When it comes to breakfast, there are two obvious camps: sweet and savory. The former has its place in my kitchen, but you won’t often find me making pancakes for Sunday brunch. I am all about savory morning meals full of protein and veggies that could easily pass as lunch or dinner – and often do. This savory tempeh breakfast hash checks all the boxes.
I have to admit, I have never liked tempeh. There’s something about the taste and texture that just doesn’t do it for me. Of course, after researching how to cook tempeh, I realized I’d been doing it all wrong. I found a helpful article from The Kitchn that suggested steaming it first. Genius! This really helps mellow the bitter straight-from-the-package flavor that can make tempeh so polarizing. Next, marinate it. Like tofu, tempeh will soak up any flavor if you let it sit long enough.
Now that I know tempeh can taste really good I plan to add it to more of my recipes. Without getting too deep into the nutritional benefits, I do want to mention that tempeh is a fermented food. Fermented products, like miso and kimchi, introduce a fresh supply of friendly bacteria to our guts, which is important for building a strong immune system and protecting us from bad bacteria that can make us sick. Bonus: a half-cup of tempeh offers a whopping 15 grams of protein and 3.5 grams of fiber. Not a shabby way to kick off the day!
This savory tempeh breakfast hash wouldn’t be complete without crispy potatoes. Don’t be afraid to let the pieces cook until they’re tender and slightly charred. Feel free to swap the broccoli and tomatoes for your favorite veggies, and top it all off with a few slices of avocado and hot sauce, if you’d like.
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I am all about savory morning meals full of protein and veggies that could easily pass as lunch or dinner. This savory tempeh breakfast hash checks all the boxes.
Ingredients
8 oz. tempeh
¼ cup soy sauce or tamari
2 tsp. sesame oil
1 Tbsp. rice vinegar
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp. maple syrup or agave
2 Tbsp. + 1 tsp. grapeseed oil
3 small red or yellow potatoes, diced into ½-inch pieces (about 2 cups)
½ white onion, diced
1 small head of broccoli, shredded (about 1 ½ cups)
Pinch of salt and black pepper
1 ½ cups grape or cherry tomatoes
Avocado, for serving (optional)
Hot sauce, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Bring a pot of water to a boil and fit it with a steamer basket. Slice the tempeh into 1-inch strips and steam, covered, for 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, combine the soy sauce or tamari, sesame oil, rice vinegar, garlic, and maple syrup or agave in a Ziplock bag or Tupperware. Add the steamed tempeh to the container and shake to coat. Allow the tempeh to marinate for at least 20 minutes, or overnight if you remember.
- While the tempeh marinates, dice the potatoes and onion. Put the broccoli in your food processor and pulse until finely chopped, or shred with a sharp knife.
- Warm a cast iron skillet over medium heat. When hot, add a tablespoon of grapeseed oil and swirl to coat the bottom of the pan. Add the potato and season with a pinch of salt and black pepper. Cook until tender and golden, about 15 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent the pieces from sticking to the skillet. When done, remove from heat, transfer potatoes to a plate, and set aside.
- Remove the tempeh from the marinade, transfer it to a cutting board, and give it a rough chop. Carefully wipe the skillet clean and return to medium heat. Add another tablespoon of grapeseed oil and swirl the pan to coat the bottom. Spill the chopped tempeh into the skillet and use a spatula to break up the pieces. Cook for 7 minutes, until golden. Then add the onion and cook for 3 minutes more, until softened and lightly browned on the edges. Remove from heat, transfer tempeh to a plate, and set aside.
- Carefully wipe the skillet clean one last time and warm over medium-low heat. When hot, add a teaspoon of grapeseed oil and the tomatoes. Cook for 3 to 5 minutes, allowing the tomatoes to blister and sputter. Gently press down on the tomatoes with a spatula to help them release their juices. Then stir in the broccoli.
- Continue to cook until the broccoli is bright green, about a minute. Return the potatoes and tempeh to the pan and toss to combine the flavors. Remove from heat and serve warm with avocado and hot sauce, if desired.
I was never a fan till I started steaming it as well! Now it’s so tasty.
This hash looks amazing! Excited to try it. 🙂
★★★★★
I’m in the savory breakfast camp as well! I like to make tofu scrambles, but I’ve never made a breakfast hash like this with tempeh. It looks fantastic – I’ll definitely be making it soon!
This looks like something I would order at a restaurant, yet it’s so easy to make at home! I love savory breakfasts on the weekends.
★★★★★
Oh yum! We do a lot of tofu scrambles on the weekends, but you have me thinking that I need to mix things up with this tempeh recipe!
★★★★★
What a gorgeous dish! I’ve been all about tempeh lately. I can’t wait to try this!
I don’t make scrambles nearly enough but this looks fantastic. Totally my kind of brunch! Love that you use tempeh!
I’m firmly in the savory breakfast camp too! And I highly approve of the additions of hot sauce & guacamole. They make any meal more delicious.
I have to admit, I’m firmly in the sweet breakfast camp, but one of my kids and my husband are definitely on the savory side! We’ll have to give this a try…maybe I’ll just save my portion for lunchtime!!! Looks delicious!
Looks great. I might try it with tortiallas–breakfast burritos
★★★★★
Just wanted to let you guys know you are a lifesaver for those who are looking to try veganism and are stuck on what actually to do. Such an awesome job you are doing!!
★★★★★
this looks delicious! perfect for a lazy sunday morning!
Thanks for this recipe! Do we cook the tempeh with the marinade?
Hi Caitlin! No need to cook the tempeh with marinade. You can discard any unused marinade.