Crispy Tempura Vegetables Recipe (With Soy Dipping Sauce)

Tempura Vegetables on plate with dipping sauce in back.

Crispy Tempura Vegetables Recipe (With Soy Dipping Sauce)

A Crispy Tempura Vegetables Recipe with assorted veggies marinated in soy and seasonings, dipped in an ice-cold flour-cornstarch batter, and fried at 350 degrees Fahrenheit until shatteringly crisp and golden. Served with a sweet-savory soy dipping sauce. 45 minutes start to finish.

Course Appetizer, Side Dish

Cuisine Japanese

Keyword Crispy Tempura, Tempura Vegetables, Tempura Vegetables Recipe

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 30

Marinate: 30

Total Time 1 15

Servings servings

Calories 192kcal

Author Dana DeVolk

Ingredients

1 pound assorted veggies
1 tablespoon soy sauce
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon onion powder
1 tablespoon cornstarch
Pinch of cracked black pepper

For the dipping sauce:

6 tablespoons soy sauce
6 tablespoons water
¼ cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
¼ teaspoon chili paste
1 scallion green part only, thinly sliced

For the batter:

½ cup all-purpose flour
½ cup cornstarch
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon granulated sugar
½ teaspoon kosher salt plus more for finishing
1 large egg
⅔ cup ice cold water
Oil for frying

Instructions

Prepare your veggies, if they need to be cut, cut them into 1/4th inch slices or sticks. Place the veggies into a large bowl.
Toss with the soy sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, cornstarch and pepper. Let the bowl sit on the counter and marinate for up to 30 minutes while you prepare the remaining steps.
While the veggies are marinating, make the dipping sauce by placing the soy sauce, water, and sugar into a small saucepan. Stirring constantly, place the pan over medium heat and cook it just until the sugar melts, 2-3 minutes. Take the pan off the heat and add the vinegar, chili paste, and scallion, whisk to combine. Let cool while you prepare the remaining steps.
Pour about 2-3 inches of oil into a large heavy bottom skillet over medium heat. Heat the oil until it reaches 350°F.
While the oil heats, make the batter, in a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, baking soda, baking powder, sugar, and salt, set aside.
In a small bowl whisk together the egg and water until fully combined.
Pour the wet mix into the dry and stir until combined, try not to overmix.
Add 1 tablespoon of cornstarch to the marinated veggies and mix to combine.
Once the oil is hot, add a handful of the veggies into the batter and coat in the batter. Let excess batter drip off, these don't need to be heavily coated. Carefully place the veggies one by one into the oil. Fry until lightly golden brown on all sides, flipping the veggies over as needed. About 4 minutes total.
Lift the veggies out and let the excess oil drip off, then set them on a wire rack over a sheet tray so the tempura stays crisp. Repeat with the remaining veggies.
Serve immediately with the dipping sauce.

Notes

Use any of your favorite vegetables, see some suggestions above.
We do not recommend freezing these.
You can skip making the dipping sauce, see above on other options.
This can easily be doubled to serve more people.
Works great as an appetizer or side dish.
Goes great with a variety of meals.

Nutrition