Japanese Vegetable Tempura Recipe

If you’re looking to explore Japanese cuisine, Vegetable Tempura is a fantastic dish to try. This popular Japanese dish features lightly battered and deep-fried vegetables, resulting in a delightful crunch that complements various dipping sauces. This recipe is not only simple but also allows for versatility with different seasonal vegetables.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 cup cold water
  • 4 cups assorted vegetables (sweet potatoes, zucchini, bell peppers, and eggplant work well)
  • Vegetable oil for frying
  • Sea salt, to taste
  • Dipping sauce (tentsuyu), made from dashi, soy sauce, and mirin

Instructions

  1. Begin by preparing your vegetables. Wash and cut them into uniform, bite-sized pieces to ensure even cooking.
  2. In a mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, egg, and cold water until just combined. Be careful not to overmix; some lumps are fine. The key to tempura’s light texture is in keeping the batter cold and slightly lumpy.
  3. Heat the vegetable oil in a deep fryer or heavy-bottomed pot to 350°F (175°C). Test the temperature by dropping a bit of batter into the oil; it should sizzle and bubble up.
  4. Dip the vegetables into the batter, allowing excess to drip off, and gently place them into the hot oil. Fry in small batches to avoid crowding.
  5. Fry the vegetables for about 2-3 minutes or until they turn a light golden brown. Remove them with a slotted spoon and place them on a paper towel-lined plate to absorb excess oil.
  6. Sprinkle lightly with sea salt and serve the tempura hot with your preferred dipping sauce.

Tips for Perfect Tempura

To achieve the best results, it’s crucial to keep your batter cold. You can use ice water to enhance the crunchiness of the tempura. Additionally, experiment with different vegetables or even seafood to diversify your tempura experience.

This Japanese Vegetable Tempura Recipe is sure to impress your family and friends with its crispy texture and delicious flavor. Enjoy your culinary journey into Japanese cooking!


Ingredients:
1 cup all-purpose flour, 1 large egg, 1 cup cold water, 4 cups assorted vegetables (sweet potatoes, zucchini, bell peppers, and eggplant), Vegetable oil, Sea salt, Dipping sauce (tentsuyu), dashi, soy sauce, mirin

Tags:
Japanese Cuisine,Japanese Recipe,Tempura,Vegetable Tempura,Deep Fried Vegetables,Japanese Food,Cooking,Recipe,Food,Japanese Cooking,Batter,Dipping Sauce,Tentsuyu,Dashi,Soy Sauce,Mirin,Sweet Potatoes,Zucchini,Bell Peppers,Eggplant