Prawn Tempura
Prawn Tempura
This Prawn Tempura recipe delivers perfectly crispy, golden-brown prawns with a light and airy batter. Serve with dipping sauce for an authentic Japanese experience that’s great as an appetizer or a main course.
Ingredients
(Serves 4)
For the Tempura:
- 1 pound (500g) prawns, peeled and deveined (leave tails intact)
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour (plus extra for dusting)
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup ice-cold water
- 1 egg yolk
- Vegetable oil, for frying
For the Dipping Sauce:
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup mirin (sweet Japanese rice wine)
- 1/4 cup dashi stock (or water with a pinch of instant dashi powder)
- 1 teaspoon grated ginger (optional)
Instructions
1. Prepare the Prawns
- Pat the prawns dry with paper towels. Use a small knife to make shallow slits along the underside of each prawn to straighten them, then gently press them flat.
2. Make the Dipping Sauce
- Combine soy sauce, mirin, dashi stock, and grated ginger in a small saucepan. Bring to a gentle simmer over low heat, then remove from heat and set aside.
3. Prepare the Tempura Batter
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt.
- In a separate bowl, mix the ice-cold water and egg yolk. Gradually add the liquid to the dry ingredients, stirring gently. The batter should remain slightly lumpy for the best texture.
4. Heat the Oil
- Heat about 2 inches of vegetable oil in a deep skillet or pot to 350°F (175°C).
5. Coat and Fry the Prawns
- Lightly dust the prawns with flour, shaking off the excess.
- Dip each prawn into the tempura batter, ensuring an even coat, then carefully lower it into the hot oil.
- Fry in small batches for 2-3 minutes, or until golden and crispy. Avoid overcrowding the pan to maintain the oil temperature.
6. Drain and Serve
- Transfer the fried prawns to a plate lined with paper towels to drain excess oil.
- Serve immediately with the dipping sauce on the side.
Tips
- Cold Batter: Keep the batter cold to ensure a light, crispy texture. You can place the batter bowl over a larger bowl filled with ice.
- Alternative Dips: Try serving with ponzu sauce, sweet chili sauce, or spicy mayo for variety.
- Vegetable Tempura: Use the same batter for vegetables like sweet potatoes, zucchini, or mushrooms for a tempura platter.
This Prawn Tempura is crispy, light, and utterly delicious—a Japanese classic you can easily recreate at home! 🍤✨
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