Tempeh, a highly nutritious soybean cake.

Tempeh is a food which originates from Indonesia and is eaten there on a daily basis. Incredibly nutritious, it serves to nourish the Indonesian people and to contribute to their longevity.

Tempeh has the texture of a chewy cake, but is not served as a dessert as it isn't sweet. In fact it's flavor has been described as smokey or nutty, in Indonesia, it's flavor actually varies from household to household and from batch to batch.

The flavor of this soybean cake can vary because the process to make tempeh is very interesting and unusual. First of all, soybeans are cooked and then mixed with rice or a similar grain. Next, a piece of tempeh from a previous batch is added to this mixture in order to begin the process of fermentation. The fungus responsible for this fermentation is called rhizopus oligosporus. This process of fermentation can take several days to complete, so the mixture is wrapped in banana leaves and left alone in a warm place to work it's magic. After enough time has passed this dough is baked and....voila....you now have tempeh!

If you want the superb nutrition of soybeans, try tempeh

It would be very difficult for the average person to try making tempeh at home, but it is becoming easier to find at grocery stores and health food stores. For those people out there who are afraid to discover new foods, and who aren't willing to give their tongue the pleasure of experiencing rich, complex, and unique flavors, then tempeh is not for them. For the rest of us, tempeh will give your meal depth and character. And will nourish your body with an excellent source of protein, fiber, and calcium.