BBQ Tempeh

This past weekend while I was practicing chicken thighs, I decided since I had the fire going to throw something else on the smoker. In this experiment I decided to marinate some tempeh and cook it in a manner similar to ribs. What is tempeh? Basically its a cake made out of soybeans that have been fermented.

"All the vegans in the house,all the vegans, all the vegans," ` Reel Big Fish

• 1 block tempeh
• 1/2 cup soy sauce
• 1/4 cup cider vinegar
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• Hot sauce- to taste (optional)

Marinate the tempeh in a plastic bag with the soy sauce, cider vinegar, maple syrup and hot sauce.  Let it marinate in the refrigerator for at least an hour.  Longer is better, up to a day ahead.  If you want it to marinate faster you can cut it into pieces first.  It will marinate much faster if you cut it so it is half as thick and then into "rib" size pieces.  

Heat your smoker to 275 degrees.

• Mustard to coat
• Your favorite BBQ rub, to coat.

When the tempeh has marinated, remove from marinade (you may reserve some for wrapping the tempeh later). Then apply a decent coat of mustard all over and apply a liberal amount of rub on all sides.

Put the tempeh directly on the smoker rack.  Leave it on the smoker for at least an hour and a half.  

• Aluminum foil- at least 2 sheets
• Honey
• Brown Sugar

Remove the tempeh from the smoker and place it on top of the foil.  Coat lightly with honey and then with brown sugar.  Just use enough brown sugar for a light coat on both sides.  Put about 1/8 cup of the reserved marinade, or another liquid like apple juice in the foil, then wrap tightly.  Return the tempeh to the smoker for at least another hour.  Depending on how you like it, you may want to leave it in the foil longer.  

• Your favorite BBQ sauce

Remove the tempeh from the cooker.  Apply a coating of BBQ sauce on all sides.  Return to smoker for at least 15 minutes or until the sauce sets.

Remove from the smoker.  Let rest under foil tent for 5 minutes.  Slice (if not done already) and enjoy them yourselves, or serve them to that vegan or vegetarian friend!