Vegan Tempeh "Chicken" Salad

Written by
Jolinda Hackett
Jolinda Hackett has written five books about plant-based cooking and has developed hundreds of vegan and vegetarian recipes.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Jolinda Hackett
Updated 08/02/19
Vegan tempeh chicken salad on a bed of lettuce

J. Hackett
  • Total: 20 mins
  • Prep: 20 mins
  • Cook: 0 mins
  • Yield: about 3 servings
Nutritional Guidelines (per serving)
250 Calories
23g Fat
5g Carbs
7g Protein
See Full Nutritional Guidelines Hide Full Nutritional Guidelines
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: about 3 servings
Amount per serving
Calories 250
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 23g 30%
Saturated Fat 4g 20%
Cholesterol 6mg 2%
Sodium 124mg 5%
Total Carbohydrate 5g 2%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Protein 7g
Calcium 55mg 4%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

A vegetarian "chicken" salad recipe made with tempeh as a vegetarian and vegan chicken substitute. Make it vegan by using an egg-free and dairy-free vegan mayonnaise instead of regular mayonnaise; all of the other ingredients are completely vegan. Another option? To turn this tempeh salad into a simple curried tempeh chicken salad, add in a handful of raisins and slivered almonds and increase the amount of curry, perhaps adding a bit more salt as well. 

Just like a regular chicken salad recipe, this vegetarian tempeh chicken salad recipe is one of those recipes that will do best made ahead of time, so it has plenty of time to chill in the refrigerator, allowing the tempeh to soak up all the flavors.

Ingredients

  • 1 package tempeh (cut into 1/2 inch cubes)
  • Water for boiling the tempeh
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons mayonnaise or vegan mayonnaise
  • 2 teaspoons lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons onion (minced)
  • 3 stalks celery (minced)
  • 1 tablespoon dried parsley
  • 1/4 teaspoon curry powder
  • Optional: a dash of cayenne pepper

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. Bring a few inches of water to a boil in a pot or large skillet. Add the cut tempeh. Simmer for 15 minutes. Drain completely.

    Tip

    NOTE: Tempeh must be cooked first—it can't be used raw, even though it will eventually be served chilled.

  3. Heat two tablespoons olive oil over medium heat. Add tempeh and fry for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently to cook on all sides. Remove the pan from heat and allow to cool.

  4. In a large bowl, combine the cooled tempeh with mayonnaise or vegan mayonnaise, lemon juice, onion, celery, dried parsley, curry powder, and cayenne pepper. Stir to combine well, making sure that the mayonnaise mixture evenly coats the tempeh.

  5. Season lightly with salt and pepper. Taste, and adjust seasonings or add a bit more salt and pepper to taste, if you'd like. 

  6. Enjoy your tempeh chicken salad on a bed of lettuce, between two lightly toasted pieces of bread or stuffed into pita bread for a pocket pita sandwich.

Recipe Variations

  • add in a handful of raisins and slivered almonds and increase the amount of curry to make a curried tempeh chicken salad