Making Shrimp Tempura In An Air Fryer: Is It Possible?

Shrimp tempura is a popular Japanese dish that consists of shrimp dipped in batter and then deep-fried. It is usually served as a side dish or as part of a bento box. You can also serve it as a main dish over rice. While it is traditionally deep-fried, you can also make shrimp tempura in an air fryer. This method is healthier and less messy than deep-frying, and it still results in a crispy texture.

How to prepare shrimp for tempura

Preparing shrimp for tempura is simple and only requires a few steps. Firstly, peel the shrimp and devein them with a skewer. The vein runs along the back of the shrimp. Next, make some slits on the underside of the shrimp. This will help to straighten them, as shrimp naturally curl up when cooked. Then, bend the shrimp backward, belly-side up, to straighten them out. Cut the tips of the tails and remove any dirty water or liquid. Clean the shrimp with potato or corn starch, and then rinse them under running water. Finally, rub the shrimp with sake and let them sit for 10 minutes before discarding the liquid. Your shrimp are now ready to be coated in batter and cooked!

The best dipping sauces for tempura shrimp

Tentsuyu

Tentsuyu is the traditional Japanese dipping sauce for tempura. It is light and refreshing, with a delicate yet complex flavour. It is made with just four ingredients: dashi (Japanese soup stock), soy sauce, mirin (a type of rice wine), and sugar. The sauce is usually served warm in a small individual bowl alongside the tempura.

Honey Mustard Sauce

A simple sauce made with just two ingredients: honey and mustard. This tangy and sweet sauce is the perfect complement to the crispy tempura shrimp.

Sweet Chilli Sauce

This is a good option if you're looking for something with a bit of a kick. Sweet chilli sauce is a common condiment that can be found in most grocery stores.

Tempura Dipping Sauce

This sauce has a sweet, salty, and savoury taste with a smooth and thin texture. It is made with dashi powder or soup stock, warm water, low-sodium soy sauce, granulated sugar, and mirin. You can also add daikon radish for a little peppery flavour and crunchy texture.

Other Ideas

There are many other sauces that would go well with tempura shrimp, such as a spicy mayo, a soy-ginger dip, or a simple squeeze of lemon. You could also try a garlic aioli or a tangy teriyaki sauce.

How to make the tempura batter

Making tempura batter is fairly simple. The basic ingredients are flour, egg, and water. However, you can add other ingredients to improve the texture and flavour. Here is a recipe for tempura batter that you can make at home:

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1 egg, slightly beaten
• 3/4 cup ice-cold water
• 1 cup all-purpose flour

Instructions:

• In a bowl, mix the cornstarch, baking powder, and pepper.
• Add the egg and water to the dry ingredients and stir until smooth.
• In a separate bowl, sift the all-purpose flour once or twice to remove any clumps and to make it light and soft.
• Gently beat the egg until the yolk and egg whites are just barely incorporated.
• Combine the ice-cold water and add it to the bowl with the beaten egg.
• Add the sifted flour to the bowl with the egg-water mixture and gently stir until just combined. Be careful not to overmix the batter; it should be a little lumpy.

This batter can be used for shrimp tempura, as well as for coating vegetables or other proteins such as chicken or fish. Keep in mind that tempura batter is best used immediately after mixing, as it can get soggy if it sits too long. Additionally, when frying, ensure that your oil is between 340 F and 360 F for the best results.

How to reheat leftover shrimp tempura

To reheat shrimp tempura in an air fryer, first preheat your air fryer to 350-370°F (175°C). Then, take your leftover shrimp tempura and space them out as much as possible in the basket of the air fryer. The more spaced out the shrimp are, the better and more evenly they will reheat. For the ultimate crispy shrimp tempura, add just a teaspoon or so of oil and drizzle it over the tempura. Set your air fryer timer to 2-3 minutes and leave the tempura to reheat until crispy. Because of how an air fryer works, you will need to keep an eye on the shrimp tempura as it reheats to ensure that it does not overcook. You may need to leave the tempura for up to 3 minutes, but no longer. As soon as the shrimp tempura is crispy enough, serve straight away.

Alternatively, you can reheat shrimp tempura in the oven. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) for 10 to 15 minutes. Place a sizable baking tray at the bottom of your oven to make it easier to clean up any crumbs once you have reheated the shrimp. While your oven is heating up, place your leftover shrimp tempura on an oven-safe wire rack. Space the tempura out as much as possible. When your oven is hot enough, place your wire rack in the centre of your oven and reheat for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, check on the shrimp tempura to ensure the batter is not burning. If the shrimp is still cold, but the batter is burning, move the tray rack further down in the oven or cover it with a sheet of foil but do not adjust the heat. As soon as your shrimp tempura is hot enough, remove the tempura from your oven and serve straight away.

How to get the best results when cooking shrimp tempura in an air fryer

Preparation

Before cooking shrimp tempura in an air fryer, there are a few steps you can take to prepare the shrimp. Firstly, devein the shrimp and remove the shell, leaving the tail on. You can also make 4-5 small notches on the "belly" of the shrimp and stretch them out. This will give you straight shrimp, which is the traditional presentation of shrimp tempura. However, this step can be skipped if you don't mind the curled shape. You can also soak the shrimp in sake to remove any fishy smells.

The batter

The key to achieving a light and crispy tempura batter is to use ice-cold water. Some recipes also suggest using carbonated water or adding an egg to the batter. The batter should not be too liquidy, as this can cause it to fly off the shrimp or drip into the bottom of the air fryer basket. To prevent this, you can dust the battered shrimp with flour before placing them in the air fryer.

Cooking

Preheat your air fryer to between 350-400 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray the inner basket generously with cooking oil spray to prevent sticking. Place the shrimp in the basket in a single layer, making sure not to overcrowd the basket. This will ensure that the hot air can circulate properly and fry the tempura batter evenly. Cook the shrimp for 7-12 minutes, or until they reach your desired level of crispness. You may need to cook the shrimp in batches.

Serving

Tempura is best served hot. It can be served as a main dish over rice or as a side dish. It is often served with a dipping sauce called tentsuyu, which can be purchased or made from scratch.

Frequently asked questions