Buffalo Cucumber Tempeh Sandwich

I adore the recipe for Buffalo Cucumbers in Lucky Peach Presents Power Vegetables. I pine for the discontinued Spicy TLC Sandwich from The Higher Taste in Portland, Oregon. In fact, I love both of these wonderful foods so much that I decided to throw them together. The result? Some serious umami oomph!

• Ready In: 40 mins
• Serves: 4
• Yields: 4 sandwiches

Ingredients

• 1  head garlic (peeled)
• 1  cup olive oil (or just enough for garlic to float)
• 1  cup  neutral  oil (for frying)
• 1 (12 ounce) package tempeh
• 2  cucumbers
• 1⁄2 cup  hot sauce (preferably Frank's RedHot)
• 2  tablespoons shallots (chopped finely)
• 4  sturdy  whole grain sandwich rolls
• 1⁄2 cup blue cheese (crumbled, nothing fancy)
• 1  cup mayonnaise
• 2  carrots (grated)
•  salt & pepper

Directions

1. Slice the tempeh into 1/8 inch thick slices. Sprinkle the slices with salt on both sides. Warm half of the oil and fry the tempeh in batches, turning frequently, until well browned. Add more oil if the pan becomes too dry.
2. Heat the peeled garlic cloves with the olive oil in a small pot to 180 degrees F for 20 minutes or until slightly browned and tender. About halfway through, the cloves should begin to float. Drain and reserve the oil.
3. Mash the garlic with a fork, then whisk in the hot sauce, shallots, and 1 tablespoon of the garlic oil reserved in step 2.
4. Peel the cucumbers, halve them lengthwise, and scrape out the seeds with a spoon. Cut them in half lengthwise again, then into 1/4 inch slices. Toss with the buffalo sauce.
5. Spread the mayonnaise on both halves of each bun. Assemble the sandwiches with tempeh on the bottom, then salt and fresh ground pepper if desired, then cucumbers, blue cheese, and finally carrots.
6. Tip: You can use the leftover garlic oil in other recipes.