{"id":7202,"date":"2026-07-06T00:18:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-06T00:18:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.purplecarrot.com\/learn\/?p=7202"},"modified":"2026-08-21T00:21:52","modified_gmt":"2026-08-21T00:21:52","slug":"tempeh-vs-seitan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.purplecarrot.com\/learn\/tempeh-vs-seitan\/","title":{"rendered":"Tempeh vs. Seitan: When To Use These Plant-Based Proteins"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_4de02f-e1, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_4de02f-e1[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7202_4de02f-e1\"]{font-style:normal;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_4de02f-e1 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_4de02f-e1[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7202_4de02f-e1\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_4de02f-e1 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_4de02f-e1[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7202_4de02f-e1\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<p class=\"kt-adv-heading7202_4de02f-e1 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7202_4de02f-e1\">If you want to cut meat from your diet but you\u2019re worried about missing the texture, flavor, and protein content, consider seitan and tempeh. Seitan, pronounced \u201csay-tan\u201d and often called \u201cwheat meat,\u201d is a gluten product, whereas tempeh (pronounced \u201ctem-pay\u201d) is a fermented, soy-based food. Both these plant-based proteins are delicious and nutritious, but the best moments for each one differ. Here\u2019s what to know when comparing tempeh versus seitan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has--font-size\">The biggest differences between seitan and tempeh<\/h2>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_e43d2b-96, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_e43d2b-96[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7202_e43d2b-96\"]{font-style:normal;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_e43d2b-96 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_e43d2b-96[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7202_e43d2b-96\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_e43d2b-96 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_e43d2b-96[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7202_e43d2b-96\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<p class=\"kt-adv-heading7202_e43d2b-96 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7202_e43d2b-96\">Tempeh and seitan differ in origin, nutritional profile, texture, flavor, overall health benefits, and gluten content. You can make only one of them from scratch in your home kitchen, but the other one is a bit easier to find in the grocery store or in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.purplecarrot.com\/shop\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Purple Carrot\u2019s online grocery<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has--font-size\">Where it comes from<\/h3>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_253ab5-c9, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_253ab5-c9[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7202_253ab5-c9\"]{font-style:normal;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_253ab5-c9 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_253ab5-c9[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7202_253ab5-c9\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_253ab5-c9 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_253ab5-c9[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7202_253ab5-c9\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<p class=\"kt-adv-heading7202_253ab5-c9 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7202_253ab5-c9\">Tempeh is derived from soybeans that are washed and boiled upon harvesting. After soaking overnight, the soybeans are hulled and cooked for about an hour. After draining and cooling, they\u2019re then wrapped in banana leaves or plastic bags to undergo a fungus-based fermentation process for 24 to 48 hours. The cake-like product that emerges is tempeh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By comparison, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.purplecarrot.com\/learn\/seitan-protein-guide\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">seitan is derived from vital wheat gluten<\/a>. This product, which has applications beyond making seitan, almost entirely comprises the gluten naturally abundant in wheat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has--font-size\">Fermentation<\/h3>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_4110c8-cf, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_4110c8-cf[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7202_4110c8-cf\"]{font-style:normal;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_4110c8-cf mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_4110c8-cf[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7202_4110c8-cf\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_4110c8-cf img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_4110c8-cf[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7202_4110c8-cf\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<p class=\"kt-adv-heading7202_4110c8-cf wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7202_4110c8-cf\">Unlike seitan, tempeh is inherently a fermented product. Tempeh\u2019s fermentation directly informs its flavor and health benefits, which we\u2019ll discuss later in this blog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has--font-size\">Complete protein<\/h3>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_1e868c-af, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_1e868c-af[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7202_1e868c-af\"]{font-style:normal;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_1e868c-af mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_1e868c-af[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7202_1e868c-af\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_1e868c-af img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_1e868c-af[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7202_1e868c-af\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<p class=\"kt-adv-heading7202_1e868c-af wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7202_1e868c-af\"><a