pastor tempeh bits are bursting with authentic Mexican flavor. Enjoy them over a bed of cilantro lime cauliflower rice or wrapped in tortillas and topped with fresh pineapple.
Ingredients
Scale
Al Pastor Tempeh
- 1 dried guajillo pepper
- 8 oz. tempeh, cut into cubes
- 2 tsp. olive oil, divided
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- ½ yellow onion, diced
- 1 chipotle chili, chopped (from a can of chipotle chilies in adobo sauce)
- ½ to 1 tsp. adobo sauce (depending on your heat tolerance)
- ¼ cup pineapple juice
- ½ tsp. oregano
- ½ tsp. cumin
- 2 tsp. coconut sugar
- ¼ tsp. salt
- Few twists of black pepper
- 1 Tbsp. + 1 tsp. white vinegar
- ½ cup pineapple, diced, for serving
Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice
- 1 small head cauliflower
- ½ cup cilantro, finely chopped (plus extra for serving)
- ½ lime, juiced
- Salt, to taste
Instructions
- Bring a small saucepan of water to a boil and add the dried guajillo pepper. Remove from heat and allow the pepper to rehydrate in the hot water for about 30 minutes.
- Bring another pot of water to a boil and fit it with a steamer basket. Arrange the tempeh in a single layer and steam, covered, for 10 minutes.
- When the guajillo pepper is rehydrated, transfer it to a cutting board, remove the stem and seeds, and roughly chop.
- Warm 1 teaspoon of olive oil in a skillet over medium-low heat. Stir in the garlic and onion and cook until soft, about 3 minutes. Add the chopped guajillo pepper, chipotle chili, adobo sauce, pineapple juice, oregano, cumin, coconut sugar, salt, and black pepper. Cook for another 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, to allow the flavors to blend. Remove from heat and add the vinegar.
- Allow the pepper mixture to cool slightly before transferring it to a food processor or blender. As the marinade blends, drizzle in the remaining teaspoon of olive oil. Add a tablespoon of water, if necessary, to keep things moving. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed to wrangle any rogue pepper pieces. Adjust flavors to taste.
- Pour the marinade into a Ziplock bag or Tupperware along with the steamed tempeh. Toss to coat and refrigerate for at least four hours, overnight if possible.
- When you’re ready to eat, preheat your oven to 375F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and arrange the tempeh in a single layer. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, flipping the pieces once to ensure even browning. When the tempeh is golden and caramelized on the edges, remove it from the oven and brush with any remaining marinade.
- While the tempeh bakes, make the cauliflower rice. Chop the head of cauliflower into florets and transfer them to a food processor. Pulse several times until the cauliflower is ground into a fine meal. Pour the riced cauliflower into a dry skillet and warm for 3 minutes over medium-low heat (this makes the cauliflower easier to digest). Remove from heat and stir in the cilantro and lime juice; season with salt.
- To serve, add a generous scoop of cilantro lime cauliflower rice to two bowls. Top with al pastor tempeh, fresh cut pineapple, and a sprinkle of cilantro. Garnish with a lime wedge.
Notes
This recipe requires several hours to marinate that is not included in the cooking time.
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 405
- Sugar: 22.2 g
- Sodium: 354.9 mg
- Fat: 13.7 g
- Carbohydrates: 47.7 g
- Protein: 25.8 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg