See Also: Appetizers · Asian · Main Dishes · Side Dishes
Tempura
From Dorothy McNett's Recipe book at www.dorothymcnett.com. Select from 6-14 ingredients for making a tempura feast. Shrimp, scallops, snow peas, chicken strips, pork strips, green pepper, broccoli, mushrooms, eggplant, sweet potatoes are good choices for instance.....and you must use a deep heavy bottomed pan such as a Dutch oven or a deep fryer.
6-8 fresh or dried shiitake mushrooms
1 bunch fresh broccoli
12 medium prawns
1-2 Japanese eggplants
10-12 snow peas
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups iced water
pinch of baking soda
2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
5 cups peanut oil
1 cup olive oil
4 tablespoons sesame seed oil
If using dried mushrooms, soak them 30 minutes in warm water. Remove, dry well, and cut into quarters. Place on a platter. Cut the broccoli into spears, trimming as you go. Place in microwave pot, cover, and microwave on high 4 minutes. Cover with ice and allow to cool. Drain and pat dry. Slice the broccoli spears into fairly long manageable strips and place on platter. Peel and devein the prawns, leaving the tail intact. To prevent prawns from curling when frying, make 3 slits in the belly side, pat dry, and place them on the platter. Cut eggplant lengthwise in halves. Quarter each half into lengthwise spears. Slit down the center but leaving one end intact. Place on platter. Trim and dry the snow peas and place on platter. Refrigerate to keep cold if not using immediately.
Use a Dutch oven or other similar pan that has a heavy bottom and has sides at least 5 - 6 inches tall, or a deep fat fryer. Combine the peanut, olive, and sesame seed oil and bring to a temperature of 365-370 degrees. Check with a candy thermometer to make sure. While it is heating, in a batter bowl whisk together the eggs and water. Whisk in the soda and the flour and just mix to blend, batter should be a thin lumpy mixture. Begin with vegetables by dipping each into the batter and slide into hot oil. Fry only 6 pieces at a time and only for about 1 minute. With a skimmer or slotted spoon, remove to paper towel lined baking sheet. Serve immediately, serving guests as they are done instead of waiting to cook all. Serve with dipping sauces.
Recipe created 2003-03-16.