href=\"https:\/\/health.clevelandclinic.org\/tempeh-nutrition-and-benefits\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Tempeh is a complete protein<\/a>, meaning it contains all nine of the essential amino acids (the components of protein) that the body needs. Seitan isn\u2019t a complete protein since it lacks the amino acid lysine. It\u2019s easy to get this amino acid from legumes, so seitan being an incomplete protein isn\u2019t a problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has--font-size\">Nutritional profile<\/h3>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_d243ac-f2, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_d243ac-f2[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7202_d243ac-f2\"]{font-style:normal;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_d243ac-f2 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_d243ac-f2[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7202_d243ac-f2\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_d243ac-f2 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_d243ac-f2[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7202_d243ac-f2\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<p class=\"kt-adv-heading7202_d243ac-f2 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7202_d243ac-f2\">Seitan often comprises 80% protein by calories, averaging 18 grams of protein and 90 calories per two-ounce serving. That\u2019s more protein than chicken! Yes, really. Chicken contains roughly 15 grams of protein per two-ounce serving, not to mention 135 calories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You need three, not two, ounces of tempeh to get 18 grams of protein, but an ounce is a negligible difference in a standard recipe. Three ounces of tempeh contain 160 calories, so two ounces contain about 107 calories, making tempeh comparable to seitan on calories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In most cases, tempeh has no sodium content (salt). By comparison, seitan recipes often involve mixing vital wheat gluten with soy sauces and vegetable broth, two ingredients high in salt. Seitan is still a lower-sodium food than most, but if you\u2019re focused on minimizing salt intake, tempeh will suit you better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has--font-size\">Gut health benefits<\/h3>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_1c4c91-e7, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_1c4c91-e7[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7202_1c4c91-e7\"]{font-style:normal;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_1c4c91-e7 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_1c4c91-e7[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7202_1c4c91-e7\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_1c4c91-e7 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_1c4c91-e7[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7202_1c4c91-e7\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<p class=\"kt-adv-heading7202_1c4c91-e7 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7202_1c4c91-e7\">Only tempeh is associated with bolstering gut health, though one study found that cooking tempeh <a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC10255641\/#sec4-nutrients-15-02599\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">eliminates its gut-friendly probiotics<\/a>. Nevertheless, tempeh is a fermented food, and <a href=\"https:\/\/med.stanford.edu\/nutrition\/education\/Resources\/Fermenting-the-Facts.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">fermented foods are associated with supporting digestion<\/a>, as is the fiber abundant in tempeh. Seitan has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/nutrition\/seitan\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">no known negative or positive effects on gut health.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has--font-size\">Celiac and gluten-free considerations<\/h3>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_1799a2-25, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_1799a2-25[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7202_1799a2-25\"]{font-style:normal;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_1799a2-25 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_1799a2-25[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7202_1799a2-25\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_1799a2-25 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_1799a2-25[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7202_1799a2-25\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<p class=\"kt-adv-heading7202_1799a2-25 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7202_1799a2-25\">Seitan is a gluten product, so it\u2019s fully off-limits if you have celiac disease or a gluten allergy or intolerance. If you eat gluten-free, choose tempeh instead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has--font-size\">Texture<\/h3>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_ab986d-e1, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_ab986d-e1[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7202_ab986d-e1\"]{font-style:normal;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_ab986d-e1 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_ab986d-e1[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7202_ab986d-e1\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_ab986d-e1 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_ab986d-e1[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7202_ab986d-e1\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<p class=\"kt-adv-heading7202_ab986d-e1 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7202_ab986d-e1\">Seitan\u2019s chewy, dense, somewhat spongy texture resembles meat more closely than any other plant-based protein. It\u2019s often the base of the heat-and-eat items, such as plant-based wings, you see in the vegan meat aisle at grocery and health food stores.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tempeh is dense too, but it\u2019s more firm and cake-like, so it only resembles meat\u2019s texture in select applications. It\u2019s fun to cut into thin strips and cook like bacon, but it\u2019s otherwise best treated as the star of a dish instead of a meat substitute.