Mixed Tempura

Crafty Lady 13's Note:

A traditional Japanese dish of meat and vegetables coated with a tempura batter and then deep fried. Serve this with tempura dipping sauce and steamed rice. Tempura is a very versatile dish that can be made with seafood, chicken, or beef and any of your favorite vegetables. This recipe is done with king prawns, broccoli, mushrooms and red peppers, but among my favorite is chicken, zucchini, green beans, carrots and sweet potatoes.

• Total Time: 30 mins
• Prep Time: 20 mins
• Cook Time: 10 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 4

• 12 raw king prawns
• 2 cups tempura flour or 2 cups plain flour
• 2 cups ice water
• 2 egg yolks, lightly beaten
• oil, for deep-frying
• flour, for coating
• 2 ounces fresh broccoli florets
• 3 1/2 ounces button mushrooms
• 1 red pepper, cut into thin strips
• tempura dipping sauce or soy sauce

Directions:

1. Peel and devein the prawns, leaving the tails intact. Cut a slit in the underside of each prawn (this will prevent them curling).
2. Sift the flour into a bowl, make a well in the center and add the iced water and egg yolk. Stir with chopsticks (or fork) until just combined. The batter should be slightly lumpy.
3. Fill a deep heavy-based pan one third full of oil and heat to 350 degrees F, or until a cube of bread dropped into the oil turns golden in 15 seconds.
4. Dip the prawns in flour to coat, shake off any excess, then dip in the batter. cook the prawns in batches until crisp and light golden. Drain on crumpled paper towels. Repeat with the vegetables. Serve the tempura immediately with tempura dipping sauce or soy sauce.
5. Note: Tempura should have a very light batter and needs to be served as soon as it is cooked. Be sure that the water is ice cold as this helps to lighten the batter. If you are unsure, add a few ice cubes. If you use plain flour, add a little extra water to help thin the batter.

Reviews

[Leggy Peggy]

We had a great time making your tempura, and an even better time eating it. Four young people helped with the preparations (including a Japanese girl). We used tempura flour, a pound of medium-sized prawns, two small bunches of broccolini cut in thirds, a green capsicum (bell pepper) cut in chunks, four spring onions quartered, a sweet potato sliced and some small shiitake mushrooms. Our dipping sauce was from Tempura Donburi - Tendon - Tempura Rice Bowl. We cooked and ate as we went, and had a most enjoyable evening. Yummo!