Mustard Tempeh Buddha Bowl

This vegan mustard tempeh Buddha bowl is loaded with quinoa, roasted sweet potatoes, silky avocado, crunchy apple, marinated tempeh, and tossed with a creamy mustard dressing.  It’s a hearty filling vegan buddha bowl that’s oil-free and gluten-free.

Tips for Vegan Tempeh Bowl

• Kale only needs to be massaged with a little of the dressing, just long enough to start to break down some of the fibers and reduce in volume.
• Save a dish and reuse the one you used to toss the sweet potatoes and vinegar with for massaging the kale.
• Use gluten-free tamari to keep the dish gluten-free.
• The vinegar taste dissipates while cooking, so don’t worry your sweet potatoes won’t be sour.

Substitutions

• The quinoa can be substituted with brown rice, millet, or any grain you prefer.
• If you substitute with spinach or baby kale, no need to massage to break down the fibers.
• Use low-sodium soy sauce if you don’t have tamari.
• If you do use oil, then the vinegar for the sweet potatoes can be substituted with oil.

Time-Saving Tips for Maple Mustard Tempeh

• The tempeh can be steamed in advance, and marinated overnight.
• Preheat the oven and get the prep work done for the sweet potatoes while the tempeh is marinating. Steaming the tempeh before marinating lets the tempeh puff up slightly and soaks up the marinade better.  
• Plenty of times I’ve just tossed un-steamed cubed tempeh with half of the marinade ingredients, let them marinate while the oven preheats, and baked them as per the instructions in the recipe.  I’ve seen that my un-steamed tempeh doesn’t soak up as much marinade, so I use half the amount.
• I think the maple mustard tempeh tastes better steamed and marinated, but if you choose not to it will be covered with a flavorful mustard dressing.  (And sometimes we just need to save time and dishes in the kitchen)

Oil-Free Roasted Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes don’t have much moisture so they need some in order to have the salt and other seasonings stick.  If you do use oil, then the vinegar for the potatoes can be substituted with oil. 

Vegetable broth can also be used instead of apple cider vinegar.  Don’t worry the vinegar dissipates and the potatoes don’t taste sour.  If you’re transitioning to using less oil, just a quick spray of oil can work to get the salt to stick.

How to Prepare the Mustard Tempeh Bowl

Place the tempeh in a pan with water coming halfway up the blocks of tempeh, simmer on medium to medium-high for 10 minutes, flipping halfway through.  Or use a steamer basket and steam it for 10 minutes.

While the tempeh is steaming, whisk together the tamari, maple syrup, and apple cider vinegar. Once steamed, let it cool until you’re able to handle it, then cut your tempeh into ½ inch cubes.

Place the tempeh in a shallow dish and pour the marinade over it, toss the cubes around to ensure they’re covered.  Let it marinate for about 15-20 minutes.  Toss the cubes around about every 5-10 minutes, to ensure even marinating.  (It can also marinate overnight)

Preheat the oven to 425 F (220 C). For oil-free roasting, toss sweet potatoes with apple cider vinegar and salt. Don’t pour onto a baking tray, lift them out of the bowl to leave excess vinegar behind.

Bake the sweet potatoes on a silicone mat or parchment-lined baking tray for 25-30 minutes, stirring halfway through.

Bake the marinated tempeh on a silicone mat or parchment-lined baking tray for 20 minutes, stirring halfway through.

While the potatoes are cooking, prepare the quinoa according to package instructions.  Then whisk the ingredients together for the dressing.

Massage the kale with 2 tablespoons of dressing, tear it into bite-size pieces if needed.  The volume of kale should reduce in size.  (I just reuse the bowl from the sweet potatoes)

To serve: portion off the quinoa, cooked potatoes, tempeh, diced apples, sliced avocado into bowls, and add the mustard dressing.

Meal Prepping the Quinoa Tempeh Bowl

If you’re using this tempeh quinoa bowl for meal prep, the sweet potatoes and tempeh can be stored together.  I store the rest separately, although the kale and apple may be fine together.  

Depending on the type of apple, if pre-cut it might brown overnight in the refrigerator,  a splash of lemon juice may help but it will taste a little like lemon.  If you have leftover avocado, store it with the seed still intact in an airtight container.

More Tempeh Bowl Recipes

• Peanut tempeh bowl

More Vegan Bowls

• Butternut Squash Buddha Bowl
• Vegan Taco Bowl
• Roasted sweet potato bowl
• Vegan Sushi Bowl
• Chickpea Vegetable Rice Bowl
• Tofu Nourish Bowl
• Vegan Peanut Noodles

I hope you enjoy this recipe for the mustard tempeh buddha bowl!

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