Perfect Pairings & Recipes for
Tempeh

Analysing hundreds of thousands of recipes uncovers tempeh's optimal flavour pairings.

Tempeh immediately conjures the evocative embrace of protease and the bracing kiss of glutamate. But look beneath its obvious umaminess and you'll discover a captivating symphony of softer notes, a whisper of bean, a hint of koji, and subtle accents reminiscent of yeast. These are the notes that lend it such remarkable, resonant depth. The true alchemy of the kitchen unfolds when we pair tempeh with ingredients that let these nuances sing.

To illuminate these harmonies, we embarked on an ambitious journey, analysing thousands of ingredients. Each was meticulously deconstructed across 150 distinct flavour dimensions, allowing us to pinpoint precisely which notes complement in both classic and unexpected ways. Our exploration reveals, for instance, how the herbal, warm thymol in oregano can awaken tempeh, and how flat-leaf parsley's leafy notes forge a beautiful synergy with its fermented aroma.

An ingredient's flavour profile is determined by its core characteristics (e.g. maillard, earthy, and vegetal) enhanced by layers of subtle aroma notes (outer bars). When pairing ingredients, aim for a mix of core traits to build balance, and select complementary aroma notes to create harmony.

The Secret Language of Flavour

To understand exactly which flavours harmonise, we compiled a database of over 50,000 ingredient pairings commonly used in cooking. We then analysed these pairings, identifying the specific flavour notes that frequently appear together.

The Flavours That Harmonise With Proteolytic Notes

Our analysis reveals a strong connection between protease and chlorophyll flavours. Since tempeh has a distinct fermented proteins flavour, try pairing it with the green flavours of flat-leaf parsley.

The recipe below provides inspiration for pairing tempeh with flat-leaf parsley.

Harmonious Flavours Of Tempeh

Just as our analysis highlighted that protease and bay leaf flavours are harmonious, we can identify the full profile of flavours that harmonise with each of the flavour accents present in tempeh. For instance, the glutamic notes of tempeh are strongly associated with capsicum and hot accents.

The aroma accents linked to the various accents of tempeh can be seen highlighted in the pink bars below.

Matching Flavour Profiles

The flavour profile of oregano offers many of the aroma notes complementary to tempeh, including thyme and rosemary aroma notes. Because the flavour profile of oregano has many of the of the features that are complementary to tempeh, they are likely to pair very well together.

The chart above shows the unique profile of oregano across 150 dimensions of flavour, while the recipes below offer inspiration for bringing these flavours together with tempeh.

Recipes That Pair Tempeh With Oregano

Linked Flavour Notes

Looking at the aromas that are most strongly associated with the various flavours of tempeh, we can identify other ingredients that are likely to pair well.

The left side of the chart above highlights the aroma notes of tempeh, along with the complementary aromas associated with each note. While the right side shows some of the ingredients that share many of the aroma notes complementary to tempeh.

What To Drink With Tempeh

The graphite notes in claret make it a perfect pairing with tempeh. Likewise, the graphite flavours in young red bordeaux create a match made in heaven. Explore a variety of ingredients below that beautifully complement the unique character of tempeh below.

Which Vegetables Go With Tempeh?

Choose vegetables that anchor its savoryness or awaken its starchy aroma. Celery offers vibrant, clean counterpoints, its verdant freshness lifting the palate. Green pepper add a gentle, oniony brightness, while sprout introduces a sophisticated, anise-tinged elegance.

Alternatively, embrace vegetables that harmonise with tempeh's sharpness. The addition of white cabbage, with its subtle hexenal notes, can complement the vinegar beautifully. Carrot bridges earthiness and citrus zest, while baby bok choy lends a fresh leafiness.

How Flavonomics Works

We've pioneered a unique, data-driven approach to decode the intricate art of flavour pairing. Our goal is to move beyond intuition and uncover the science of why certain ingredients harmonise beautifully. This rigorous methodology allows us to provide you with insightful and reliable pairing recommendations.

Our analysis begins with over 50,000 carefully selected recipes from acclaimed chefs like Galton Blackiston, Marcello Tully, and Pierre Lambinon. This premium dataset ensures our model distils genuine culinary excellence and creativity.

Each ingredient from these recipes is deconstructed across 150 distinct flavour dimensions, creating a unique numerical "flavour fingerprint." This quantification allows us to apply advanced analytical methods to identify complex patterns between flavour notes.

We identify popular ingredient combinations that frequently appear in our recipe database. Regression analysis is then performed on these pairings to statistically validate and pinpoint truly harmonious flavours.

These insights drive our predictive model, which allows us to take any ingredient (e.g., Tempeh), analyse its detailed flavour profile, and accurately reveal its complementary flavours and perfect ingredient partners.