tempura
Tempura refers to a Japanese dish consisting of seafood, vegetables, or meat that has been coated in a light, airy batter and deep-fried until crisp. The mental image is a golden, lacy crust that shatters when bitten, revealing tender, perfectly steamed ingredients inside. It is a staple of Japanese cuisine, often served with a side of dipping sauce (tentsuyu) mixed with grated daikon radish or ginger. While it originated from Portuguese influence in the 16th century, it has become a quintessential Japanese comfort food found everywhere from high-end specialty restaurants to casual home kitchens.
In conversation
Planning dinner
Do you want to grab some tempura for dinner?
Do you want to grab some tempura for dinner?
That sounds great, I'm craving some crispy shrimp.
That sounds great, I'm craving some crispy shrimp.
Used to express a desire for a specific type of food.
At a restaurant
The tempura set comes with seasonal vegetables and prawns.
The tempura set comes with seasonal vegetables and prawns.
Perfect, and do you have extra dipping sauce?
Perfect, and do you have extra dipping sauce?
Common phrasing when ordering a meal set.
Examples
I ordered a plate of vegetable tempura.
I ordered a plate of vegetable tempura.
The chef mastered the art of making the tempura batter light and crispy.
The chef mastered the art of making the tempura batter light and crispy.
Eating freshly fried tempura immediately after it leaves the oil is essential for the best texture.
Eating freshly fried tempura immediately after it leaves the oil is essential for the best texture.