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has--font-size\">Flavor<\/h3>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_b0dc62-ec, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_b0dc62-ec[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7202_b0dc62-ec\"]{font-style:normal;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_b0dc62-ec mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_b0dc62-ec[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7202_b0dc62-ec\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_b0dc62-ec img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_b0dc62-ec[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7202_b0dc62-ec\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<p class=\"kt-adv-heading7202_b0dc62-ec wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7202_b0dc62-ec\">Seitan doesn\u2019t have much flavor on its own, though you may get a hint of umami or mushroom-like flavor. If you buy traditional seitan, whatever else you serve it with will do the heavy lifting flavor-wise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tempeh has some inherent earthy and nutty flavor to it, but you may also sense some bitter undertones. Though this flavor is unpleasant, many easy preparations eliminate it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has--font-size\">Making it yourself<\/h3>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_9147c6-f2, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_9147c6-f2[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7202_9147c6-f2\"]{font-style:normal;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_9147c6-f2 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_9147c6-f2[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7202_9147c6-f2\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_9147c6-f2 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_9147c6-f2[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7202_9147c6-f2\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<p class=\"kt-adv-heading7202_9147c6-f2 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7202_9147c6-f2\">Unless you have access to a high-end food processing and production facility, you won\u2019t be making tempeh yourself. By comparison, the vital wheat gluten available at health food stores is the start of an easy homemade seitan recipe that includes any seasonings you want.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has--font-size\">Availability<\/h3>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_4331c4-f8, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_4331c4-f8[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7202_4331c4-f8\"]{font-style:normal;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_4331c4-f8 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_4331c4-f8[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7202_4331c4-f8\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_4331c4-f8 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_4331c4-f8[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7202_4331c4-f8\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<p class=\"kt-adv-heading7202_4331c4-f8 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7202_4331c4-f8\">Tempeh is somewhat easier to find than seitan. If you\u2019re looking for seitan instead, you\u2019ll likely need to visit a health food store or a local food co-op. Or, if you\u2019re looking for meat substitutes that go right into the air fryer or oven, you\u2019ll find seitan-based options in most supermarket plant-based aisles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has--font-size\">Price<\/h3>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_e7d22f-28, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_e7d22f-28[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7202_e7d22f-28\"]{font-style:normal;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_e7d22f-28 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_e7d22f-28[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7202_e7d22f-28\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_e7d22f-28 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_e7d22f-28[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7202_e7d22f-28\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<p class=\"kt-adv-heading7202_e7d22f-28 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7202_e7d22f-28\">In most cases, seitan and tempeh are sold at relatively similar prices. Neither is the cheapest plant-based protein, though \u2014 we\u2019ll address that later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Seitan vs. tempeh comparison chart<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><\/td><td>Tempeh<\/td><td>Seitan<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Where it comes from<\/td><td>Soybeans<\/td><td>Wheat gluten<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Fermented?<\/td><td>Yes<\/td><td>No<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Complete protein?<\/td><td>Yes<\/td><td>No<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Nutritional profile<\/td><td>High in protein, low in calories, no salt<\/td><td>Higher in protein and salt, lower in calories<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Gut health benefits?<\/td><td>Yes<\/td><td>None known<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Gluten-free?<\/td><td>Yes<\/td><td>No<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Texture<\/td><td>Firm, dense, cake-like<\/td><td>Chewy, meaty<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Flavor<\/td><td>Nutty, earthy, slightly bitter<\/td><td>Faintly umami, mushroomy, yeasty<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Can you make it yourself?<\/td><td>No<\/td><td>Yes<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Where to find it<\/td><td>Health food stores, food co-ops<\/td><td>Health food stores, food co-ops, frozen aisle<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Price<\/td><td>Comparable<\/td><td>Comparable<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Tempeh and seitan similarities<\/h2>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_287710-59, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_287710-59[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7202_287710-59\"]{font-style:normal;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_287710-59 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_287710-59[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7202_287710-59\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_287710-59 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_287710-59[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7202_287710-59\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<p class=\"kt-adv-heading7202_287710-59 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7202_287710-59\">Although tempeh and seitan differ significantly, their overlaps are notable too. Namely:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>They both freeze well.