How to Identify The Original Indonesian Tempe

Do you know tempe? Do you know how to identify the original Indonesian tempe? Here are some tips.

When I arrived in America a couple months ago, I met some American friends and most of them asked me how to identify the original Indonesian tempe. They have confused since they found some products which were looked like a food product named tempe. They found it at some stores here but when they cooked it, its final result didn't look like tempe. I believe that not only my American friends who have this question but also another friends or people. As an Indonesian, tempe's origin, I would like to share some tips, hopefully they would be very helpful.

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How to Identify Tempe

Tempe is a traditional product originally from Indonesia. It didn't originate from China or Japan. It's made of whole soybean through a fermentation process using rhizopus to stick soybeans to each other. Its form is like a cake, firm and a broken white color. Tempe is now commonly found in many western supermarkets as well as in many Asian markets and health food stores, but it's quite difficult to identify the original Indonesian tempe

Here are some tips that maybe useful to identify the original Indonesian tempe:

Tempe is made of whole soybeans through fermentation process, so it will contain only soybeans.
Originally, it's wrapped in banana leaves, but in North America you will find it's wrapped in plastic.
Its color is broken white color, with light brown soybean pieces spreading on it.
You can see its surface is smooth and when you hold it, it will feel firm.
Even when you cut it into small pieces, its body will stay firm, not crumbly.
It has a strong soybean scent. When you fry it plainly, without oil or butter, you will smell the strong soybean scent appears.
Tempe has a complex flavor that can be described as nutty, meaty, and mushroom-like. Even when you cook it with other ingredients, its soybean taste will not change.

Tempe Tips

Once you buy tempe, put it in a freezer quickly to keep it fresh. Tempe is not a frozen food, so the maximum time for best cooking is a week after you put it in a freezer; otherwise it will be not good to consume any more.

Tempe is a healthy and nutritional food and advisable for vegetarians to consume. Never hesitate to consume tempe any time, since it contains protein, dietary fiber and vitamins. Please remember that tempe is totally different than tofu

Have a great time cooking tempe!