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myraandjim · ‎17-12-2014

How do you all make it? I have done it before using S.R. flour, cornflour, baking powder and iced fizzy water. Sometimes it comes out well, others it is a disaster - does anyone have a foolproof method they can recommend please?

ed_blackadder_1 · ‎17-12-2014

Sorry Myra my one and only attempt ended in disaster so I can't help but I will read with interest any replies.

aernethril · ‎17-12-2014

I did a google search and there are different recipes online but all more or less have the basic ingredients.

It may come down to how late in the cooking process that you make it - ie just before you're ready to dip and fry. Are the portions you are trying to fry, dry before dipping?

What oil are you using and has it been used for other frying before? Do you have it high enough? I know from years of retail experience that even the best oil will get 'tired' because it does absorb some of the water content from the food tht is placed in it.

Here are some links which you may find give a few other handy hints.

http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/451626/tempura-batter

http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/prawntempura_85883 (with beer)

http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Tempura

http://japanesefood.about.com/od/tempura/r/tempurabatter.htm

http://www.saveur.com/article/Techniques/How-To-Make-Tempura-Batter

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My body is an old warehouse full of declining storage, my mind is a dusty old reference library, strictly for members and archaeologists only

lhasa.two · ‎17-12-2014

You need to use rice flour as it's much finer and lighter than SR.

Don't make it in advance like you might do for a batter, it needs to be made and used instantly. Use a high temp oil like veg or rapeseed. Cold bowl and iced water.

myraandjim · ‎18-12-2014

thank you all for the replies. I use either **bleep** seed oil or vegetable oil but am wondering if I don't always get it hot enough. I am frying baby squid whole, and when the batter works they are lovely as they are caught locally and frozen immediately. I usually coat them with flour and then the batter, must admit though that I have been making the batter in advance so will try using it immediately and report back after Christmas.

myraandjim · ‎18-12-2014

Oh dear, I used a naughty word for one of the oils I use and got bleeped!!!! It's the seed that grows locally and has bright yellow flowers on the plants.