Tempura

Tempura is a versatile and delicious dish that blurs the line between appetizer and main course. Whether you’re serving a small group or a large crowd, tempura is a fantastic option. With a light and crispy batter coating an array of vegetables, seafood, or chicken, it’s a crowd-pleaser that can be enjoyed standing around the stove or at a gathering.

MAKES: 6 to 8 servings

TIME: About 40 minutes

INGREDIENTS:

• Peanut oil or neutral oil, like grapeseed or corn, for deep-frying
• 1 1/2 to 2 pounds assorted vegetables (such as zucchini, eggplant, winter squash or sweet potatoes, mushrooms, bell pepper, green beans, broccoli or cauliflower, leeks, onions)
• 1/2 pound seafood or chicken (firm white fish, like cod or haddock, cut into chunks; 6 to 8 large shrimp, peeled and sliced in half lengthwise; or chicken tenders, cut into thin strips)
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus 1 cup for dredging
• 3 egg yolks
• Soy Dipping Sauce and Marinade or lemon wedges

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Heat at least 2 inches of oil in a deep pan over medium-high heat, bringing it to 350°F.
2. While the oil is heating, prepare the vegetables, meat, and dipping sauce.
3. Combine 2 cups water and 2 cups ice, let sit for a minute, then measure 2 cups water from this. Beat lightly with 1 1/2 cups flour and the egg yolks to create a lumpy and thin batter.
4. Dredge the vegetables and shrimp in the remaining flour, then dip them in the batter.
5. Fry each piece until golden, turning once if necessary, for less than 5 minutes total.
6. Drain the cooked pieces on paper towels and serve immediately with the dipping sauce or lemon wedges.

VARIATIONS:

• Eggless Vegetable Tempura: Make a two-ingredient batter using well-chilled sparkling water instead of ice water and omitting the egg yolks. Thinly sliced eggplant or spinach leaves work well with this batter. Rice flour can be used as a substitute if desired.
• Pakoras: Create Indian-style batter-fried vegetables using a thick batter made with all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, egg, oil, and water (or milk). Season the batter with curry powder and fry as directed. Serve with various dipping sauces like cilantro-mint chutney or lime wedges.

10 EXCELLENT DIPPING SAUCES FOT TEMPURA AND PAKORAS:

• Soy Sauce and Rice Vinegar Mixture
• Basil-Soy Dipping Sauce
• Simple Miso Dipping Sauce
• Homemade Mayonnaise with Wasabi
• Dashi Dipping Sauce

PAKORAS:

• Simplest Yogurt Sauce or variations
• Coconut Chutney
• Cilantro-Mint Chutney
• Curry Ranch Dressing
• Smooth Green Chile Sauce, Indian Style

Enjoy the crispy, flavorful, and addictive experience of tempura or pakoras with these delicious dipping sauces. Whether you’re hosting a party or enjoying a cozy night in, these recipes are sure to impress and satisfy your taste buds. So gather your ingredients, heat up the oil, and get ready to indulge in the delightful world of tempura.