This Air Fryer Spicy Mango Tempeh is pure vegan comfort food. By cooking it in the air fryer, the tempeh becomes deliciously crispy on the outside with its natural nutty flavor in the middle. Then, it’s coated with a homemade fresh mango sauce that’s both sweet and spicy. All-in-all, this is one lip-smacking entree or appetizer.

Tempeh: A Healthy Plant-Based Protein

Tempeh is one of our favorite vegan proteins. It is traditionally made from fermented soybeans which have been pressed into a dense cake-like patty and therefore, it is also gluten-free.

Alternatively, tempeh can also be made from other beans or grains. If you are interested in making your own tempeh at home, check out these recipes for Mung Bean Tempeh or Instant Pot Adzuki Bean Tempeh which also work great as a base for this spicy mango sauce.

A Sweet and Spicy Homemade Sauce

The sauce for this tempeh is made with real whole food ingredients. By incorporating fresh mango and spices, it has a delightful sweet and savory flavor.

Additionally, this sauce is naturally thick which allows it to thoroughly coat the outside of the crispy air fried tempeh. This combination just works- trust us!

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:

Tempeh – Packed with protein, crisped tempeh lends itself perfectly to this amazing sauce.
Mango – Floral and juicy mango is an uncommon but delicious base for this savory sauce.
Garlic and Ginger – The duo of unmatched palate power- these two lend a big punch of natural mouth watering flavor.
Chili Garlic Sauce – What yummy sauce would be complete without a little heat. Add as much or as little as you would like.
Spices – Ground cumin and coriander add brightness and help to enhance the fruity mango.
Tapioca Flour – This natural vegan thickener makes this sauce irresistibly sticky allowing it to adhere to the air-fried tempeh. It can also be substituted with cornstarch or arrowroot powder.

FAQ & Air Fryer Spicy Mango Tempeh Tips:

Is this recipe gluten-free?
- Yep! Tempeh is traditionally gluten-free but some store-bought versions do include grains so double-check the ingredient list if you are gluten intolerant or if you are cooking for someone who is.

Can frozen mango be used in place of fresh for the sauce?
- Absolutely! If fresh mangoes aren’t in season or for a convenience/economical advantage, frozen mango can also be used. Simply allow the mango chunks to thaw and then blend as directed with the rest of the sauce ingredients.

Serving Suggestions
- We recommend serving the tempeh over rice or another grain along with a side salad for fresh cut vegetables for a complete meal. Alternatively, it can also be served as a fun appetizer with toothpicks.
Cooking Alternative
- The tempeh for this recipe can also be made in the oven. Bake it at 400℉ on a sheet pan for 15-20 minutes, flipping once, until lightly browned.
Reheating Recommendation
- To keep the tempeh crispy for leftovers, we suggest only coating the tempeh you plan to eat/serve with the mango sauce. Then, store any leftover sauce and the cooked tempeh separately in containers in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Finally, reheat both the tempeh and mango sauce in a frying pan as directed in steps 4-6 in the recipe card. However, if you already coated the tempeh, it will still be tasty for leftovers, it just won’t be quite as crispy.

Vegan Comfort Food

If you are a fan of spicy and sweet, this tempeh will be your jam. And by that, we mean it’s good- really good. Enjoy!

Finally, if you have made this tempeh recipe, we would love to hear what you think! Please comment down below and be sure to rate the recipe. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Thanks so much!