Is tempeh raw?

[Raene]

I love tempeh. Is it raw when you buy it?

[earth_sista]

nope
........

[Sheryl]

The funny thing is that a hundred or so years ago all these soy products were actually raw (tofu, tempeh etc). Cooking them all is a modern invention. In the book The Raw Truth he actually has recipes for raw soy tofu. I've never tried it and don't eat soy, but if anyone here is wild about it and wants to continue eating it there is a way.

Cheers,
Sheryl

[blessed]

Could you post the recipe for us?
I use to love tofu but gave it up. Would love to know how to make raw tofu.

Thanks
Ann

[Sheryl]

Sprouted Tofu (buy The Raw Truth by Jeremy Safron if you want his larger list of different types of tofu!)

1 cup sprouted soy beans (they should have little tails just starting to grow)
2-3 tbs filtered water
1 tsp nigari (Read about this at http://www.kameyamado.com/english/ho...i_is_made.html)
1 tsp miso

1) Rinse soy sprouts
2) Grind soy with enough water to make a thick paste
3) Stir in nigari and miso and place in a bowl
4) Cover with cheesecloth, then press down with another weighted bowl on top (to help the liquid leave the paste)
5) Leave in a warm dark place for 24 hours (70-85 F) until dry and firm
6) Squeeze out any remaining water

You can then mixed in garlic and chopped veggies to taste for a herbed veggie tofu.

Personally I haven't used soy since I went raw - but thought this was an interesting take on tofu - that it used to be raw! WOW!

Enjoy,
Sheryl

[rawpriestess]

sorry tempeh, is not raw, however, I use marinated portabello mushrooms as an alternative, and I think they are so much better, you might try this.

and it's alot easier to do.

[Shivananda]

Personally I haven't used soy since I went raw - but thought this was an interesting take on tofu - that it used to be raw! WOW!

Thanks fot the recipe, Sheryl I'll have to try that. I have a couple of recipes tofu would really be nice for. Maybe in some raw miso soup with microgreens? :)

But I feel that story about how tofu used to be raw to be highly unlikely. When touring a tofu factory years ago I remember the tour guide pointing to a copy of a picture she said was from the 1300's of workers cooking the soy, as they proudly do it exactly the same way today.

And about.com has the following historic note, which is similar to what most histories I've found have to say on the matter:

"Extremely popular in the Orient today, tofu was first used in China over 2,000 years ago. Experts believe that its production began sometime during the Han dynasty, in the second century B.C. According to one Chinese legend, tofu was invented when a cook decided to experiment by flavoring a batch of cooked soybeans with the compound nagari. Instead of flavored soybeans, he wound up with bean curd. Nagari is frequently used in the production of tofu today. From China, tofu was introduced into Korea, and reached Japan in the eight century A.D."

[Sheryl]

Raw soy beans are NOT good to eat... my guess is that the long historical use of raw tofu is rendered edible by culturing (it's a long standing method of deactiving unedible compounds, as is soaking and sprouting). It would be worth doing some quick research into this before choosing to make this recipe.

Personally I've read enough bad press about soy that I do not use it... but I know others still do and had asked for this recipe!

Cheers,
Sheryl

[onesmartcookie]

Even though tempeh isn't raw, I do remember reading in several places that it's fermented, and therefore "living," if that's acceptable to you. I include living fermented foods in my diet (kimchi, miso, amazake, etc.) and though I haven't had tempeh in awhile, I'm not opposed to it. It's far less processed than tofu.

[CAdreamer]

Onesmartcookie...

I used to make both tofu and tempeh from scratch, and tempeh is not any less processed than soy....the beans are still cooked prior to adding the bacteria and allowing it to grow between the beans, producing tempeh. The additional process in making tofu, is that the beans are ground and the milk made. It's an extra couple of steps, but beans are still cooked, so none of it is living except the bacteria.

[CorporalChicken]

Raw soy beans are NOT good to eat... my guess is that the long historical use of raw tofu is rendered edible by culturing (it's a long standing method of deactiving unedible compounds, as is soaking and sprouting). It would be worth doing some quick research into this before choosing to make this recipe.

Hi Sheryl,

I read this too. Home made or store bought tofu is made by boiling the soy beans to kill an enzyme that causes stomach aches. This is after soaking.

I've never tried raw tofu... I would love to hear from anyone who has and has lived to tell the tale ;) Years of being a vegan can make you seriously addicted to tofu!

[Shivananda]

Home made or store bought tofu is made by boiling the soy beans to kill an enzyme that causes stomach aches. This is after soaking.

Miso is also made in a very similar way, although the boiled soybean paste gets transformed into miso by koji, a fungus, rather than by the coagulant used in tofu, and the byproduct is tamari, the original soy sauce. I've read several studies that show miso is the most effective food one can eat to counteract radiation damage.

Maybe I read too much. :)