Favorite Tempura Batter

Crispy, light, and irresistibly golden, this Favorite Tempura Batter recipe is your go-to secret for achieving restaurant-quality tempura at home. Crafted with a delicate blend of all-purpose flour, cornstarch, and baking powder and brought to life with ice-cold sparkling water, this batter ensures an airy, crunchy coating that won’t overpower your ingredients. Whether you’re frying up shrimp, vegetables, or fish, the simple preparation—ready in just 10 minutes—makes it perfect for both quick weeknight meals and impressive dinner parties. Key to its success is the gentle mixing technique that maintains the batter’s signature lumps and the bubbling crispness of the sparkling water. Pair your freshly fried tempura with classic tentsuyu sauce or soy sauce for a dish that’s as authentic as it is delicious. This foolproof tempura batter delivers professional results with minimal effort—perfect for satisfying your cravings or wowing your guests!

Nutriscore Rating: 42/100

Prep Time:10 mins

Cook Time:20 mins

Total Time:30 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1 cup All-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons Cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon Baking powder
• 1 Egg yolk
• 1 cup Ice-cold sparkling water
• 0.5 teaspoon Salt
• 4 cups Vegetable oil (for frying)

Directions

Step 1

In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt. Stir gently to evenly distribute the dry ingredients.

Step 2

In a separate small bowl, beat the egg yolk lightly to break it up.

Step 3

Gradually add the ice-cold sparkling water to the egg yolk, stirring gently. Be careful not to overmix; maintaining bubbles in the mixture helps achieve the light texture of the batter.

Step 4

Pour the liquid mixture into the dry ingredients. Use chopsticks or a fork to mix the batter lightly. The batter should have a lumpy texture and should not be overmixed. Overmixing can lead to a heavy batter.

Step 5

Heat the vegetable oil in a deep saucepan or fryer over medium-high heat until it reaches 350°F (175°C). To test if the oil is ready, drop a small bit of batter into the oil—it should sizzle and rise to the surface immediately.

Step 6

Dip your desired ingredients (e.g., vegetables, shrimp, or fish) into the batter, coating them lightly and shaking off any excess.

Step 7

Carefully lower the battered ingredients into the hot oil, frying in small batches to avoid overcrowding the pan. Fry until the exterior is golden and crispy, about 2-3 minutes for most items.

Step 8

Remove the fried tempura from the oil using a slotted spoon or skimmer and transfer to a plate lined with paper towels to drain any excess oil.

Step 9

Serve the tempura hot with your favorite dipping sauce, such as tentsuyu (a traditional tempura dipping sauce) or soy sauce. Enjoy immediately for the best texture and flavor.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	1346.5 grams (1346.5g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	8666

Total Fat 951.60g	1220%
Saturated Fat 136.90g	685%
Polyunsaturated Fat NaNg
Cholesterol 185mg	62%
Sodium 1640mg	71%
Total Carbohydrate 108.90g	40%
Dietary Fiber 3.40g	12%
Total Sugars 0.80g
Protein 15.10g	30%

Vitamin D 18IU	91%
Calcium 39mg	3%
Iron 6mg	34%
Potassium 148mg	3%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 94.5%

Protein: 0.7%

Carbs: 4.8%