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The Spruce / Maxwell Cozzi
Nutrition Facts (per serving) | |
---|---|
265 | Calories |
19g | Fat |
21g | Carbs |
4g | Protein |
Nutrition Facts | |
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Servings: 6 to 8 | |
Amount per serving | |
Calories | 265 |
% Daily Value* | |
Total Fat 19g | 25% |
Saturated Fat 2g | 8% |
Cholesterol 23mg | 8% |
Sodium 88mg | 4% |
Total Carbohydrate 21g | 8% |
Dietary Fiber 2g | 8% |
Total Sugars 3g | |
Protein 4g | |
Vitamin C 8mg | 41% |
Calcium 34mg | 3% |
Iron 2mg | 9% |
Potassium 427mg | 9% |
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. |
Kabocha Tempura is an appetizer of very thinly sliced kabocha squash that is dipped in a light batter and deep fried to crisp perfection. It is typically served with salt or a dipping sauce.
Kabocha Tempura is often included in the medley of assorted vegetable and shrimp tempura that is commonly found on the menus of Japanese restaurants. In the fall when kabocha squash is in season, though, kabocha tempura on its own makes for a great appetizer.
"There's something magical about tempura, especially when the batter is made from scratch. This batter coated the kabocha lightly, puffed up when frying, was crispy on the outside and the squash was savory-sweet and tender on the inside. Be sure to finish the tempura with a sprinkling of salt." —Diana Andrews
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Ingredients
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1/2 Japanese kabocha squash
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1 large egg
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3/4 cup all-purpose flour
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1/4 cup potato starch
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1 cup ice-cold water
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Canola or vegetable oil, for frying
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Kosher salt, to taste
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Tempura dipping sauce, for serving, optional
Steps to Make It
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Gather the ingredients.
The Spruce / Maxwell Cozzi
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Wash the kabocha. The easiest way to cut a whole kabocha squash is to slice off the bottom and top first to create a flat surface for stability and easy entry points to cut into the kabocha. Remove seeds and fibrous strands from the inner cavity and discard (or save the seeds for roasting).
The Spruce / Maxwell Cozzi
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Leaving the skin intact, carefully slice 20 to 22 thin pieces of kabocha. Each piece should be about 1/4-inch thick. The thinner the slice, the faster it will cook. Set aside.
The Spruce / Maxwell Cozzi
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In a medium bowl, combine egg, flour, potato starch, and ice cold water. The key to crispy tempura is to ensure that the water is very cold.
The Spruce / Maxwell Cozzi
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Heat about 2-inches of oil in a large skillet or wok to 350 F.
The Spruce / Maxwell Cozzi
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Dip a slice of kabocha squash into tempura batter and place it in the hot oil. Allow each slice to cook until tender, about 3 to 4 minutes total. It's best not to crowd the pan by limiting the number of kabocha slices to 3 to 4 pieces at a time.
The Spruce / Maxwell Cozzi
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Transfer to a rack to drain as the pieces become done. Sprinkle lightly with salt and serve immediately with tempura dipping sauce, if desired.
The Spruce / Maxwell Cozzi
Tip
- When making the tempura, try mixing in the water just before the kabocha slices are dipped in the batter, and the oil is already prepped for frying.
Additional Information
The tempura batter for this recipe is a mixture of potato starch and all purpose flour. The addition of potato starch lightens the batter over other tempura batter recipes that are 100% flour. The key to crisp tempura, however, is the use of ice cold water over room temperature water. I will often add ice cubes to the water and strain them before measuring the water into the tempura batter.
Make sure that the oil for frying is on medium-high heat at a steady 350 F temperature for optimal frying conditions.
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