Tempura
Experience the delicate crunch of Japanese tempura, featuring a selection of fresh vegetables and succulent seafood encased in an ethereally light, crispy batter. The secrets to its signature texture lie in using ice-cold ingredients for the batter and minimal mixing, ensuring a delicate, lacy finish.
🧂 Ingredients
- 1 cup All-purpose flour(sifted, chilled)
- 1 Large egg(very cold, lightly beaten)
- 1 cup Ice water(very cold)
- 12 Large shrimp(peeled and deveined, tails left on)
- 1 medium Sweet potato(peeled and sliced into 1/4-inch thick rounds or half-moons)
- 1 small Eggplant(sliced into 1/4-inch thick rounds)
- 1 cup Broccolini florets(bite-sized pieces)
- 4-6 Shiitake mushrooms(stems removed)
- 4-6 cups Neutral oil(such as canola, vegetable, or rice bran oil, for deep frying)
- 200 ml Dashi stock(for tentsuyu dipping sauce)
- 50 ml Soy sauce(for tentsuyu dipping sauce)
- 50 ml Mirin(for tentsuyu dipping sauce)
- optional Grated daikon radish(for serving with tentsuyu)
- optional Grated ginger(for serving with tentsuyu)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Prepare the Tentsuyu (Dipping Sauce): In a small saucepan, combine the dashi stock, soy sauce, and mirin. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat, stirring to dissolve the soy sauce. Do not boil. Remove from heat and let it cool completely. This can be made ahead and refrigerated.
⏱️ 10 minutes - 2
Prepare the Vegetables and Shrimp: Ensure all vegetables are washed, dried thoroughly, and cut into uniform, bite-sized pieces. For shrimp, make a few shallow slits on the underside to prevent curling. Pat all items completely dry with paper towels; excess moisture will cause oil to splatter and prevent crispiness.
⏱️ 10 minutes - 3
Make the Tempura Batter: In a medium bowl, whisk the lightly beaten, very cold egg with the very cold ice water until just combined. Add the sifted, chilled flour to the wet ingredients. Using chopsticks or a fork, mix *very briefly* until just combined. The batter should be thin and lumpy; do not overmix, as this develops gluten and results in a tough coating.
⏱️ 2 minutes - 4
Heat the Frying Oil: Pour the neutral oil into a deep, heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven to a depth of at least 3 inches. Heat the oil over medium-high heat until it reaches 170-180°C (340-350°F). Use a thermometer to ensure accuracy. If you don't have a thermometer, a drop of batter should sizzle immediately and float to the surface.
⏱️ 10-15 minutes - 5
Fry the Tempura: Working in small batches to avoid overcrowding the pot and lowering the oil temperature, dip each piece of prepared ingredient into the cold batter, letting excess drip off. Carefully slide the battered items into the hot oil. Fry for 3-5 minutes, turning occasionally, until the batter is crisp and a pale golden color. Avoid over-browning.
⏱️ 3-5 minutes per batch - 6
Drain and Serve: Using a slotted spoon or spider strainer, remove the fried tempura from the oil and place it on a wire rack set over a baking sheet to drain. This allows air to circulate and keeps the tempura crisp. Repeat with remaining ingredients. Serve immediately with the cooled tentsuyu sauce, optionally garnished with grated daikon and ginger.
⏱️ 5 minutes
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Keep all batter ingredients (flour, egg, water) as cold as possible. Consider chilling the mixing bowl and even the flour beforehand.
- ✓The key to light tempura is minimal mixing. Lumps in the batter are desirable and contribute to the characteristic airy texture.
- ✓Fry in small batches to maintain the oil temperature. Overcrowding will result in greasy, soggy tempura.
- ✓Drain tempura on a wire rack, not paper towels, to preserve crispiness.
- ✓Tempura is best enjoyed immediately after frying for optimal texture.
✨ Twist Ideas
Inspiration for your own version of this recipe
- Kakiage: Mix thinly sliced vegetables (like carrots, onions, and peas) and small pieces of shrimp or other seafood directly into the batter before frying to create a mixed vegetable fritter.
- For an even lighter and crispier batter, substitute some or all of the ice water with ice-cold club soda or sparkling water.
- Experiment with other vegetables like green beans, bell peppers, lotus root, or shishito peppers.