Skip to main content

Southeast Asian Cold Noodles with Tempeh

This spicy, nutty salad is an amalgam of Indonesian and Thai-influenced ingredients and seasonings.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    6 to 8 servings

Ingredients

8 ounces udon or other Asian noodles of your choice
One 12-ounce package tempeh
1 tablespoon light olive oil
1 tablespoon reduced-sodium soy sauce
Chili powder
2 cups small broccoli florets
6 large baby carrots, quartered lengthwise
3 scallions, green parts only, sliced
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro or parsley
1/4 cup crushed peanuts, optional
1/2 cup Thai peanut satay sauce
2 tablespoons lime juice, or to taste

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Cook the noodles in plenty of rapidly simmering water until al dente. Drain and rinse under cool water, then drain well again.

    Step 2

    Cut the tempeh into 1/2-inch dice. Slowly heat the oil and soy sauce together in a wide skillet. Add the tempeh and sauté over medium heat, stirring frequently, until nicely browned and crisp. Sprinkle lightly with chili powder to taste and remove from the heat.

    Step 3

    Meanwhile, steam the broccoli and carrots in a large saucepan with about 1/2 inch of water until just tender-crisp, about 3 minutes. Drain and rinse under cool water, then drain well again.

    Step 4

    Combine the noodles, broccoli, and carrots in a serving bowl. Add the tempeh, scallions, cilantro, and optional peanuts. Pour in the satay sauce and lime juice, toss well, and serve.

  2. menu suggestions

    Step 5

    I like this served side by side with a simple, refreshing salad such as Bok Choy, Red Cabbage, and Carrot Salad (page 176) or Mixed Greens with Sprouts, Apple, and Daikon (page 179). Store-bought vegan spring rolls or dumplings are a fun way to round out the meal.

  3. Step 6

    An interesting companion dish is Bell Pepper and Bok Choy Stir-Fry (page 204). Add a platter of grape or cherry tomatoes and sliced cucumbers.

  4. nutrition information

    Step 7

    Calories: 375

    Step 8

    Total Fat: 14g

    Step 9

    Protein: 20g

    Step 10

    Carbohydrates: 42g

    Step 11

    Fiber: 4g

    Step 12

    Sodium: 240mg

Reprinted with permission from Vegan Express: Featuring 160 Recipes for Quick, Delicious, and Healthy Meals by Nava Atlas. Copyright © 2008 by Nava Atlas. Excerpted by permission of Broadway, a division of Random House, Inc. All rights reserved. Nava Atlas is the author of nine cookbooks, including The Vegetarian Family Cookbook, The Vegetarian 5-Ingredient Gourmet, and Vegetarian Soups for All Seasons. She lives in the Hudson Valley region of New York with her husband and two teenage sons (all vegans).
Read More
Like a cucumber-cilantro chutney sandwich and scallop piccata.
A veg-forward main or gets-along-with-everyone side.
A warmly spiced Ashkenazi charoset, perfect for your Passover seder—or spooned over yogurt the next morning.
Keep this easy frittata recipe on hand for quick breakfasts, impressive brunches, and fridge clean-out meals.
Turn humble onions into this thrifty yet luxe pasta dinner.
Like airy lemon chiffon cake and a Cadbury egg–inspired tart.
Dressed in a spiced yogurt, with ginger and garlic, then roasted until caramelized and tender.
Think a Hugo spritz, a gin basil smash, and plenty more patio-ready pours.