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This vegan kabobs with marinated tempeh recipe packs a solid punch of orange goodness! This sweet and savory dish is sure to be a hit for your weeknight or weekend meals.
Marinated tempeh takes a little more time than some other recipes because it needs time to sit and soak up the flavor, but it has a nice, sweet, payoff in the end! And with a little planning, it is super easy to prepare.
Tempeh makes a nice change for a plant-based meat alternative to meals. Like tofu, it’s made from soybeans but it has other ingredients added such as grains so it has a bit more texture than tofu.
Want more tempeh recipes? Try out this BBQ tempeh sandwich or ginger lime tempeh.
Why This Recipe Works
- Tempeh kabobs are easy to dip and perfect for an appetizer or main meal!
- Great flavor thanks to an easy tempeh marinade.
- Easy to make and most of the preparation time is hands-off!
What Goes Into This Recipe
The tempeh marinade is made with mostly pantry staples and a few items of produce. Here’s a quick look at what you need and you will find the full list in the recipe card.
- Oranges: Fresh oranges give flavor to the marinade and also the glaze added to the tempeh.
- Shallot: I love the more delicate flavor of shallots but you can also use onion.
- Garlic cloves and ginger: Fresh is the best option for the biggest flavor punch.
- Soy sauce: Adds liquid and umami flavor to the dish.
- Tempeh: Made from fermented soybeans, you can buy this in many organic stores or larger grocery stores in the refrigerator section. If you can’t find tempeh, you can also make vegan kabobs with extra-firm tofu.
- Brown sugar: Adds a richer flavor than granulated sugar but you can use another sweetener if preferred.
- Carrot: Gives the glaze color and more nutrition.
- Cornstarch: Used to thicken the sauce.
How To Make Vegan Kabobs with Tempeh
Let’s look at what goes into making this easy recipe. For detailed instructions, check the recipe card further down the page.
How to Marinate Tempeh
- 1) First, make the marinade. Juice one orange and mix it with the shallot, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, and one tablespoon of brown sugar in a small bowl.
- 2) Add the cubed tempeh to the bowl and let it marinate for at least twenty minutes.
TOP TIP: If time is a factor, let the tempeh marinate in the fridge overnight or throughout the day so it’s ready to start cooking when you get home.
Cook the Tempeh and Orange Glaze
- 1) When ready to cook, preheat a pan over medium-high heat. Add the tempeh and marinade to the pan and cook until seared on most sides.
- 2) Mix together the zest of one of the remaining oranges along with the juice of two oranges with three tablespoons of brown sugar, grated carrot, and cornstarch in a pot. Cook on medium-low heat until it simmers and begins to thicken.
- 3) Skewer the tempeh onto sticks and add the glaze over the top.
Expert Tips
- Want to add veggies? Alternate the tempeh with roasted or steamed vegetables. Some of my favorites are squash, eggplant, red pepper, onion, and mushroom
- Take the time to marinate the tempeh. The longer the tempeh marinates the more flavor it will have.
- Use freshly squeezed orange juice for the best flavor.
- Cut the tempeh into even, similar-sized pieces. Not only does this make them easier to cook but it also makes them look better on the skewers.
FAQs
Yes, you can. Skip cooking the tempeh in a skillet and thread the marinated tempeh on skewers. Cook them over a medium heat grill on top of aluminum foil or a grill pan until heated through, about 10-15 minutes.
Any type of vegetable that you can pierce with a skewer works great to use for kabobs. Some popular ingredients include cubes of zucchini and eggplant, large slices of onions or bell pepper, and small cherry tomatoes or mushrooms. If you want to use longer-cooking vegetables such as broccoli, carrot, and cauliflower, they are best partially cooked prior to adding to the skewer as they won’t cook properly in the time it takes to cook the tempeh or tofu on the kabobs.
What to Serve with Vegan Kabobs
- Serve up for meals or snacks! These tasty kabobs work for lunch, dinner, snacks, and parties as well.
- As a meal, serve them up with a colorful vegetable rice pilaf, simple brown rice, or quinoa.
- Add a veggie such as roasted vegetables, brussels sprouts, or vegan broccoli salad.
- Dip it! Serve it up as snacks with peanut sauce, salsa, or creamy avocado sauce.
More Tempeh Recipes
Photos by Alfonso Revilla
Vegan Kabobs with Marinated Tempeh
Ingredients
- 3 oranges divided
- ¼ cup of sliced shallot (onion will work)
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1 teaspoon of minced fresh ginger
- 1 Tablespoon of soy sauce
- 1 block of tempeh cut into cubes
- 4 Tablespoons of brown sugar (or your choice of sweetener), divided
- 1 carrot grated
- Zest of 1 orange peel
- 1 teaspoon of cornstarch
Instructions
MARINADE
- Juice one orange and combine it with the shallot, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, and 1 tablespoon of brown sugar in a bowl and mix. Add the cubed tempeh and let marinate for 20 minutes.
- Preheat a pan over medium-high heat.
- After a thorough marinading, pour the tempeh and marinade into the pan and cook until seared on most sides.
GLAZE
- Juice the remaining 2 oranges and combine it with the remaining 3 tablespoons of brown sugar, carrot, orange zest, and the cornstarch into a pot and turn on medium-low heat. Cook until it simmers and begins to thicken.
- Skewer the tempeh onto sticks and cover in the glaze.
Notes
- Want to add veggies? Alternate the tempeh with roasted or steamed vegetables. Some of my favorites are squash, eggplant, red pepper, onion, and mushroom
- Take the time to marinate the tempeh. The longer the tempeh marinates the more flavor it will have.
- Use freshly squeezed orange juice for the best flavor.
- Cut the tempeh into even, similar-sized pieces. Not only does this make them easier to cook but it also makes them look better on the skewers.
I would definitely try this marinade on tofu looks delicious
So delicious! I love how the ginger, soy sauce and orange taste together here!
This orange tempeh recipe is a so yummy! I never thought to mix tempeh and orange, but I just love it. So fun to nibble on, too.
The flavor combo is so delicious! We’ve been loving it!
Can’t get enough of the orange marinade on these kabobs! Yum!
Right?! The flavor is soooo good!
The texture of these kabobs is insane, delicious!
Right?! The tempeh is awesome in these kabobs!
The marinade is so flavorful and sooo delicious!