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Tempeh with 40 Cloves of Garlic

What you need: 

olive oil, as needed
1 large onion, thinly sliced
1 pound tempeh
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup dry white wine
1 tablespoon Herbes de Provence
2 leeks, white parts only
1 pound assorted mushrooms, sliced (I use creminis and shitakes)
2 ribs celery, sliced
2 tablespoons flour
4 cups vegetable stock
40 cloves (about 3 heads) fresh garlic, peeled
1/2 cup parsley, chopped
2 tablespoons fresh thyme
2 bay leaves
salt and pepper, to taste

What you do: 

1. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over low heat and add onion. Cook slowly for about 15 minutes, stirring frequently, until the onion is very soft and beginning to caramelize.
2. Meanwhile, cut the tempeh into large slices (I usually cut each 8 ounce piece in half, then cut each half into thirds, so that 16 ounces yields 12 pieces). Steam the tempeh for 10 minutes. When the tempeh is steamed, heat a little olive oil in a skillet and brown each piece on both sides.
3. Whisk together the soy sauce, wine and Herbes de Provence. Pour over browned tempeh and allow the liquid to reduce by 2/3. Set aside.After the onion is soft, add the leeks, mushrooms, and celery and cook for another 5 to 7 minutes.
4. Add flour and cook 2 more minutes. Deglaze the pot with veggie broth, stirring constantly, and then add the remaining ingredients (all the broth, garlic, parsley, thyme, bay leaves, salt and pepper) as well as the tempeh and tempeh cooking liquid.
5. Cover and simmer over low heat for 25 minutes. Remove the bay leaves and allow it to sit and thicken about 10 minutes.
I know it sounds like a ton of garlic, but after cooking the garlic turns soft and very mellow. This dish has a ton of flavor and absolutely must be served over mashed potatoes (it's a law). Great comfort food that's good enough to serve on a special occasion.
Source of recipe: This is a French classic my mom used to make with chicken. I've modified her original recipe heavily and this is the result!

Preparation Time: 
20 minutes, Cooking time: 60 minutes
Cooking Time: 
60 minutes
Servings: 
8
Recipe Category: 

SO HOW'D IT GO?

i love garlic but this was even a little too much for me. I minced mine though which probably made a difference. I also fried my tempeh with some soy sauce first. overall - delicious ill just use less garlic next time.

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I am reposting because this has become so much a part of my life, lol. I usually make 20 cloves of garlic as I halve the recipe and just last night put it between two pie shells - delicious idea as it's almost gone today and that's between two people. It reminds me of coq au vin - is that what you're mom was making mammanna? Thanks again for sharing this.

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this was delicious! myself and the boyfriend agree. I followed the recipe without variations, and although it was the first time I've made this it did take a long time! I didn't read the recipe very thoroughly before I decided to get the ingredients and make it tonight and it was a bit more ambitious than I planned...but WELL worth it! Make sure you prep all of the veggies before you start any cooking! thanks!

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Has anyone tried freezing leftovers?  If so, how did it hold up?

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this looks so smelly, i need to make it!!!

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Lark, the cloves go in whole. I know it sounds like a crazy quantity, but by the time the dish is done the cloves are very well roasted and have sweetened and mellowed in flavor.

To make peeling the garlic easy you can either buy it pre-peeled or blanch the separated cloves in boiling water for about 30 seconds. When they cool the skins slide off easily. Hope that helps!

XO,
MA

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should the garlic be crushed, or are the cloves meant to go in whole?

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This recipe sounds de-lish!!  I'm gonna have to try it.

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This recipe just sounded so good I had to try it and... it was fantastic.and I just happened to have had fresh organic mushrooms I got from the farmers market over the weekend from Rainforest Mushrooms  (one of the many great benefits of living in the beautiful Pacific Northwest..)It was really rich and very filling .I recommend of course following this recipe the way it is .Great for a pot luck or feeding a large bunch of hungry people.Must Have with Mashed Potatoes!!!
Thanks ;)b

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me so hungry can't wait til dinner

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