Vegan spare ribs are made from tempeh

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Vegan spare ribs. Of course they don't exist. And to be fair, this dish should actually just be called 'tempeh in a tasty, sticky sauce'. And yet today we call it vegan spare ribs. Because they look quite similar. And because they are a great alternative to the real deal. For vegans, vegetarians, but also for meat eaters who want something different for a day.

I think every vegan who has ever been to a barbecue knows the problem: a lot of meat for the carnivores and for you a dried out veggie burger and a skewer with bell pepper and mushroom. That can be done better, people – for example with this tasty dish that really has substance.

You prefer to make these vegan ribs on the barbecue, but they are also great to prepare in a frying pan. And even in the oven - just what you want. Tempeh is an ingredient that is very easy and quick to process. And the sauce makes this dish a real flavor bomb anyway, no matter how you prepare it!

Spare ribs or tempeh?

I can appreciate real spareribs from time to time. Especially if they are barbecued and have that nice, smoky taste. And yet I also like to eat this vegan alternative. It is healthier, less fat, cheaper and ready much faster. And between you and me: I think that meat every day is not a good idea at all. So nice to alternate!

If you eat completely vegetarian or vegan, the choice is easily made. No animal suffering, so the tempeh remains. With so much protein (no less than 19 grams for every 100 grams of weight!) it is an excellent meat substitute that will provide you with your required nutrients in no time.

And whether 'tempeh' is a real meat substitute? I think it's such a beautiful and natural product that it just deserves its own category. It is made from fermented soybeans and has a very special structure and taste. It is not made to resemble meat at all and that is why it is so tasty. If you've never tried? Try it! You don't have to leave it for the price.

You can make 400 portions of 'vegan spare ribs' from this recipe (and from one block of tempeh of 4 gr). Do you need more? Then you can simply double the recipe. And do you need less? Then you can buy a smaller block of tempeh of 250 grams.

vegan spare ribs ribs vegan vegetarian barbecue recipe tempeh

Ingredients

1 block of tempeh (400 gr)
1 tl paprika
½ tl of salt
½ tsp ground black pepper
50 ml tomato ketchup
50 ml soy sauce
2 tbsp (brown) caster sugar
1 el vinegar
½ tsp chili flakes
½ tsp onion powder
100 ml vegetable stock*
*(only when prepared in the pan!)
½ tsp garlic powder
optional: a few drops of liquid smoke

Preparation vegan spare ribs

on the barbecue

Cut the tempeh in half lengthwise and sprinkle both pieces with a very small amount of water. Then rub in the paprika, salt and pepper.

Then mix all the other ingredients, except for the vegetable stock into a barbecue sauce.

Heat the barbecue until it is moderately hot and place the tempeh on the grid. Grill the tempeh for a few minutes, until black stripes appear.

Then spread some of the sauce on the tempeh with a brush. Turn it over on the grid and grease the other side as well. You can repeat this a few times, so that a nice sticky layer of sauce adheres to the vegan spare ribs.

After about 25 minutes the tempeh is ready. Place the pieces on a plate and cut them diagonally into 'vegan spare ribs'.

In a frying pan

Take a small frying pan and mix the ketchup with the soy sauce, paprika, sugar, chili flakes, onion powder, vinegar, vegetable stock and garlic powder. Add the liquid smoke if desired and season with salt and pepper.

Bring the mixture to a boil and add the tempeh. Let this simmer together until the sauce has thickened. Turn the tempeh once halfway through. When the sauce is thick, remove the tempeh from the pan and cut it into pieces.

Spread the rest of the sauce on the vegan spare ribs and serve with fries, brood of rice and of course a salad. Enjoy your meal!