This tempeh sandwich is one of my favorite vegetarian lunches. It’s piled high on whole wheat bread with cheddar, apples and jelly.
I applied to 12 colleges in high school.
They were all pretty much the same kind of school (relatively small liberal arts type places that cost a small fortune and could’ve single handedly kept J Crew in business with the amount of polo shirts worn by the guys alone). I got accepted into 11 of the 12 (I’m still bitter about that 1, thanks Georgetown) and had quite the decision to face when picking since it was pretty much like choosing which M&M is your favorite, they’re all different colors of the same damn thing.
Two things made up my mind: lots of wine over Easter dinner in 2000 and the fact that Dickinson’s food was ranked 7th in the nation at the time.
My parent’s would like to think it had something to do with the half merit scholarship and that I made a sound financial decision at the age of 18 but I really don’t deserve that kind of credit, it was the food.
Typical.
Dickinson’s caf was the first time I had ever even heard the term vegan let alone know what the heck tempeh was.
If I had no idea how to pronounce it, it seemed best to avoid it altogether.
True fact, I still look at the word and pronounce it “tem-pee” in my head even though I now know that’s wrong.
It’s one of those words that I pause and take a second to think about before saying out loud to make sure I get right.
I never actually ate tempeh in college, it ended up taking about 6 years after graduation and a major healthy eating overhaul to get the courage to buy the nasty looking smooshed together pale substance for the first time.
Buying it was the easy part, knowing what the heck to do with it was a whole other issue.
I’ve experimented in many ways, some edible, some not even worthy of giving to the dog and it comes down to two meals that are my favorite.
One being my tempeh marinade which results in the crispiest, most flavorful baked tempeh you can imagine.
This tempeh sandwich being the other.
One weird as heck sandwich that somehow just works.
Really, really well.
Raw tempeh, cheddar, jelly, apple slices and in this case sprouts and cabbage although, any greenery will do on toasted whole wheat.
Don’t knock it till you try it. And I highly recommend you do.
Gina Matsoukas is an AP syndicated writer. She is the founder, photographer and recipe developer of Running to the Kitchen — a food website focused on providing healthy, wholesome recipes using fresh and seasonal ingredients. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets both digital and print, including MSN, Huffington post, Buzzfeed, Women’s Health and Food Network.
After posting my own raw tempeh with veggie recipe a few days ago, I am totally into it and your sammie looks gorgeous!
Just read your comment on Jessica’s blog about traveling…eek. I didn’t realize you traveled THAT much. My hat is off to you!
I applied to 13 and got into I think 11 as well. Although food wasn’t part of my decision it ended up being a good choice I have to say. My palette expanded exponentially on campus especially with the push for local and organic foods around me. Is tempeh good raw or do you steam it first?
This is one of the only ways I like it raw. I do nothing to it but slice it and throw it on the sandwich.
I’ve got a package sitting in my fridge that I’m trying to figure out what to do with. Perhaps this sandwich will do the trick! …though I am a bit nervous about the raw part.
I love raw tempeh, and put it in wraps for lunch– I’m glad I’m not the only one!! The taste definitely grows on you!
Tempeh sandwiches are so good! Sometimes it’s the simple things that are the best.
I think I originally only applied to a handful of colleges straight out of high school, and of course didn’t get into the only one I cared about (damn you, Tufts!). So, I applied to another handful freshman year and ended up transferring to BC…also land of the polo shirts.
haha, I remember visiting Tufts with my mom and getting to campus and just knowing I didn’t want to go there. I didn’t even want to get out of the car but considering it was a 3.5 hour drive, she made me.
I was a vegetarian for 20-odd years and just had my first tempeh sandwich yesterday – a tempeh reuben, a la this place – https://www.thewildcow.com/twc/- minus the thousand island, extra spicy mayo. I’m sold.
Wow I thought I applied to a lot of colleges. I toured 20 and then narrowed it down to 8. Although I was a vegetarian for 10 years I didn’t try tempeh til last week! I was the worst vegetarian ever…cheese, veggie burgers and tofu was it:)
Love apple and cheddar!
Do you just eat it straight out of the package or cook it? I know you can eat it raw, and I’ve tasted it, but I always at least microwave my tempeh. :)
I just realized I never said there was tempeh in it! haha, fixed. It’s raw straight out of the package in this. The only way I can handle the “rawness” is with the cheese + apples + jelly combo :)
:) Will be trying it this weekend! I like it as a vegan “BLT+A(vocado)”, just sliced really thin and grilled to be “bacon”.
aw Gtown! yeah, they’re snooty, so don’t worry about it lol, but it would’ve been cool cause you would’ve gone to school in my neck of the woods! i can see why this sandwich, with the different variety of ingredients, you have in there would be good. i definitely won’t knock it because it really actually looks delicious. i like that you have jam and apples smushed together with the savory cheese. yum!