Description
Chicken Tempura features tender pieces of chicken battered and fried to golden perfection. This crispy, light dish is perfect for dipping in a flavorful tempura sauce, making it a delicious appetizer or main course.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon white pepper
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup cold sparkling water or cold water with ice cubes
- Vegetable oil for frying
- Tempura dipping sauce (store-bought or homemade)
- Chopped green onions (for garnish, optional)
- Sesame seeds (for garnish, optional)
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, salt, and white pepper.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg and cold sparkling water until smooth.
- Pour the egg and water mixture into the dry ingredients, stirring gently to combine. The batter should be lumpy—don’t overmix. If it’s too thick, add a little more water until it reaches the desired consistency.
- Heat vegetable oil in a deep pot or fryer to 350°F (175°C). The oil should be deep enough to submerge the chicken pieces.
- Dip each piece of chicken into the batter, ensuring it’s fully coated, then carefully drop it into the hot oil. Fry the chicken in batches to avoid overcrowding, cooking for 3-4 minutes or until golden and crispy. Remove and drain on a paper towel-lined plate.
- Serve the chicken tempura immediately with tempura dipping sauce on the side for dipping. Garnish with chopped green onions and sesame seeds, if desired.
Notes
- For extra crunch, you can add a small amount of panko breadcrumbs to the batter.
- Feel free to use chicken thighs for juicier meat, or substitute with shrimp or vegetables for variety.
- To make the dipping sauce, combine soy sauce, mirin, and a little dashi stock, and heat until just warmed through.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Main Dish
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Japanese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 pieces
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 13g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 10g
- Cholesterol: 40mg