This Vegan Breakfast Sandwich with Savory Tempeh is a flavorful, plant-based twist on the classic breakfast sandwich! With tender, savory tempeh, flavorful tofu “egg”, topped with fresh veggies, and a creamy chipotle aioli spread, these sandwiches are hearty and delicious! Packed with a crazy amount of clean protein and tons of veggies, this is a perfect way to start off the day!
Tips for success
- Don’t be afraid to get your fingers messy! I find the easiest way to evenly coat the tofu is with my fingers; mustard first, then the spices.
- Make sure to cover pan with a lid when cooking tempeh. This isn’t optional, as the liquid will evaporate before the tempeh has a chance to fully soften and absorb flavors from the soy sauce.
- Not a fan of spice? Omit it all! I love spice in just about everything I cook but this breakfast sandwich is just as tasty without it. A spread of plain vegan mayo and dijon mustard instead of chipotle aioli is just as fabulous.
What is tempeh?
Originating from Indonesia, tempeh is made from fermented soybeans which are partially cooked and then processed and formed into a firm, dense “cake”. Not to be confused with the sweet-treat type of cake, this is more like a savory patty.
Tempeh is loaded with healthy plant protein; a small 3 oz serving of tempeh has 15 grams of protein, an easy way to help fill your protein quota for the day.
Tempeh is rich in probiotics as well as prebiotics, which is beneficial to gut health. Gut bacteria may not seem like a big deal, but having a healthy gut microbiota is crucial for both a healthy body and mind! Unhealthy or unbalanced gut bacteria can lead to all sorts of ailments that you wouldn’t think would be linked to the gut: inflammation, depression, anxiety, acne, obesity, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, dementia, and even autism can be linked back to an unhealthy gut microbiota.
1Which bread works best?
Toasted sourdough or ciabatta are my favorites! Quality bread matters here and a subpar bread will bring down the quality of the entire sandwich. Fresh is best, and I always check my local bakery.
Vegan Breakfast Sandwich with Savory Tempeh
Ingredients
Tofu “Egg”
- 16 oz extra firm tofu cut into four large squares
- 1 tsp olive oil
- ¾ tsp dijon mustard
- 1 Tbsp nutritional yeast
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp onion powder
- ¼ tsp dash of turmeric
- ¼ tsp salt
- few grinds black pepper
Tempeh
- 8 oz tempeh cut into four large squares
- 2 Tbsp soy sauce or tamari
- ¼-½ tsp sriracha or other hot sauce Omit for no spice
- ¾ cup water
For Serving
- ciabatta rolls or sourdough bread
- lettuce or arugula
- tomato
- onion
- avocado
- chipotle aioli: vegan mayo + drizzle sriracha + few drops lime juice optional
Instructions
- To remove excess moisture, wrap tofu in a clean kitchen towel and place something weighted on top for 15 minutes or use a tofu press.
- Cut tofu long-ways for four large squares. Also cut tempeh into four large squares.
- In a medium-sized skillet, place the four squares of tempeh along with ¾ cup water, 2 Tbsp soy sauce, then drizzle ¼-½ tsp sriracha. Cover with lid and cook on medium heat until golden brown and water is gone, flipping halfway through.
- In a small bowl, combine 1 Tbsp nutritional yeast, ½ tsp garlic powder, ¼ tsp onion powder, ¼ tsp turmeric, ¼ tsp salt, and a few twists of pepper.
- Drizzle 1 tsp olive oil in large skillet. Place tofu squares in skillet and use your fingers to lightly coat tofu with ½ tsp dijon mustard, then sprinkle spices over tofu. Cook tofu on medium heat until lightly browned, flipping halfway through.
- Meanwhile, prep all the sandwich toppings. For chipotle aioli, in a small bowl combine vegan mayo, drizzle of sriracha, and a few drops of lime juice.
- When everything has finished cooking, lightly toast bread. Build sandwiches with tofu “egg”, tempeh, lettuce or arugula, tomato, onion, avocado, and finish with a spread of chipotle aioli (or just plain vegan mayo and dijon mustard). Enjoy!
Notes
Did you enjoy these vegan breakfast sandwiches? I’d love to hear about it in a comment! 🙂
Best breakfast sandwich ever!! The spicy chipotle sauce is on point!
So glad you enjoyed!! Thanks for the comment! 🙂