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Tempeh “Chicken” Nuggets with Sriracha Ketchup

in Entrees, Other

How is everyone’s weekend going so far?  Mine has been busy, busy!!  Friday evening after work I went to an outside spin class hosted by Sweat, Cycle, and Soul at Lululemon with Erin and Joanna.

lululemon spin classPhoto courtesy of Erin.

And don’t we just look awesome in this picture?  Yes, this was after the class! 😉

I was a little afraid that it was going to be extra brutal since it was in the upper 80’s on Friday, but luckily by the time the 6:00 class rolled around we were in the shade and there was a nice breeze.  It was definitely still tough, but fun!

Yesterday I was on the go go go!  I went to the gym, grocery shopped, cleaned my apartment, did laundry, blogged, read, and went to dinner with Erin.  It was a busy but great day!

I also partook in a beer last night, which I drank by myself.  But it was totally justified because it was National Drink Beer Day!  I had to celebrate, right? 😉

And that brings us to today.  Spin class and an incline treadmill power walk are already in the books.  Now it is time to catch up on blogging, reading and TV watching.  Oh, and maybe a nap if I have time, too!  But before I get to all of that, I want to share a super tasty recipe with you.

tempeh nuggets 2 editedI think it is pretty safe to say that I have not eaten a chicken nugget in several years.  Do I miss the taste of them?  Not one bit!  But what I do miss about chicken nuggets is dipping them in all sorts of yummy condiments (ketchup, mustard, and/or bbq sauce), and the fact that they are a finger food.  I think there is also a bit of nostalgia associated with chicken nuggets, too.  I definitely think of my childhood when I think of them.  They were, after all, one of my favorite school lunches growing up.

But, I am SO over chicken! 😉  As a result, I decided to make a vegan version of nuggets using tempeh that could just as easily be eaten with my hands and dipped in lots of yummy sauces, like the “adult” ketchup that I am about to share with you.  It is time to make some tempeh nuggets!

tempeh nuggets editedIngredients

For the Tempeh “Chicken” Nuggets:

1 8 oz block of tempeh, cubed (I cut mine into 24 pieces)
1/4 cup Bragg’s Liquid Aminos (or low-sodium soy sauce)
1/3 cup unsweetened plain almond milk
1/4 cup panko bread crumbs + 1/4 cup whole wheat bread crumbs
fine sea salt, a few sprinkles
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp paprika
EVOO cooking spray

For the Sriracha Ketchup:

2 TB ketchup
1/2 to 1 tsp of sriracha sauce (depending on how spicy you want it)

Directions

1. Marinate tempeh cubes in the Bragg’s Liquid Aminos in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.

2. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.  Spray baking sheet with EVOO cooking spray.

3. Heat tempeh over medium heat in an EVOO sprayed pan (or you could use oil) for approximately 10 to 15 minutes, or until cooked through.  Turn the tempeh throughout the cooking time in order to slightly brown all sides.

4. Let the tempeh cool for at least 20 minutes.

5. Combine the bread crumbs and seasonings to make your bread crumb mix.

6. Bread the tempeh.  Dip the tempeh cubes in the almond milk and then into the bread crumb mix until all sides are well-coated.

7. Place the breaded tempeh onto the baking sheet and bake for approximately 25 to 30 minutes, or until the nuggets become golden brown and crispy.  Flip the tempeh nuggets once halfway through.

8. Prior to serving, make the spicy ketchup by combining the ketchup and sriracha sauce.

tempeh nuggets spicy ketchup

tempeh nuggets 3 editedNice and crispy!

tempeh nuggets 9 editedI served my Tempeh “Chicken” Nuggets with a side of roasted green beans.  It was a taaaasty meal!

tempeh nuggets 5 editeedYou can bet that these bad boys would taste awesome dipped in Dijon mustard or bbq sauce, too!  These will absolutely be making many more appearances on my weekly meal plans, and soon!

Are you a chicken nuggets fan?  If so, what do you love about them?  Would you try a vegan version?

Have a fabulous rest of your weekend!

