Tempura rice bowl (Tendon)is a classic Japanese dish featuring crisp tempura over steamed rice, finished with a sweet-savory sauce. Simple to prepare and perfect for enjoying at home!
Prepare the Vegetables: Cut the eggplants into quarters and score the skin with thin slits. Slice the kabocha into thin pieces. Make a small slit along each shishito pepper to prevent bursting while frying.
Make the Batter: Beat the egg in a bowl. Add cold water and flour and stir gently.
Fry the Tempura: Heat oil in a deep pan to 170°C (340°F). Dip the vegetables into the batter and carefully place them into the hot oil. Fry until crisp, then transfer to a wire rack or paper towels to drain.
Make the Sauce: In a small saucepan, combine soy sauce, mirin, and sugar. Heat gently until the sugar dissolves.
Assemble the Tendon: Serve steamed rice in a bowl and drizzle with some of the tempura sauce. Arrange the tempura on top of the rice and pour a little more sauce over it. Enjoy!
Notes
Don’t mix the batter until it’s smooth. A few lumps are ok! Over-mixing develops gluten, which makes the tempura heavy and chewy.
If you prefer an extra crispy texture, use carbonated water instead of regular water. The bubbles create little air pockets, giving the tempura a light and extra-crispy texture.
Lightly coat the veggies with flour before dipping them into the batter (see image below). This helps the batter stick better and keeps the coating from sliding off when frying.