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 protein-rich tempeh recipe taste so good!

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. Since I’ve been upping my protein intake lately, we’ve been playing around with it in the kitchen a lot more.

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 protein 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.

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!

5 from 4 votes

Print Recipe

Prep Time: 15 minutes mins

Cook Time: 10 minutes mins

Total Time: 25 minutes mins

Servings 2 -3

Ingredients

Gochujang Glaze

• 3 tablespoons gochujang
• 1 tablespoon Tamari
• 1 ½ tablespoons maple syrup
• 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
• 2 teaspoons rice vinegar

Air Fryer Tempeh & Snow Peas

• 250 grams tempeh
• 2 tablespoons avocado oil, divided
• sea salt and ground black pepper, to taste
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon onion powder
• 170 grams (about 2 cups) snow peas, ends trimmed
• cooked rice, for serving
• sliced green onions, for serving
• sesame seeds, for serving

Equipment

• Air Fryer

Notes

• Green beans or snap peas should sub in fine for the snow peas! You’ll get a similarly mild and slightly sweet flavour.
• My air fryer basket is quite large, so it can handle this volume of food. If yours is on the small side, you may have to do the cooking in batches.

Instructions

• Make the gochujang glaze. In a small bowl, whisk together the gochujang, Tamari, maple syrup, toasted sesame oil, and rice vinegar. Set aside.
• Preheat the air fryer to 390 F and set the timer for 10 minutes.
• Tear the tempeh into 1-inch pieces with your hands and place them in a medium bowl. To the tempeh, add 1 tablespoon of avocado oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. Toss to coat.
• Place the tempeh in a single layer on one side of the air fryer basket and cook for 3 minutes.
• Place the snow peas in the bowl that the tempeh was in, and toss with the remaining tablespoon of avocado oil, salt, and pepper.
• At the 3 minute mark, give the basket a shake to move the tempeh around. Add the snow peas to the basket and push it back in. You still want the tempeh and snow peas in their own sections of the basket. You should have 7 minutes left on the timer.
• After 3 more minutes have passed, give the air fryer basket a light shake/stir up the snow peas with a spatula. Drizzle the tempeh with 2 tablespoons of the gochujang glaze. Stir the tempeh pieces up a little bit to distribute the glaze. Push the basket back in for the remaining 4 minutes.
• Once the tempeh is slightly crisped and caramelized and the snow peas have blistered spots, you’re good to go! Serve the air fryer tempeh and snow peas with rice and green onions, and drizzle with the remaining gochujang glaze. Garnish with sesame seeds.

Author: Laura Wright

Course: Main Course

Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian

Keyword: 30 minutes, air fryer, avocado oil, garlic powder, gochujang, green onions, maple syrup, onion powder, quick, rice, rice vinegar, sesame oil, sesame seeds, snow peas, tamari, tempeh