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They\u2019re both high in protein.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They\u2019re both low in carbohydrates, fat, and calories.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s less a matter of tempeh versus seitan and more about keeping both on hand for different moments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has--font-size\">Seitan vs. tempeh: Best meal types and how to cook with them<\/h2>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_903b18-fd, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_903b18-fd[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7202_903b18-fd\"]{font-style:normal;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_903b18-fd mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_903b18-fd[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7202_903b18-fd\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_903b18-fd img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_903b18-fd[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7202_903b18-fd\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<p class=\"kt-adv-heading7202_903b18-fd wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7202_903b18-fd\">Where seitan is best used in place of meat, tempeh is best for saucy dishes with several other ingredients and main stars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has--font-size\">Cooking with seitan<\/h3>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_e96c74-64, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_e96c74-64[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7202_e96c74-64\"]{font-style:normal;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_e96c74-64 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_e96c74-64[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7202_e96c74-64\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_e96c74-64 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_e96c74-64[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7202_e96c74-64\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<p class=\"kt-adv-heading7202_e96c74-64 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7202_e96c74-64\">Seitan is an inherently cooked food, so you can eat it \u201craw,\u201d but that\u2019s pretty boring, and infusing seitan with flavor is a breeze. Warm it up in a frying pan or air fryer, and coat it in your favorite sauce alongside some green veggies, starchy veggies, or rice (or all three!). <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.purplecarrot.com\/learn\/how-to-cook-with-seitan\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Learn how to cook seitan<\/a> with this Purple Carrot guide.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Alternatively, use seitan right from the fridge in a lunch salad with a tasty dressing. Another option: Slice seitan into thick slabs, warm it up, and pile it high with fillings in a sandwich, burrito, or taco.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Seitan should always be stored in the fridge or freezer. In its original packaging, it lasts for several weeks in the fridge and several months in the freezer, so there\u2019s no rush to use it. If you\u2019ve frozen your seitan, let it thaw overnight in the fridge before using it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has--font-size\">Cooking with tempeh<\/h3>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_71ce95-95, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_71ce95-95[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7202_71ce95-95\"]{font-style:normal;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_71ce95-95 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_71ce95-95[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7202_71ce95-95\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_71ce95-95 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_71ce95-95[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7202_71ce95-95\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<p class=\"kt-adv-heading7202_71ce95-95 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7202_71ce95-95\">Like seitan, tempeh can be eaten \u201craw,\u201d though if you\u2019re sensitive to bitter flavor, you should steam it for 10 minutes to counter this unpleasant taste. After that, you can either marinate it overnight or cook with it right away. Consider pan-frying, baking, or grilling your tempeh to elevate it with unctuous, delectable flavor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tempeh pairs with sticky, tangy sauces as delightfully as meat does, so it\u2019s great in a stir-fry or sandwich. Before and after you use it, store it in the fridge or freezer. Unopened from its original packaging, it can easily last two months in the fridge. As with seitan, frozen tempeh should be thawed overnight in the fridge before cooking with it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has--font-size\">What about tofu?<\/h2>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_f35fc9-9c, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_f35fc9-9c[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7202_f35fc9-9c\"]{font-style:normal;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_f35fc9-9c mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_f35fc9-9c[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7202_f35fc9-9c\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_f35fc9-9c img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_f35fc9-9c[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7202_f35fc9-9c\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<p class=\"kt-adv-heading7202_f35fc9-9c wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7202_f35fc9-9c\">Tofu is often included alongside seitan and tempeh when discussing plant-based proteins, and for good reason. Like tempeh, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.purplecarrot.com\/learn\/easy-ways-to-prepare-tofu\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">tofu is soy-based and a complete protein<\/a>. Like seitan, it\u2019s often prepared with an eye toward mimicking meat and seen as a blank slate flavorwise, though seitan is a superior \u201cmock meat.