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sesame tempeh rice bowl
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Easy Sesame Tempeh Rice Bowls

Easy sesame tempeh rice bowls made in 30-minutes. This nutritious and flavorful recipe if perfect for a quick weeknight meal or weekend meal prep. It's also vegan and gluten-free with a simple nut-free option.
Course dinner
Cuisine vegan
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 4

Ingredients

For the Tempeh

  • 1 block tempeh, plain
  • 1/2 cup soy sauce, low-sodium
  • 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 3 large garlic cloves, grated or finely minced

For the Bowls

  • 1 tablespoon avocado oil, or other light-tasting oil
  • 1 cup rice of choice (see notes)
  • 3 bell peppers (red, orange and/or yellow), thinly sliced
  • 1/2 cup peanuts, dry roasted, unsalted, roughly chopped
  • 2 green onions, thinly sliced
  • Sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds, optional

Instructions

  • Start by preparing the tempeh. Crumble the block of tempeh and place in a small mixing bowl. Add the soy sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar, brown sugar and garlic. Stir to combine. The tempeh crumbles should be coated with the sauce. Let marinate while you prepare the rest of the recipe (or you can do this step the night before if preferred).
  • Cook the rice according to the package's instructions. Season to taste.
  • Heat the avocado oil in a large cast-iron or non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add the sliced bell peppers and cook for 5-8 minutes or until slightly softened.
  • Stir in the marinated tempeh crumbles and cook for another 5 minutes. Add in the chopped peanuts.
  • Serve the rice with the pepper and tempeh mixture. Top with sliced green onions. You can add an extra splash of soy sauce to taste if desired.

Notes

I use white basmati rice for a quick option. This rice cooks in about 15 minutes, making this a 30-minute recipe. Jasmine rice would also work well for this dish. For a slightly higher fiber option, you can use brown rice, but it will take longer to cook.
Feel free to add different kinds of vegetables to this bowl. Broccoli and snow peas would be great additions. Adjust the cook time as needed and make sure not to add too much or you'll need to prepare more sauce to compensate for the extra volume.
For a nut-free option, skip the peanuts. You could add a sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds instead (I love to add both).