Crispy Air Fryer Tempeh with Gochujang Glaze & Snow Peas

by admin


An overhead shot shows a bowl of crispy air fryer tempeh, cooked snow peas, and white rice. The food is drizzled with a gochujang glaze and garnished with sliced green onions and sesame seeds.

Ready in 25 minutes, this crispy air fryer tempeh with spicy-sticky gochujang glaze and snow peas is an extra flavourful and fast vegan dinner. It’s perfect for a busy weeknight with simple ingredients like tempeh, fresh snow peas, gochujang paste, sesame oil, rice vinegar, maple syrup, and some cooked rice for serving. You only need 10 minutes of cook time at 390°F in your air fryer! Using the high heat and spicy/sweet glaze makes this hearty tempeh recipe taste so good!

An overhead shot shows a bowl of crispy air fryer tempeh, cooked snow peas, and white rice. The food is drizzled with a gochujang glaze and garnished with sliced green onions and sesame seeds.
An overhead shot shows ingredients for a vegan meal with
An overhead shot shows a plate filled with torn tempeh pieces and a bowl with trimmed raw snow peas.

Gochujang is the ticket to fast flavor when you’re cooking on a weeknight. This paste is a foundational ingredient in Korean cuisine that is usually combined with items like soy sauce and acidic components. It’s a paste made of fermented soybeans, glutinous rice, gochugaru chili flakes, and more. Eric Kim has a great article about it here (NYT gift link). The spicy and savory profile is simply irresistible in my opinion. I find myself chucking a spoonful into so many things, like these Extra Veggie Vegan Gochujang Noodles.

I make a glaze with the gochujang and a handful of other ingredients to really boost the flavor of this air fried tempeh! The small pieces combined with the umami and spice-rich glaze helps to mask the earthiness of tempeh that can be off putting. Even though I’ve been plant-based for years, I’m still fussy about tempeh.

How to cook tempeh in the air fryer

  • When using this high heat cooking method (that results in crispy tempeh), you don’t need to steam ahead of time. 
  • I set the temperature to 390°F and the timer for 10 minutes (to accommodate both the tempeh and the snow peas cooking time).
  • I break the tempeh into little bits and toss with oil and seasoning before dropping into the air fryer basket. 
  • I shake the basket a few times throughout the cooking process to get even browning.
  • Towards the end of the cooking time, I toss the air fryer tempeh with a bit of the gochujang glaze to sauce it up.

The best thing about this recipe: you get a delicious main and vegetable in about 25 minutes with minimal ingredients! I love the slightly sweet blistered snow peas with the spicy-sweet tempeh. I recommend serving both over some hot and fluffy rice. Sliced green onions on top and extra drizzles of the gochujang glaze make it extra delicious and perfectly balanced.

Fans of this air fried tempeh recipe may also appreciate my method for crispy tofu in the air fryer.

An overhead shot shows a bowl filled with torn tempeh pieces that have been dusted with spices.
An overhead shot shows an air fryer basket filled with crispy tempeh bits and cooked snow peas.
An overhead shot shows a bowl of crispy air fryer tempeh, cooked snow peas, and white rice. The food is drizzled with a gochujang glaze and garnished with sliced green onions and sesame seeds.
An overhead shot shows a bowl of crispy air fryer tempeh, cooked snow peas, and white rice. The food is drizzled with a gochujang glaze and garnished with sliced green onions and sesame seeds.

Crispy Air Fryer Tempeh with Gochujang Glaze & Snow Peas

You’ll love this simple vegan dinner recipe that features crispy-crunchy nuggets of air fryer tempeh, slightly sweet snow peas, and spicy gochujang glaze. Ready in less than 30 minutes!