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{ 48 comments… add one }
  • blonde hair blue eyed runner September 29, 2013, 10:42 am
    What a great weekend and already a great start to your Sunday! Mmm I love nuggets especially with good dipping sauce!
  • Amanda @ .running with spoons. September 29, 2013, 12:05 pm
    You're right - the dipping sauces are pretty much the best part of chicken nuggets. I especially always loved Sweet 'N Sour from McD's, and it -totally- reminds me of my childhood. It's been a while since I've had chicken nuggets as well, but I'd be more than willing to try a vegan version - these look delicious!
  • olivesanwine September 29, 2013, 1:12 pm
    Confession: I lived on chicken fingers and French fries in high school. Looking back, I am so disgusted with that - haha! These look like a great veggie option for my former food obsession ;)
  • Danica September 29, 2013, 1:32 pm
    Tempeh is one of those foods that I want to try, but I'm scared to all at the time time. I agree with you about chicken nuggets - it's been at least 3-4 years since I've had one, and I certainly don't miss them, but there is some sort of nostalgia that comes with them from my childhood!
  • Alexis @ Hummusapien September 29, 2013, 1:54 pm
    These are SO creative! I've made tofu "chicken" nuggets using hummus (obviously) and bread crumbs from the Peas and Thank You cookbook and they were super yummy.
    • cleaneatingveggiegirl September 29, 2013, 6:36 pm
      That sounds delicious, too! But that is no surprise because we definitely have similar feelings about foods ;).
  • Erica @ For the Sake of Cake September 29, 2013, 4:16 pm
    Sounds like a fun weekend! I looove chicken nuggets... preferably from Chick fil A! :)
  • Jan @ Sprouts n Squats September 29, 2013, 5:29 pm
    Wow these look delicious!! Love this idea, just bookmarked to try :)
    • cleaneatingveggiegirl September 29, 2013, 6:37 pm
      Thank you!! I hope you give them a try. If you do, please let me know what you think :).
  • The Cookie ChRUNicles September 29, 2013, 5:32 pm
    These look delish - I may make this tomorrow! Thank you for this
  • Carly @ Snack Therapy September 29, 2013, 5:50 pm
    You could coat ANYTHING in panko and dip it in ketchup, and I'd probably eat it. This looks amazing!
  • Davida @The Healthy Maven September 29, 2013, 8:43 pm
    What an awesome meal! I think I could eat that sriracha ketchup by the spoonful!
  • kelly @ hidden fruits and veggies September 30, 2013, 6:35 am
    I can't honestly remember what a chicken nugget tastes like, but I do love slightly crunchy finger foods that I can dip into BBQ sauce! Once in a while I will buy the morning star farms kind, but these look so much better! I think I'm going to try them with crushed pretzels instead of panko -- buying the ingredients tonight!
  • Alisha's Appetite September 30, 2013, 7:31 am
    The sauce is ALWAYS the best part of those little nuggets! I remember eating the Mcdonalds chicken nuggets throughout high school and it kind of grosses me out to think about it now. I do know that I loaded up with the ketchup and other dips they had available
    • cleaneatingveggiegirl September 30, 2013, 11:28 am
      It is absolutely the best part! Though, with these tempeh nuggets I could most certainly eat them plain and be pretty darn happy :).
  • running4cupcakes September 30, 2013, 8:30 am
    It is ALL about the dipping sauce!! Best part of nuggets. I also love roasting green beans and eating them like french fries with ketchup!!
    • cleaneatingveggiegirl September 30, 2013, 11:28 am
      Green bean french fries sound amazing!! I pretty much love everything dipped in ketchup though ;).
  • passtheknife September 30, 2013, 12:27 pm
    There's such an important ritual to the finger-dipping foods. I can't shake that either. And they look super tasty!
  • Alex @ Cookie Dough Katzen September 30, 2013, 1:59 pm
    I love busy weekends! Oh man those chicken nuggest look delicious! I still need to try tempeh!
  • Dixya @ Food, Pleasure, and Health September 30, 2013, 2:58 pm
    I celebrated by drinking beer too :) these are so creative yum yum
  • ashley September 30, 2013, 3:00 pm
    I love chicken nuggets and would totally try a vegan version! I'm always willing to try new things :)
  • Tara September 30, 2013, 3:31 pm
    These look great for people who don't like eating meat! There is something so nostalgic about chicken nuggets that I have to indulge every few months, otherwise I'm pretty much over them. PS: I love Sriracha ketchup, it's the only kind of ketchup I will eat. :)
  • Heather @ Kiss My Broccoli September 30, 2013, 3:53 pm
    What's a chicken nugget without a dipping sauce...I swear as a kid I'd eat more of the dip than the actual meat! haha! Mickey Dee's sweet and sour will always have my heart...even though it's loaded with crap! ha! These look incredible, Hannah! Love the crunchy coating! I've been playing around with some ideas for tempeh nuggets recently and have something sort of similar...but it's not quite ready for sharing just yet!
  • MegBek September 30, 2013, 8:43 pm
    Cute picture of you girls! I would love to take a class like that - so jealous! Those look yummy - so creative with that sauce! Anything sriracha is a winner to me!
  • Jessie October 1, 2013, 12:28 am
    My heavens, you sure did accomplish many things over the weekend while you were on the go. Aren't you just one productive lady. Tempeh has been one food that I've really been wanting to try, but always seem to forget about it.. which is quite easy since it's not offered here in Kuwait. I totally wish I remember whiled we were vacationing in the States. Darnit. There's always next yr though, Ha!
  • IHeartVegetables October 1, 2013, 6:29 am
    Oh wow an outside spin class would be so fun!!! I have had chicken nuggets in years, but I think I'd like this vegan version!
  • Elyse @ Lizzie Fit January 30, 2014, 7:21 pm
    Om nom nom I'm going to make this with some homemade sweet & sour sauce :D Elyse @ Lizzie Fit recently posted...Currently in JanuaryMy Profile
    • ClnEatingVegGrl January 30, 2014, 7:24 pm
      That is an AWESOME idea!! Let me know how it turns out!
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