Go to a Japanese restaurant, and you will enjoy shrimp and vegetables fried in tempura batter. There is nothing better than biting into the crispy texture of tender vegetables. This recipe will have you loving how easy it is to make crispy tempura vegetables any night of the week.
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Japanese Tempura
Tempura is most often served in Japanese restaurants. Fresh vegetables like slices of sweet potatoes, zucchini, squash, onions, mushrooms, and more are deep-fried in a crispy batter. If you go to a Japanese restaurant or some Chinese restaurant, you will find tempura-inspired items on the menu.
Tempura originated around the 16th century when Portuguese missionaries were in Japan. They introduced a peixinhos da horta dish that was eaten during meatless “Ember days.” The dish eventually became tempura, which comes from the Latin word “tempora” referring to a time of fasting.
Homemade tempura batter
Did you know it’s super easy to make tempura? Tempura is a light and crispy batter that is made with flour and often ice water to help it get a very light texture.
This recipe calls for club soda instead of plain ice water. You can substitute it with seltzer water.
You can use specialty flours sold in supermarkets designed for super crispy tempura. Those starches include ingredients like potato starch, corn starch, or rice flour. Cake flour or another low-protein flour are great options.
Regular all-purpose flour will work if you do not stir the batter too much. Stirring that batter too much will result in a batter that isn’t as light because the gluten becomes activated with lots of stirring of the batter.
What makes this homemade tempura batter so good
This tempura batter has a simple base, but it gets the job done. You only need three simple ingredients. The unique inclusion of club soda instead of water makes the batter airy and fluffy while still giving you that oh-so-delicious crispy exterior you crave.
Why you are going to love this tempura batter mix
It truly can’t get any easier than this. Oftentimes, the reason people dine out is for convenience. Having a restaurant makes the food much easier for you.
However, with this recipe, it’s much quicker to make it yourself! You have to mix the ingredients together until they form a batter, and then you can get straight to dipping, frying, and enjoying this delicious Japanese dish!
Furthermore, this simple tempura is flavorful despite having basic ingredients you likely already have. Its taste and texture allow the flavors of the vegetables or the meat to really shine.
Ingredients for tempura batter
- All-purpose Flour
- Cornstarch
- Club Soda
How to make tempura batter
There are only three simple steps to make the best tempura batter:
- Place the flour and cornstarch in a bowl. Whisk to combine.
- Add the club soda.
- Stir until just combined. You can use a spoon or chopsticks. Do not over-stir, it is okay to have some lumps.
What do you need to deep fry?
Ideally, you should have a small deep fryer. I love my t-Fal deep fryer. It does a great job of keeping the hot oil at the same temperature. It also has a handy strainer so you can strain out the cooked bits, so you can use your oil again.
If you don’t have a deep fryer, you can use a deep pot and a thermometer to keep the oil at the right temperature.
I also recommend using a wire rack to drain what you have just cooked instead of using a paper towel. When you put hot food on paper towels, it tends to steam, and you lose the crispy crust you just spent time working on.
What should you dip into tempura batter?
Root vegetables like sweet potatoes, yams, daikon radish, eggplant, and onions are great for cooking in tempura. Broccoli florets, broccolini, and carrots are also perfect to deep-fat fry with tempura batter. Some Japanese favorites are shiso leaves and lotus roots.
| Food type | Options | Cooking tips |
| Root vegetables | Sweet potatoes, Yams, Daikon radish, Lotus root | Slice thin into uniform pieces |
| Soft vegetables | Broccoli, Broccolini, Eggplant, Mushrooms, onion rings | Cut into bite-sized pieces |
| Meat and seafood | Shrimp, fish fillets, calamari rings, chicken | Pat dry before battering |
| Specialty items | Shiso leaves, Oreos, frozen cheesecake bites | Ensure even coating, if frying sweet items, fry last, as they may flavor the oil |
How to make Japanese tempura
- Heat oil to 350°F in a deep fryer or heavy-bottomed pan.
- Dip vegetables, meat, or fish into the batter and let the excess drain off.
- Carefully place the tempura-battered food into the hot oil.
- Fry until golden brown and done.
- Drain the fried tempura on a wire rack over a baking sheet.
What should you serve tempura vegetables with?
You may want to dip your tempura vegetables into soy sauce, wasabi, or even ponzu sauce. Some people like to create a dipping sauce with equal parts of soy sauce and dry sherry.
