jerk tempeh with coriander (cilantro) sauce recipe

It’s all too easy in this day and age to focus on the bad, sad and ugly reality of life that faces so many around the world. Obesity, diabetes, cancer and disease as well as genetically modified foods, additives and chemicals are catch phrases we are all too familiar with in the 21st century. But amongst all this sadness there are many inspiring people shining the light of hope, teaching and sharing all that they know and love in a bid to educate people to see a better, brighter way. 

On a whim a few months back I bought The Inspired Vegan, by Bryant Terry after Heidi mentioned his newly published book in one of her posts. Being from the bottom of the world I’d never heard of Bryant before, sad I know. But I have a feeling many of you are in the same boat so I’d like to introduce you to my new food hero… Chef. Author. Activist, Bryant Terry.

Reading through his book has stirred up so much passion inside of me, as I’ve been feeling the pull more and more since starting this blog to head down a very similar path as he has. It’s a cookbook sure, filled with (for want of a better word), inspiring recipes made using simple honest ingredients and flavour combinations that will make your head pop; sparkling rosemary-grapefruit water, afro-asian jung with shoyu-vinegar-chilli sauce and gumbo zav anyone? But it’s the book as a whole that I find so addictive. There’s talk about sustainability, growing food organically, seasonal eating and more. Everything that I believe in and everything I love. Separated into menus inspired (there’s that word again!) by ‘family memories, social movements, unsung radical heroes, and visions for the future’, it is more than just a cookbook. It’s a statement. Each recipe has a suggested song and book to go with it and thoughtful, honest introductions. On that note, if you will, please press play below to start the suggested song before we get onto today’s recipe. A slight adaption of Bryant’s Jerk Tempeh with Cilantro (coriander) sauce.

Right, now that we are sufficiently in the mood, lets proceed.
Jerk tempeh, how cool is that? What’s more commonly associated with chicken or pork and hailing from Jamaica, is here slathered as a wet mix over big slices of tempeh then bake in the oven until hot, juicy, and full of flavour. Coming from Memphis, Tennessee in Americas south-western corner, Bryant’s use of bold flavours and spices are not ones that I’m overly familiar with, but as his wife is of Chinese decent (and my hubbys from Vietnam) the book is an amazing mix of African American soul food and Chinese simplicity, of which I totally get.

I’ve halved Bryants recipe as only Ada and myself love to eat food like this (boring boys of the family!), made a few minor substitutions to use what’s available here in Australia and re-worded his recipe so it makes sense to my fellow down-under and Kiwi readers, but other than that this is all his work. In the book he serves the tempeh with a bright, fresh coriander (cilantro) sauce that cuts through the rich tempeh, as well as adding a little more sauce to go over the rice or quinoa in which it’s served on top. I’ve left the sauce in it’s original amounts, knowing full well how much I’d love it. It’s also great over eggs, roast vegetables, stir-frys and salads should you find yourself with leftovers. And as always with dishes like this, the tempeh improves in taste if left to hang-out overnight in the fridge once cooked. It was insanely good eaten as left-overs the next day, re-heated gently in a pan and drizzled with the sauce over freshly cooked brown rice…