Balsamic Black Bean Tempeh.

I created this recipe while on my bike ride with my husband on Sunday.  It was a freezing ride and I needed to take my mind off the windchill and tap into my creative side with this new delicacy that the good folks at Smiling Hara Tempeh sent me.  I’ve never had black bean tempeh and was very excited to experiment with it.  My mind kept going to more of a Mexican themed dish but I wanted to divert from that and attempt this at a new angle.  Italian!  Garlic.  Balsamic.  Deep intense flavors was the way I wanted to go… and did.

To lighten up this dish, I served the tempeh over a bed of fresh organic arugula, roasted red pepper slices, pear slices and pumpkin seeds.  I then drizzled balsamic over the top to finish this dish off.  Super easy lunch or dinner that comes together very quickly.

My friends Smiling Hara Tempeh are on a mission that I’m so happy to help out with!!  They are looking to expand and make their awesome food available nationwide (currently only available in Whole Foods and Earth Fare stores in the south).  I’m happily sharing their kickstarter link here if you want to help.

I’m always happy to share and promote companies with similar philosophies with food as my own.  Here’s a little background on who they are.

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Sustainability permeates every aspect of our philosophy. We are committed to using only the highest quality ingredients, organically grown and sourced as locally as possible. We view the growth and profitability of our business as an opportunity to increase infrastrucure in our region. In business, as well as personally, we believe we are only as strong as the community and environment within which we exist.

Our goal is to educate the general public to the benefits of unpasteurized tempeh and bring it into the national spotlight. We are in the process creating a buzz around tempeh and forging a new trend in the health food world which will contribute to the health and nutrition of our customers, as well as the state of the local economy.

Together we have channelled our passions for community, self-sufficiency, environmental stewardship, and a health-conscious lifestyle into a vibrant and rapidly growing enterprise. Smiling Hara is a company with a mission. Welcome aboard.
[Read more…]

— Knead to Cook