Tempura Shrimp & Vegetables

I'll admit before trying this recipe at home, I made tempura using the batter mixes from a box. It never tasted like what I'm used to at Japanese restaurants so I haven't tried it again since.

A couple of months ago, KitchenAid invited me to attend the South Beach Wine and Food Festival. I was so excited when they asked if I wanted to attend, it's an event they are a big sponsor of. And can you believe I have never been to Miami and I live in Florida? I jumped at the chance to attend the festival and go to Miami for the first time.

When I first arrived, I was trying to figure out where the entrance was. You see, this wine & food festival was on the beach! Then, I saw Ashley. I had met her last year at Food Blog Forum and she is as sweet as can be. I ended up hanging out with her, her husband and her friends. They are hilarious and so fun!

Then, we happened upon this huge sign and we became so excited!

I was oohing and ahhing over the KitchenAid appliances. Aren't those colors so fun??? I can't choose a favorite — love them all!

And those wall ovens, I wish wish my kitchen wasn't so small so I could have KitchenAid wall ovens!

It was Andrew Zimmern who showed us how to make tempura and showed us how EASY it is to make over at the KitchenAid demo stage.

He talked about how tempura is actually Portuguese not originally from Japan like everyone thinks. And I love this quote from him: “food is delicious but food with a story is even more delicious”.

I also saw cooking demos from Robert Irvine who I learned about grape seed oil from and Chef Michael Symon.

And then I proceeded to eat and eat and eat.

My favorites in the grand tasting tent were shrimp & grits and red velvet cakes!

This recipe is pure genius and so easy! Andrew talked about the importance of a cold batter — so he uses ice water and only makes the batter a little bit at a time. If you need more batter, then you make more. And he uses cake flour!! And you want lumpy batter, lumpy is good.

I set up a little station of veggies and shrimp all ready and prepped.

First get the veggies into some cake flour and then drop them into the batter.

And then fry these little puppies! It's amazing, they only take 2-4 minutes to fry up. Andrew (like how I'm calling him by his first name like I know him?) said if it takes longer than that to cook then you have cut your veggies too thick!

I don't know if I should be saying this but I will anyways, Curtis was giddy like a school girl for tempura. He doesn't like sushi and LOVES getting tempura when we go to Japanese restaurants. He's the one who suggested we do chicken too. This recipe is a total keeper! My favorite? The shrimp. Curtis' favorite — the broccoli. We will be making this again and soon!

I didn't make Andrew's dipping sauce which is more authentic but I plan to try it soon!

Recipe

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Tempura Shrimp & Vegetables Recipe

Yield: Serves 4 to 6

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

Ingredients:

1 pound extra large shrimp, peeled with tail left on and deveined
1 pound chicken tenderloins
zucchini, sweet potato, potato (your favorite veggies), sliced thin
broccoli (cut into florets)
6 cups canola or vegetable oil
1 cup sesame oil (don't use toasted sesame oil)
3 cups cake flour, plus some extra for dusting
3 eggs
ice water
club soda

Dipping Sauce

low sodium soy sauce
1/2 Tablespoon freshly grated ginger
2 green onions, sliced

Directions:

Prep shrimp (Andrew Zimmern's advice is to make 3 shallow nicks or cuts on the bottom of the shrimp and gently flatten or pound the shrimp with the side of a knife to flatten), chicken and vegetables and place them in bowls for easy access when frying.

Heat oils in a large pot or French oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare a baking sheet with foil and line with paper towels.

Add about 1/2 to 3/4 cup of cake flour to a shallow bowl and set aside.

Beat an egg in a measuring cup and add ice and water to make 3/4 to 1 cup. Add to a mixing bowl and add 3/4 cup cake flour. Mix with a pair of chopsticks or a butter knife. Batter will be lumpy, don't over stir. Add a tablespoon or two of club soda and quickly stir.

One piece at a time, dip in the dry cake flour in the shallow bowl and then dip into the batter. Remove excess batter by shaking then add to hot oil, being very careful not to burn yourself. Fry about five to eight pieces at a time for about 2 to 4 minutes or until golden and crispy. Use a slotted spoon to turn them over when necessary and to remove them from the oil. Place on prepared baking sheet to allow excess oils to be removed.

If you need more batter, make it as you need it (so that it remains ice cold for the entire time you're using it).

Serve immediately with dipping sauce.

Dipping Sauce

Mix together soy sauce, ginger and green onions.

ever so slightly modified from Andrew Zimmern

Have you tried this recipe?

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Disclosure: Huge thanks to KitchenAid as I was a guest of theirs at the South Beach Wine & Food Festival. All opinions expressed are always my own.