Oven Baked Vegetable Tempura: A Twist on Classic Deep-fry Tempura

Vegetable tempura is a small plate to accompany dishes like udon noodle dishes. Its crunch cuts through the broth’s richness. Here’s how to make this side dish.

Baked vegetable tempura recipe

Tempura (Japanese deep-fried vegetables) is a staple in Japanese cuisine, mainly popularized in the Edo period. It typically consists of seafood and vegetables coated in a light batter and deep-fried. You can enjoy this Japanese food as a side dish or a standalone dish.

Easy baked vegetable tempura recipe
Easy baked tempura vegetables

The batter for vegetable tempura is very important. The traditional tempura batter is made with wheat flour, ice-cold water, and sometimes eggs. The cold water helps create a stark temperature contrast between the batter and the hot oil, leading to the signature crispiness.

You can serve tempura with a dipping sauce called “tentsuyu,” made from a combination of dashi (Japanese stock), soy sauce, mirin (sweet rice wine), and sometimes a bit of sugar.

Traditionally, I need to deep-fry veggies in hot oil to make vegetable tempura. But I will make the baked version. It’s easier and more convenient. If you want an extra crunchy texture, use panko breadcrumbs in the batter. This created a crispier coating than regular breadcrumbs.

This is how to make baked Vegetable Tempura:

Baked Vegetable Tempura

Baked Vegetable Tempura is a healthier version that takes on the classic Japanese dish! Light, crispy, and baked to golden perfection, this recipe uses colorful veggies in a seasoned batter without deep-frying. It's perfect for health-conscious food lovers.
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Total Time 35 minutes
Course Side Dish
Cuisine Asian, Japanese
Servings 4

Nutrition

Calories: 220kcalCarbohydrates: 36gProtein: 5gFat: 6gFiber: 3g

Ingredients
  

For the tempura

  • Mixed vegetables e.g., sweet potatoes, zucchini, potatoes, bell peppers, broccoli, eggplants, carrots) cut into thin strips or bite-sized pieces
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup cold water
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp rice vinegar
  • 1 tbsp sesame oil
  • Cooking spray or oil for greasing

For the dipping sauce

  • 1/2 cup soy sauce
  • 1/4 cup mirin Japanese sweet rice wine
  • 1 tbsp rice vinegar
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 1/2 tsp grated ginger optional
  • 1 green onion finely chopped (optional)

Instructions
 

Making the tempura

  • Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). Grease a baking sheet with cooking spray or a thin layer of oil.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, iced-cold water, baking powder, salt, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and sesame oil until you have a smooth batter.
  • Dip each vegetable piece into the batter, ensuring it’s well coated, and place it on the prepared baking sheet. Leave some space between each piece to ensure even baking.
  • Bake in the preheated oven for about 15-20 minutes or until the tempura coating is golden brown and crispy. You may want to flip the vegetables halfway through the baking time for even crispiness.
  • Once done, remove from the oven and let it cool slightly before serving.

Making the sauce

  • In a small saucepan, combine the soy sauce, mirin, rice vinegar, and sugar.
  • Heat the mixture over medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves. If you’re using grated ginger, add it to the sauce for an extra kick.
  • Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, then remove it from heat.
  • Allow the sauce to cool to room temperature. You can speed up the process by placing it in the refrigerator for a few minutes.
  • Once cooled, pour the sauce into bowls. If you like, sprinkle some finely chopped green onions on top for a burst of freshness.

Notes

– Keep an eye on the baking time. You want to bake the tempura until it’s golden brown and crispy. It may take a little experimentation with your specific oven and the size of your tempura pieces.
– If you don’t have an oven, you can use an air fryer instead.
– You can use gluten-free flour in tempura, but you need to add other ingredients like cornstarch or potato starch to achieve a similar light and crispy texture. Some tempura recipes also use sparkling water or soda for extra lightness.
Keyword baked tempura, easy Japanese recipes, gluten free, light and crispy vegetables, oven-fried vegetables, tempura batter, vegetable tempura
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Remember that the texture might not be exactly the same as deep-fried tempura, but it’s so much easier to do. Give it a try and see how you like it!

How to pair

Vegetable tempura is served with various dishes to enhance its flavor and texture. Here are some popular options:

  1. Dipping Sauces
    • Tentsuyu is made from dashi, mirin, and soy sauce.
    • Ponzu is a citrus-based sauce with a bright, tangy note.
    • Matcha salt is a simple mixture of sea salt and matcha powder for a unique flavor profile.
  2. Complementary Side Dishes
    • Tempura vegetables are often served atop a steaming bowl of udon or soba noodles for a hearty and satisfying meal.
    • Rice with tempura, known as “ten don,” makes for a filling meal.
    • Miso Soup is a traditional Japanese combination. Vegetable tempura is paired with a bowl of miso soup for a balanced meal.
    • Sesame and Ginger-Baked Tofu pairs well with vegetable tempura for a vegetarian meal.
    • Soba Noodle Salad with mixed vegetable tempura is ideal for summer.
    • Tempura vegetables can also be served alongside a bowl of ramen for added texture and flavor.
  3. Beverage Pairings
    • Green tea’s subtle bitterness cuts through the oil and refreshes the palate.
    • A dry sake complements the light flavors of the vegetables.
    • Beer helps cleanse the palate between bites.
    • Champagne or sparkling wine provides a delightful contrast

Variations

Here are some versions of the Japanese tempura:

  1. Gluten-free Alternatives replace flour with rice flour, cornstarch, potato starch, or chickpea flour.
  2. Regional and Modern Twists:
    • Tempura pasta combines tempura techniques with pasta dishes.
    • Nori-wrapped tempura encases vegetables in nori before battering.
    • Tempura sushi rolls are a unique variation.
    • Tempura ice cream features battered and quickly fried ice cream
  3. Tenkasu is a version from the Kansai region. Tempura flakes are made by deep-frying small balls of batter or breaking up larger tempura pieces.

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