How to store leftover tempura
To store leftover tempura for best results, follow these steps:
- Cool down: Allow the tempura to cool completely at room temperature. Do not cover it while it’s still warm; this will trap steam and make the tempura soggy.
- Absorb excess oil: Place the cooled tempura on paper towels to absorb any excess oil.
- Use an airtight container: Choose an airtight container large enough to accommodate the tempura without squashing or overcrowding the pieces.
- Layer with parchment paper: Place a sheet of parchment paper or wax paper at the bottom of the container. Arrange the tempura in a single layer, ensuring the pieces do not touch or overlap. If you have more tempura to store, place another sheet of parchment paper over the first layer and continue to layer the tempura this way.
- Seal and refrigerate: Close the airtight container and store it in the refrigerator. Consume the leftover tempura within 1-2 days for the best taste and texture.
How to reheat tempura for the best results
To reheat the tempura and maintain its crispiness:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Place a wire rack on a baking sheet and arrange the tempura on the rack in a single layer.
- Heat the tempura for 5-10 minutes or until warmed through and crispy.
- Keep an eye on the tempura to avoid overcooking or burning.
Love Japanese food? Try these favorite recipes
- Shrimp Tempura Recipe
- Japanese Katsu Recipe
- Hibachi Steak Recipe
- Hibachi Fried Rice
- Hibachi Restaurant Salad Dressing
- Panko Style Breadcrumbs
Best Chinese food recipes
- Chicken Lettuce Wraps
- General Tso Chicken
- Chinese Pork Spareribs
- Mongolian Beef Recipe
- Hunan Chicken Recipe
- Crispy Sweet and Sour Chicken
- Egg Drop Soup Chinese
Be sure to check out more of my easy Asian recipes and how to cook guides.
Tempura Batter
Ingredients
- 1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups cornstarch
- 2 cups club soda
Instructions
- To make the batter, mix all the ingredients together in a bowl.
- To use the batter, heat vegetable oil to 350°F in a deep fryer or heavy-bottomed pot. Dip vegetables, seafood, or anything else you desire into the batter, and deep fry until pale golden brown. Drain the tempura on a wire rack.
Video
Notes
- 🥢 BATTER TIP: Don’t overmix – lumps are okay!
- 🔥 FRYING TIP: Maintain oil at exactly 350°F
- 🧊 STORAGE TIP: Cool completely before storing
This was light and crispy. I made two changes, added 1.5 teaspoons salt and used a
Modelo beer for the liquid.
I made this recipe today and like all the others, I noticed it was too thick, so I added more club soda. Problem solved. I will make it again, but next time I’ll add salt to the batter. I drained the fried zucchini strips on a rack instead of paper towels and it was nice and crispy. Thanks for the recipe!
Fantastic! Simply and good… Nice & Crispy!!!
This is a great tempura batter – light and crispy. This is now my go to recipe.
It was a little too thick so, I did add more liquid and then it was fine. Also added some seasoned salt. Thanks for the recipe 🙂
This recipe was so good!! I had some vegetables I needed to cook so I thought tempura would be great. fried baby bok choy leavea, red onion petals and asparagus…So delicious and perfectly crispy. As others shared if it is too thick add more club soda. I also added dried herbs like chives and parsley. I got it to a thicker pancake like batter. You definitely want it to thr consistency where you can easily dip veggies. Saved remaining batter in fridge. Will try shrimp for dinner. Thanks for the suggestion for the deep fried oreos for a sweeter version. I will definitely try that next time 🙂
I think I made it wrong, the batter is too tick. It is 1 cup and2/3 of flour or just 2/3?
It was 1 2/3 cups, so 1 cup plus 2/3 more. If it is a little thick you can add more soda.
Not like tempura at all. Sorry but I won’t be using this recipe again.
Why was it not like tampura?
So if the batter wasn’t crispy, you may want to check the temperature of the oil. Was the batter too thick? Did it take on too much oil? Can you help me diagnose what happened?
This was an amazing recipe!
I didn’t know I could make this from scratch. Now I don’t have to buy the mix!
Excellent!
Luv ur websitee, found lots of recipes that I can’t wait to try them alll
I omitted the herbs and sesame seeds and deep fried oreos, chocolate chip cookies and even a chocolate donut! The doughnut did not work so well but everything else was wonderful!