\u201d Like both tempeh and seitan, it\u2019s packed with protein and low in fat, carbohydrates, and calories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Texture-wise, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.purplecarrot.com\/learn\/seitan-vs-tofu\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">tofu is more versatile than seitan<\/a> or tempeh since <a href=\"https:\/\/www.purplecarrot.com\/learn\/tofu-types\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">tofu is sold at various levels of firmness<\/a>. It also becomes spongier and more meat-like upon thawing it after freezing it. Like tempeh, it\u2019s not always prudent to make tofu yourself, and it lacks the gut health benefits of tempeh. That said, tofu is considerably easier to find than tempeh and seitan, and it\u2019s less expensive too. It\u2019s also rich in calcium, unlike tempeh and seitan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has--font-size\">6 Purple Carrot recipes featuring seitan<\/h2>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_2d9589-d2, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_2d9589-d2[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7202_2d9589-d2\"]{font-style:normal;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_2d9589-d2 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_2d9589-d2[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7202_2d9589-d2\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_2d9589-d2 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_2d9589-d2[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7202_2d9589-d2\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<p class=\"kt-adv-heading7202_2d9589-d2 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7202_2d9589-d2\">Although pitting tempeh against seitan isn\u2019t the point, there is one use case for which seitan is the clear winner: resembling meat. It may thus be the easier plant-based protein to start with as you phase meat out of your diet. If this is you, then you\u2019ll love the following Purple Carrot recipes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.purplecarrot.com\/recipe\/bbq-seitan-bowl-with-roasted-sweet-potatoes-brussels-sprouts\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">BBQ Seitan Bowl<\/a>: Mouthwatering, tangy-sweet BBQ seitan is served alongside Brussels sprouts and roasted sweet potatoes for healthy comforts.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.purplecarrot.com\/recipe\/palestinian-spiced-peppers-with-crispy-seitan-tomato-caper-relish\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Spiced Pepper Seitan<\/a>: Seitan with a kick contrasts brightly lemony rice and a salty-sweet tomato-caper relish in this delicious entree.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.purplecarrot.com\/recipe\/mongolian-seitan-bbq-sauce-crispy-broccoli-brown-rice\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Mongolian Seitan<\/a>: Served atop rice and broccoli with chewy onions, this seitan dish is perfect for anyone who loves Korean barbecue beef.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.purplecarrot.com\/recipe\/seitan-asada-tacos-with-lime-rice-radish-salsa\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Seitan Asada Tacos<\/a>: With smoky, bright, peppery, and fresh notes, these \u201ccarne\u201d asada tacos are basically the real deal.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.purplecarrot.com\/recipe\/crispy-maple-seitan-lettuce-cups-with-cucumber-salad-paprika-fries\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Maple Seitan Lettuce Cups<\/a>: If you\u2019re on a low-carb kick, ditch the sandwich bread and enjoy sweet, crispy seitan in lettuce cups with tangy ranch and cucumbers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.purplecarrot.com\/recipe\/sticky-apricot-seitan-with-green-beans-quinoa-speckled-rice?\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sticky Apricot Seitan<\/a>: Quinoa-speckled rice and sauteed green beans and carrots are layered under seitan, which is cooked in apricot preserves for sticky-sweet indulgence.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Make plant-based proteins easy with Purple Carrot<\/h2>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_f408cb-3b, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_f408cb-3b[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7202_f408cb-3b\"]{font-style:normal;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_f408cb-3b mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_f408cb-3b[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7202_f408cb-3b\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_f408cb-3b img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7202_f408cb-3b[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7202_f408cb-3b\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<p class=\"kt-adv-heading7202_f408cb-3b wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7202_f408cb-3b\">Spotlighting plant-based proteins at every turn, <a href=\"http:\/\/purplecarrot.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Purple Carrot<\/a>\u2019s delicious recipes are approachable whether you\u2019re new to cooking or a seasoned expert. Chefs and dietitians work together to pack our meals with flavors and nutrients while keeping everything 100% plant-based. Whether you\u2019re more drawn to seitan or tempeh (or tofu), <a href=\"http:\/\/purplecarrot.com\/shop\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">shop Purple Carrot now<\/a> for $100 off your first month of meal kit deliveries!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Both these plant-based proteins are delicious and nutritious, but the best moments for each one differ. Here&#8217;s what you need to know before picking up the knife and spatula.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":7159,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kb_optimizer_status":2,"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7202","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-other"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Tempeh vs. Seitan: When Should You Use Each Plant Based Protein?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Tempeh and seitan are delicious plant based proteins, but the best moments for each one differ. 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