Japanese Tempura Salad With Ginkgo Nuts Food

JAPANESE TEMPURA

Steps:

• Wash and chop your fresh vegetables into 1/4 inch thick slices (they look prettier if you cut them at an angle.) Potatoes, cabbage, onions and carrots should be shredded, not sliced. Set aside.
• Slice the fish into pieces about 1/4" x 1" x 2", set aside.
• Pour about 1 1/2 to 2 inches of oil into a wide pot or frying pan, heat on medium.
• Meanwhile, mix flour, salt and enough water to form a thin batter. (The consistency should be between that of pancakes and crepes.).
• Once the oil is warm enough, toss a handful of veggies into the batter. Fish out individual pieces (unless it's shredded, then pull out palm sized clumps) with chopsticks (or tongs) making sure they are thoroughly coated. Carefully drop into the oil. Turn after a minute or two, depending on what you are cooking, to brown both sides. They are done when a chopstick can easily pierce through to the other side.
• Set aside onto a serving plate; continue to coat and fry the remaining veggies and then the fish. Serve hot with tempura sauce.

JAPANESE TEMPURA SALAD WITH GINKGO NUTS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the shelled and deveined shrimp, baby corn, ginkgo nuts, sugar peas, mushrooms and red onion. Cover with plastic film and refrigerate for no longer than 1 hour. Salad should be only slightly cooler than room temperature. In a small bowl, combine mirin or sherry, soy sauce, ginger, sugar and salt. Mix well, pour over salad and toss lightly. Combine shredded spinach and cilantro, and divide among 6 salad plates. Top with salad equally divided.

JAPANESE TAKE-OUT TEMPURA WITH DIPPING SAUCE

Steps:

• To make the dipping sauce: Bring 1 cup of water to a boil and add the dashi. Boil for 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and add the remaining ingredients. Let cool and serve at room temperature.
• In a 2-3 quart pot set over medium-high heat, heat 2 inches of oil to 360º.
• To make the batter: Combine the egg and salt in a medium bowl and beat with a fork until mixed. Add the club soda and stir gently to mix. Sift the flour and cornstarch into the egg mixture and, using chopsticks or the handle of a wooden spoon, stir briefly to mix. Do not overmix. There will be lumps. It should be the consistency of heavy cream.
• To fry the tempura: Working with one type of food at a time, dip the vegetables, shrimp, or scallops in the batter one at a time, letting the excess batter fall back into the bowl. Carefully slide them into the hot oil. Work fast and fry no more than 6 or 7 pieces at a time to prevent the oil from plunging in temperature.
• Turn the pieces when they are slightly golden on the bottom, about 1 minute. Fry on the second side for about 30 seconds to 1 minute and carefully remove with a spider (an Asian-style slotted spoon) or slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.
• Here are some approximate frying times:.
• Zucchini = 1 1/2 minutes.
• Yellow squash = 1 1/2 minutes.
• Sweet potato = 2 minutes.
• Broccoli florets = 1 1/2 minutes.
• Small red onion = 1 1/2 minutes.
• Small mushrooms = 1 1/2 minutes.
• Shrimp = 1 1/2 to 2 minutes.
• Scallops = 1 1/2 to 2 minutes.
• Return the oil to 360º and carefully add another 6 or 7 pieces of tempura.
• Fry the remaining ingredients in the same manner.
• Serve the tempura hot with the dipping sauce, or with salt and freshly squeezed lemon. Grated daikon should be served alongside the fried vegetables. It can be added to the dipping sauce or on top of the vegetables.
• Variation: Other vegetables to try are carrots, asparagus, and green beans. Cook them first in boiling water for about 1 minute, then put them in an ice bath to stop the cooking. Line up 4 or 5 carrots, asparagus, or green beans, side by side, and run a wooden skewer through them to connect. Dip them in the batter and fry them, then remove the skewer after frying. Other seafood possibilities include cod, crab and squid.
• Make ahead: The dipping sauce can be kept for up to 1 week in the refrigerator.

JAPANESE BASIC TEMPURA SAUCE

Steps:

• Put dashi, mirin, soy sauce, and sugar in a sauce pan and mix well.
• Bring to a boil on medium heat.
• Stop the heat and let it cool.
• Serve into individual small bowls.
• Add grated daikon.