Japanese · Snacks

Vegetable Tempura

VegEasy

Diet: Veg · Vegan

Vegetable Tempura is a Japanese dish. Cold batter and small batches give a lighter crust.

Prep
20 min
Cook
20 min
Total
40 min
Servings
4
Difficulty
Easy
Cuisine
Japanese
Course
Snacks

Estimated times for the original batch. Preparation, cooking and listed waiting time are included. Batch cooking can take longer.

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Representative photograph of Vegetable Tempura.
Representative photograph of Vegetable Tempura. Garnishes and presentation may differ. Photo credit and licence
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Ingredients

Metric weights use grams. US weights use ounces; liquids use fluid ounces. Conversions are rounded. Spoon measures use 5 ml teaspoons and 15 ml tablespoons; cups use 240 ml.

Serves 4

Vegetables

Batter

Frying

Equipment

Kitchen scales; measuring jug and spoons; knife; cutting board; mixing bowls; heavy frying pan; spatula; heatproof spoon; spatula.

Check all product labels and cross-contact. Diet groups describe this listed recipe, not every substitution.

Steps

Prepare · About 7 min

  1. Pat 200 g sweet potato, sliced 5 mm, 150 g broccoli florets, 150 g bell pepper strips completely dry. Heat 750 ml neutral oil in a deep heavy pan to 170°C / 340°F; fill the pan less than halfway.

    Check: The food must be hot through at 170°C / 340°F.

Mix · About 7 min

  1. Stir 120 g plain flour, 40 g cornflour, 240 ml ice-cold water, ½ tsp salt briefly; small lumps are fine.

Fry · About 5 min

  1. Dip vegetables in batter and fry in small batches for 3–5 minutes. Drain on a rack; sweet potato must be tender through.

Tips

  • Cold batter and small batches give a lighter crust.
  • Judge Vegetable Tempura by the texture and doneness signs in its steps. Your pan and heat affect how long Vegetable Tempura takes to cook.

Substitutions

  • In Vegetable Tempura, replace sweet potato with thin pumpkin slices.

Storage

  • Get perishable Vegetable Tempura into the fridge within two hours, or within one hour above 32°C / 90°F. Eat Vegetable Tempura within two days, keeping it covered at 4°C / 40°F or colder.
  • Bring cooked Vegetable Tempura to 74°C / 165°F, stirring or turning it for even heating. When Vegetable Tempura is part of the meal, serve cold salads, dips and chilled desserts straight from safe refrigeration.

Make ahead

  • Measure the dry batter ingredients ahead. Mix the wet batter and give it only the resting time stated in the method; cook Vegetable Tempura close to serving.

FAQ

What matters most when making Vegetable Tempura?

Cold batter and small batches give a lighter crust.

What can I substitute in Vegetable Tempura?

In Vegetable Tempura, replace sweet potato with thin pumpkin slices.

Can I prepare Vegetable Tempura ahead?

Measure the dry batter ingredients ahead. Mix the wet batter and give it only the resting time stated in the method; cook Vegetable Tempura close to serving.

Food safety references

FoodSafety.gov: cooking temperatures · Food Standards Agency: rice storage and reheating