Air-Fryer Tempura: Is It Possible?

Tempura is a popular Japanese dish that involves deep frying seafood, meat, or vegetables in a light batter. Traditionally, this is done by dipping the food in a batter made from egg yolks, flour, and cold water, and then frying it in hot oil. However, with the advent of air fryers, it is possible to make tempura with less oil and in a fraction of the time. Air fryers are a healthier alternative to deep frying, and they can still achieve the same flavor and texture as a deep fryer.

Air fryer tempura vegetables

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup seltzer water
• 1/4 teaspoon seasoning of your choice (e.g. curry powder, Chinese five spice)
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 2 cups of vegetables (e.g. bell pepper strips, broccoli/cauliflower florets, green beans, asparagus, onions, avocado, zucchini)
• 1/2 cup dipping sauce (e.g. peanut sauce, sweet chili sauce)
• Cooking spray

Optional Ingredients for Customization

• Breadcrumbs (traditionally Panko)
• Eggs
• Oil (canola or vegetable)
• Seasonings and spices (e.g. kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder)

Method

Step One: Prepare the Wet Batter

Cut your chosen vegetables into desired sizes, then use a paper towel to dry them thoroughly. In a shallow dish, mix together the dry ingredients: flour, salt, and black pepper. In a separate large bowl, whisk together eggs and water.

Step Two: Prepare the Vegetables

Dip the vegetables into the flour mixture, then into the egg mixture, and finally into the breadcrumbs (if using) to coat evenly. Allow any excess batter to drip off.

Step Three: Air Fry the Tempura

Preheat your air fryer to 350-400°F. Transfer the vegetables to the air fryer basket in a single layer, ensuring they are not overcrowded. Set the cooking time for 7-10 minutes, and remove them when they achieve a golden brown color.

Serving Suggestions

Serve your Air Fryer Tempura Vegetables with a sprinkle of salt or a side of soy sauce and sliced green onions. You can also get creative with various dipping sauces, such as sesame oil, teriyaki sauce, or honey garlic sauce. Enjoy your crispy, homemade treat!

Air fryer shrimp tempura

Ingredients:

• 1 pound fresh jumbo shrimp
• 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour, divided
• 2 egg whites or 1 large egg, beaten
• Cornstarch
• Salt
• Cooking oil spray

Optional:

• Ice-cold water
• Japanese mayonnaise

Instructions:

Step One: Prepare the shrimp by deveining them and removing the shell up to the tail.

Step Two: Make 4-5 small notches on the “belly” of each shrimp and stretch them out. Pat them dry with paper towels.

Step Three: In a bowl, whisk together a ½ cup of the flour, ice-cold water, and egg whites. In a second bowl, add the remaining flour.

Step Four: Place cornstarch and salt in a plastic zipper bag. Add the shrimp and toss well to coat.

Step Five: Preheat the air fryer to 370 degrees F. Spray the inner basket generously with cooking oil spray.

Step Six: Dip the shrimp, one at a time, in the wet flour batter, then dredge them through the dry flour to lightly coat them. Place them on a clean plate or parchment-lined baking sheet.

Step Seven: Working in batches, set the shrimp in the basket in a single, uncrowded layer. Spray them well with cooking oil spray, then air fry for 7-8 minutes, until lightly golden.

Step Eight: Repeat until all the shrimp have been cooked.

Tips:

• For the best results, make sure the water you're using in the batter is ice cold. This slows down the gluten formation process, making the batter light and puffy.
• It's important not to overcrowd the basket. This ensures the hot air can circulate properly to fry the batter on each shrimp.
• While the first batch of shrimp is in the air fryer, continue battering the second batch so it's ready to go in as soon as the first batch is done.
• To reheat, preheat the air fryer to 370 degrees F. Lay the leftover tempura shrimp in the air fryer basket in a single layer and cook for 3-5 minutes.

The best vegetables for air fryer tempura

Air fryer tempura is a delicious and healthy alternative to deep-fried tempura. You can use a variety of vegetables to make tempura in an air fryer, and the results will be a tasty batch of crispy tempura without the added oil used in deep frying.

• Broccoli
• Mushrooms
• Bell peppers
• Lotus roots
• Sweet potatoes
• Cauliflower
• Zucchini
• Squash

You can also use green beans, asparagus, onions, avocados, and more. The key is to cut your vegetables into small, evenly sized pieces to ensure even cooking.

When preparing your vegetables for air fryer tempura, it is important to dry them thoroughly with a kitchen towel or paper towels. This will help ensure a crispy tempura coating. You can also season your vegetables with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, or fresh herbs to enhance the flavour.

Now, let's look at the step-by-step process for making air fryer tempura vegetables:

Step One: Prepare the Wet Batter

To prepare the wet batter, start by cutting your chosen vegetables into small, evenly sized pieces. Use a paper towel to dry the vegetables thoroughly. In a shallow dish, mix together the dry ingredients: flour, salt, and black pepper. In a separate large bowl, whisk together the eggs and water.

Step Two: Prepare the Vegetables

Dip the vegetables into the flour mixture, then into the egg mixture, and finally into the panko mixture to coat them evenly. Allow any excess batter to drip off.

Step Three: Air Fry the Tempura

Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees F for 3-5 minutes. Transfer the vegetables to the air fryer basket in a single layer, making sure they are not overcrowded. Set the cooking time for 8-10 minutes, and remove them when they are golden brown.

Serve your air fryer tempura vegetables with a sprinkle of salt, a soy sauce dipping sauce, and sliced green onions. Enjoy!

How to make the tempura batter

Making tempura batter is a fairly simple process, but there are some tricks to achieving the perfect light and crispy texture.

The basic ingredients for tempura batter are flour, egg, and ice-cold water. You can use all-purpose flour, or try gluten-free, rice flour, or cake flour. The egg acts as a binder, so you can also use flax eggs as a substitute. If you want to make your batter without eggs, you can try using just the flour and cold water.

Some recipes suggest adding baking powder, pepper, or cornstarch to the mix. For an even lighter batter, you can replace some of the flour with potato starch. The carbonated water and vodka can also help to create a bubblier texture and reduce moisture.

When making the batter, it's important not to overmix as this can make the batter thicker and affect the texture of your tempura. It's also best to use the batter straight away, rather than letting it sit.

How to store air-fried tempura

Air-fried tempura can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days or in the freezer for up to three months.

Before storing, it is important to let the tempura cool completely. When storing in the refrigerator, transfer the cooled tempura to an airtight container. If you plan to freeze the tempura, first let it cool completely, then transfer it to a freezer-safe bag or container.

To reheat frozen tempura, let it thaw, and then place it in the air fryer for a few minutes.

It is worth noting that fried food can become soggy and soft when stored, losing its signature crunchy, crispy exterior. To prevent this, ensure that your tempura is well-drained before storing. You can place the food on a rack straight out of the hot oil, or use an oven or toaster oven to encourage the oil to seep out.

Frequently asked questions