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Tempeh and Pineapple Kebabs with Peanut Satay Sauce

May I tempt you with tempeh and pineapple kebabs with peanut satay sauce? All slathered with a spicy Indonesian peanut butter sauce, these plant-based skewers are loaded with juicy pineapple, crisp red onion, and meaty tempeh. They’re a delicious way to introduce tempeh to meat lovers and vegans alike!

Tempeh and Pineapple Kebabs on top of rice with Satay sauce on the side

Click here to PIN Tempeh and Pineapple Kebabs with Peanut Satay Sauce!

As the sweet pineapple chunks caramelize on the grill, their juices flavor the nutty meat-like tempeh. You baste the mix of peanut butter, coconut milk and tamari all over the skewered goodies, before, during and after they go on the grill. I like to serve them on a bed of steamed brown rice with more satay peanut sauce in a pitcher on the side. More sauce is good. 😊

These grilled kebabs are a tasty choice for grilling season. They’ll satifies meat-eaters and vegetarians alike and they’re a delicious way to introduce tempeh into your life!

*** To save yourself the last minute work, you can mix the peanut sauce, steam/plump the tempeh, and cut the onion and pineapple ahead, even the day before.

Tips and tricks for Tempeh and Pineapple Kebabs with Satay Sauce:

What is tempeh? How to prepare tempeh:

  • Tempeh is fermented soybeans. Inoculated with a culture, the fermentation process binds the soybeans into a cake. Sort of how a starter culture turns milk into yogurt, or creates the blue veins in Roquefort cheese. Tempeh is more digestible than tofu because it is fermented.
  • There’s a tactic with tempeh that not everyone knows. The secret is steaming, or pre-cooking tempeh in tamari-seasoned water, which adds moisture and flavor. I call it “plumping.”
  • Tip: So I always have tempeh on hand, I store tempeh package sin the freezer. When I want to make something with tempeh—it’s an easy 10 minute steam to plump the tempeh.
  • If the tempeh is not frozen, plumping takes about 5 minutes. If the tempeh is frozen, to thaw and plump takes about 10 minutes.
  • The brand I find most available is Lightlife tempeh, both their original tempeh or multigrain tempeh work with this recipe. The multigrain variety is a typically soybeans, rice, millet, sunflower and sesame seeds all inoculated and fermented into tempeh cakes.
Tempeh and Pineapple Kebabs on the grill

What is satay?

Satay (or saté) means marinated cubes of something, threaded on skewers and grilled or broiled. A spicy peanut sauce is the usual satay marinade and we often see the sauce paired with chicken, fish or meat. Maybe because tempeh and satay both come to us from Indonesia, you’ve got a delightful marriage.

Tempeh and Pineapple Kebabs with Peanut Satay Sauce in blue dish with rice

More recipes with tempeh:

Wishing you a fabulous week–turn on the grill and cook up something delicious!

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10 comments

  • Tempeh is new to me and I have really enjoyed it the few times I tried it. GREG Reply · 26 May, 2014

  • Why yes, you MAY tempt me with these skewers and peanut sauce. Absolutely, 100% yes. Reply · 28 May, 2014

  • Hi Letty,
    I am so delighted that you shared this delectable tempeh recipe with us at the Healthy, Happy, Green and Natural Blog Hop. I am so happy to make an amazing new “blogging” friend! Your recipe for tempeh kababs is going to be the centerpiece of my next dinner party! Reply · 9 June, 2014

  • Amy Hawks

    Can you marinate over night? Having people over and want to prep as much as possible day before. Reply · 12 May, 2017

    • Amy, Absolutely you can marinate the tempeh overnight! In fact I will add that note to the recipe!
      Thank you! Reply · 12 May, 2017

  • We had these for dinner tonight and it was a perfect start to the weekend! So delicious. Thanks for sharing! Reply · 16 June, 2017

  • Ashley

    These sound delicious! Where’s the note for the light coconut milk you mention? Reply · 28 May, 2018

    • Thank you Ashley. You can use light or regular coconut milk in the can. Not the coconut milk beverage. (Thanks for catching that the note wasn’t there!) Reply · 28 May, 2018

  • Wera

    Hi! Can I fry it on the regular pan instead of grilling the skewers? Reply · 13 October, 2019

    • I’ve never done it but I bet it it will be a success. I’d say heat 1 to 2 tablespoons in the skillet first. Thinking about this, why don’t you skip the skewers and pan-sauté the tempeh, pineapple and onion? When golden, serve over rice with the satay sauce. Reply · 13 October, 2019

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