Bread
Barbecue Tempeh & Slaw Sandwiches
Browned tempeh strips take a light barbecue glaze and fill toasted buns with a crisp vinegar-dressed cabbage slaw.
Inspired by Plant-based barbecue sandwich suppers
Prep
20 min
Cook
30 min
Serves
4 servings
Difficulty
Easy
Pantry match
Uses the current servings and temporary recipe changes.
Missing 10 ingredients
- • 16 ounces plain soy tempeh, cut into thin strips
- • 1 tablespoon neutral oil
- • 1/2 cup vegan barbecue sauce
- • 2 tablespoons water
- • 3 cups finely shredded cabbage
- • 1 carrot, grated
- • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- • 1 teaspoon maple syrup
- • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- • 4 vegan sandwich buns
View ingredient-by-ingredient match
- 16 ounces plain soy tempeh, cut into thin stripsMissing
- 1 tablespoon neutral oilMissing
- 1/2 cup vegan barbecue sauceMissing
- 2 tablespoons waterMissing
- 3 cups finely shredded cabbageMissing
- 1 carrot, gratedMissing
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegarMissing
- 1 teaspoon maple syrupMissing
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher saltMissing
- 4 vegan sandwich bunsMissing
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Method
Recipe notes
Tempeh is a fermented soy product with a firmer texture than tofu. This recipe presents its own browned strips rather than disguising it as meat. Barbecue sauce and buns need label checks for honey, dairy, egg, or other ingredients when the vegan label matters; tempeh remains a soy allergen.
Planning, storage, and serving
Storage and reheating
Refrigerate cooked tempeh and slaw within two hours in separate containers and use within 3 days. Reheat tempeh thoroughly and toast buns near serving; assembled sandwiches become soggy in storage.
Make-ahead tips
Shred cabbage and carrot a day ahead and refrigerate. Brown and glaze tempeh for packed lunches if useful, keeping sauce-coated filling separate from buns and dressing slaw near assembly.
What to serve with it
- - Roasted sweet-potato wedges
- - A cucumber salad
- - Steamed green beans
Equipment needed
- - Wide nonstick skillet
- - Slaw mixing bowl
- - Toaster or bun-warming tray
Difficulty explained
The slaw is a simple hand mix and the tempeh browns quickly; package preparation guidance and a gentle sauce finish are the only sequencing concerns.
Recipe calculator
Nutrition facts
Updating nutrition…
Alternatives
Apply a reviewed substitution to this temporary working copy. The published recipe stays unchanged.
Browse reviewed options
- - Use a personally suitable lower-sugar vegan barbecue sauce at the same measured quantity.
- - Replace carrot with thinly sliced radish for a pepperier slaw, maintaining its total vegetable volume.
- - Serve the glazed tempeh and slaw over separately cooked rice instead of buns when that better fits your requirements.
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Pitfalls to Watch Out For
- Using a honey-containing sauce or dairy bun while calling the assembled sandwich vegan creates an ingredient mismatch.
- Pouring undrained slaw liquid into buns makes the sandwich difficult to hold and quickly soggy.
- Adding barbecue sauce while the pan is very hot scorches its sugars before the tempeh is glazed.
Nutrition Context
- The estimate includes four ounces tempeh, one bun, measured barbecue sauce and oil, and a quarter of the slaw per serving.
- Tempeh provides soy protein, buns supply starch, and commercial sauce changes sugar and sodium; suggested side dishes are additional.
FAQ
Is tempeh the same as tofu?
No. It has a firm fermented-soy structure and a different flavor and bite from tofu.
Do I steam tempeh first?
Follow the package's preparation guidance; products differ and some call for a preliminary steaming stage.
Can someone with a soy allergy eat it?
This recipe directly contains soy tempeh and is not written as soy-allergy-compatible.
Does it taste like pulled pork?
It is a barbecue tempeh sandwich with its own firm strip texture, rather than a claim to reproduce meat.
Can I pack the sandwiches?
Pack chilled filling and slaw separately from buns, then assemble near eating to preserve texture.
What sides pair best with this dish?
Good pairings include Roasted sweet-potato wedges; A cucumber salad; Steamed green beans. Choose one or two based on how substantial you want the meal to be.