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5 from 1 vote

Tandoori Tempeh

Hearty strips of high-protein tempeh, tossed in an Indian spiced yogurt marinade, and air-fried to perfection!
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Indian, Vegan
Keyword: air fried, air fryer, inidan food, marinade, tempeh, tempeh recipes, vegan indian food, vegan yogurt, yogurt
Servings: 4 servings
Author: Nicole Vranjican

Ingredients

for the Tandoori Tempeh

  • 16 oz tempeh
  • 8 oz plain + unsweetened coconut yogurt I use CocoJune
  • tsp garam masala
  • ¼ tsp turmeric
  • ½ tsp garlic granules
  • ½ tsp ground cumin
  • ½ tsp ground ginger
  • ½ tsp paprika
  • 1 tsp kosher salt I use Morton's
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • ¼ - ½ tsp red pepper flakes to taste, optional
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 tbsp water

for serving

  • 4 oz plain + unsweetened vegan yogurt
  • 1 tbsp chopped cilantro
  • tsp ground coriander optional
  • pinch of salt
  • mango chutney and fresh cilantro for serving

Instructions

Prep

  • Slice the tempeh into 24 strips and place in a large pan that has a lid. Add 1/3 cup of water, cover and bring to a boil. Then reduce the heat and simmer until all but 1 tbsp of the water is absorbed.
    Keep the lid on the pan but turn off the heat and let it sit while you make the marinade.

Make the Marinade

  • In a large bowl, add the vegan yogurt, spices, and lemon juice. Whisk to combine and then add 1 tbsp of water to thin it out.
    Note: if you're using a thick yogurt (recommended) use the water, but if it's a thinner yogurt like an almond or cashew yogurt, you could swap it for 1 tbsp of olive oil to help it cook better.

Marinate

  • Add the spiced yogurt to the pan with the tempeh and toss gently to coat. Once evenly coated, put the lid back on and let it marinate for 15-20 minutes.

Air Fry

  • Then place half of the tempeh in the air fryer basket and cook for 10 minutes at 400 degrees. Cover to keep warm, and repeat with the remaining tempeh.

Serve

  • Mix together yogurt, cilantro, ground coriander, and a pinch of salt to create a quick Cilantro Yogurt Sauce and serve with the tempeh and mango chutney.
    Sprinkle with cilantro and enjoy!