Tempura

Tempura is a Japanese dish of deep-fried battered fish or vegetables. It is said to have been introduced to Japan by the Portuguese in the 16th century. The word "tempura" is thought to derive from the Portuguese word "tempora" or "tempero", meaning seasonings.

The dish became popular in Japan during the Edo period (1603-1868), when the Tokugawa shogunate encouraged foreigners to come to Japan and trade. The Portuguese introduced a number of new foods to Japan, including tempura.

Tempura was originally a luxury dish, as the ingredients were expensive and the frying process was time-consuming. However, it gradually became more affordable and today it is a popular street food and home-cooked meal in Japan.

Jump to: Ingredient Breakdown Insights

Recipes

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Fish and Seafood Tempura

  • sparkling water
  • tempura dipping sauce
  • egg yolk
  • seafood
  • vegetable oil
  • salt
  • cornstarch
  • baking soda
  • rice flour
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Tempura

  • acqua gassata ghiacciata
  • carote
  • farina
  • farina di riso
  • gamberi da pulire
  • ghiaccio
  • olio di di girasole
  • zucchine
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Shrimp Tempura

  • all purpose flour
  • ice water
  • mirin
  • egg
  • tiger prawn
  • oil
  • potato starch
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Vegetable Tempura

  • oil
  • salt
  • soy sauce
  • lemon
  • all purpose flour
  • egg yolk
  • sweet potato vegetable
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Kakiage Tempura

  • all purpose flour
  • ice water
  • egg
  • onion
  • carrot
  • scallop
  • vegetable oil
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Kabocha Tempura

  • tempura dipping sauce
  • japanese kabocha squash
  • egg
  • water
  • potato starch
  • canola
  • all purpose flour
  • salt
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Scallop and Pepper Tempura

  • cayenne pepper
  • sparkling wine
  • all purpose flour
  • salt
  • sugar
  • bell pepper
  • egg
  • bell pepper
  • bay scallop
  • cornstarch
  • lemon juice
  • soy sauce
  • vegetable oil
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Buffalo Shrimp Tempura

  • carrot
  • salt
  • vegetable oil
  • cake flour
  • seltzer water
  • shrimp
  • lemon juice
  • egg yolk
  • hot sauce
  • mayonnaise
  • maytag
  • half
  • butter
  • sour cream
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Vegetable Tempura

  • all purpose flour
  • ice water
  • crown broccoli
  • egg
  • imitation crab
  • sweet potato
  • zucchini
  • asparagus
  • oyster mushroom
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Alaskan King Crab Tempura

  • salt
  • ginger
  • mustard seed
  • rice vinegar
  • salt
  • tomato paste
  • black peppercorn
  • coriander
  • chile pepper
  • canola oil
  • all purpose flour
  • orange juice
  • seltzer
  • king crab leg
  • honey
  • soy sauce
  • teriyaki sauce
  • apple cider vinegar
  • chile
  • cornstarch
  • baking powder
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Acorn Squash Tempura

  • salt
  • vegetable oil
  • dashi powder
  • acorn squash
  • sugar
  • soy sauce
  • mirin
  • all purpose flour
  • cornstarch
  • seltzer
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Cod Tempura with Cape Malay Curry Sauce

  • Cape Malay Sauce
  • turmeric
  • ginger
  • sugar
  • bay leaf
  • shallot
  • clam broth
  • black peppercorn
  • curry powder
  • canola oil
  • white wine vinegar
  • butter
  • Cod Tempura
  • pineapple
  • salt
  • vegetable oil
  • all purpose flour
  • ice
  • sparkling water
  • tempura flour
  • cod
  • Apricot-Sake Puree
  • rice vinegar
  • sugar
  • water
  • sake
  • salt
  • apricot
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Bacon Tempura

  • canola oil
  • salt
  • club soda
  • all purpose flour
  • north country smokehouse applewood smoked bacon
  • egg white
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Summer-Vegetable Tempura

  • < href= https www saveur com tempura dipping broth tentsyu >tempura dipping broth< >
  • canola oil
  • salt
  • egg
  • cake flour
  • cake flour
  • kabocha squash
  • corn
  • shishito pepper
  • eggplant
  • green bean
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Ten-Ichi Tempura

  • katsuobushi
  • daikon
  • mirin
  • soy sauce
  • asian sesame oil
  • kombu
  • anago
  • egg
  • japenese eggplant
  • cake flour
  • shrimp
  • ginkgo nut
  • scallop
  • asparagus
  • shiitake mushroom
  • skinless flounder
  • corn oil
  • snow pea
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Herb Tempura

  • salt
  • all purpose flour
  • cornstarch
  • baking powder
  • ice water
  • edible flower
  • olive oil

Ingredient Breakdown

 
salt
all purpose flour
egg
vegetable oil
cornstarch
soy sauce
ice water
canola oil
egg yolk
oil
water
sugar
cake flour
rice flour
mirin
club soda
sparkling water
potato starch
green bean
shrimp
rice vinegar
honey
baking powder
tempura dipping sauce
baking soda
carrot
scallop
bell pepper
lemon juice
mayonnaise
butter
asparagus
lime juice
ginger
black peppercorn
seltzer
peanut oil
kabocha squash
shiitake mushroom
seafood
acqua gassata ghiacciata
carote
farina
farina di riso
gamberi da pulire
ghiaccio
olio di di girasole
zucchine
tiger prawn
lemon
sweet potato vegetable
vegetable
onion
broccoli
cumin
cilantro
dukkah
polenta
wheat flour
matcha powder
sansai vegetable
japanese kabocha squash
canola
cayenne pepper
sparkling wine
bay scallop
seltzer water
hot sauce
maytag
half
sour cream
crown broccoli
imitation crab
sweet potato
zucchini
oyster mushroom
red curry paste
mustard seed
tomato paste
coriander
chile pepper
orange juice
king crab leg
teriyaki sauce
apple cider vinegar
chile
lime
fish sauce
vodka
okra
japanese eggplant
panko flake
green onion
dashi powder
acorn squash
soda water
turmeric
pineapple
bay leaf
shallot
clam broth
sake
curry powder
white wine vinegar
ice
tempura flour
apricot
cod
north country smokehouse applewood smoked bacon
egg white
< href= https www saveur com tempura dipping broth tentsyu >tempura dipping broth< >
corn
shishito pepper
eggplant
katsuobushi
daikon
asian sesame oil
kombu
anago
japenese eggplant
ginkgo nut
skinless flounder
corn oil
snow pea
edible flower
olive oil
ponzu mayonnaise
tempura
ponzu sauce
white miso paste
ice seltzer water
green been

Insights

Staple Ingredients

  • all purpose flour 33%
  • salt 33%

Usual Ingredients

  • egg 21%
  • cornstarch 18%
  • vegetable oil 18%
  • ice water 15%
  • soy sauce 15%