I can't believe it's not sausage!

I am not especially keen on fake meat products, or vegan recipes that require quotation marks (like mac and "cheez") because they usually involve some form of trickery to create a product that could never really taste like the food it's an imitation of.  Just let food be what it is!!

But let me tell you about tempeh with fennel seeds and tomato and a little spice.  It tastes just like italian sausage and it really works for me.

Add some pasta and some green veggies, and it is divine!

Spicy Tempeh and Broccoli Rabe with Rotelle
From Veganomicon

8oz whole wheat rotelle or other spiral pasta

Spicy Fennel Tempeh
1 (8oz) package tempeh, cubed
1/2 cup veggie broth
2 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp tomato paste
1 clove garlic, chopped
1 tbsp fennel seeds
1 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
1 1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp red wine vinegar

Broccoli Rabe (or other green veggies):
2 tbsp olive oil
4 cloves garlic, sliced thinly
1 bunch broccoli rabe, chopped coarsely (I couldn't find any broccoli rabe anywhere, so I got broccolini and watercress, but any number of veggies might work well here)
2-3 tbsp veggie broth
2 tsp red wine vinegar
Salt and pepper


Cook the pasta according to the package directions (about 10 mins) drain the pasta, and keep covered in a serving bowl.

Meanwhile, place the tempeh in a large nonstick skillet.  Whisk together remaining tempeh ingredients in a measuring cup.  Pour over tempeh, stir to coat and cook over med. heat until the liquid starts to simmer.  Cover and steam the tempeh, stirring occasionally until most of the liquid is absorbed and the tempeh is tender (about 8 mins).

Transfer the tempeh to a bowl and crumble about half the cubes with the back of a spoon.

Wipe down the skillet (as much as possible) and return the skillet to med. heat and add 1 tbsp of olive oil. Add the tempeh and stir fry for 4-5 minutes until it begins to brown.  Add to the pasta and keep covered.

Add 1 tbsp olive oil to the pan with the sliced garlic.  Sauté garlic for about a minute. Add the broccoli rabe (or other veggies) sprinkle with salt and cover the pan.  Cook for about 2 mins.  Add broth and steam for 8 mins, until the veggies are tender.

Pour the cooked veggies onto the pasta and sprinkle with red wine vinegar, season with salt and pepper and toss to mix.