If you love eating Japanese food, you have probably seen this dish in your local restaurants’ menus, so you might be wondering – “What is shrimp tempura roll?”. We will give you all the answers.
Shrimp tempura roll is a sushi dish. The main ingredient is the tempura shrimp which is raw shrimp dipped in batter and deep-fried in oil. Other main ingredients are cucumber and avocado, but as with any sushi dish, there is a lot of room for experimentation, and many tasty garnishes and sauces can be added.
Shrimp Tempura Roll Is a Traditional Japanese Variation of the Sushi Dish That Is Quite Popular in the Western World
Shrimp tempura roll is unique in the sense that its main ingredient is deep-fried. The shrimp is coated with simple batter and deep-fried. It is prepared and served the same as any sushi roll. Taking into consideration the love of the Western world for deep-fried food in general, shrimp tempura has become a popular choice in Japanese restaurants across the USA.
You Can Easily Make Shrimp Tempura at Home
There is no denying that Japanese restaurants can be pricey, so if you have the time and desire, shrimp tempura can easily be made at home using store-bought ingredients. Here is what is needed:
- Shrimp,
- Sushi rice,
- Rice vinegar,
- Water,
- Flour,
- Egg yolks,
- Avocado,
- Cucumber,
- Nori,
- Tobiko (flying fish roe).
Nowadays, these ingredients can be found in any well-equipped supermarket, but if you know an Asian store, be sure to go there as there will be authentic ingredients imported from Japan. Here is how to make this delicious sushi dish.
| Cook the rice | Ideally, the rice should be cooked in a rice cooker, but a pot will do just as fine. There are many different sushi rice available in supermarkets, and the difference will be indicated on the packaging. Nonetheless, you have to wash it and boil it for around fifteen minutes. Afterward, add rice vinegar according to your taste. |
| Prepare the shrimp | There are two options. You can either buy frozen shrimp already coated in batter or fresh shrimp and prepare the batter yourself. Either way, you have to fill a pot with oil and heat it up for deep-frying. Fresh shrimp is always a better option, but be sure that it is peeled. If not, no worries – peeling the shell is pretty simple. You can do it just with your hands. Simply tear the shell with your fingers, and peel it off. |
| Prepare the batter | There are also two options for the batter. You can either buy a store-bought mix or make it yourself. Either way is simple, and you just need a bowl where you can mix all the ingredients together. Just add a cup of flour and two egg yolks into the water, and stir until everything has completely blended together. |
| Deep fry the shrimp | Once your batter is ready and the oil is heated, pick up a shrimp, coat it thoroughly in batter and dip it into the oil. Each shrimp should not be deep-fried for more than three minutes. |
| Roll into sushi | After the cooking is done, it is time to make sushi rolls. Take your sushi mat, and first spread the nori seaweed, and then add rice. Avocados and cucumbers should be sliced into long thin strips. The shrimp should be placed in the middle and the other two ingredients on the sides. Roll everything up, and slice using your favorite sushi knife. Finally, sprinkle the slices with tobiko (flying fish roe). |
As with all sushi and sashimi delicacies, tempura can also be served with various dippings. The most popular ones are soy and yum yum sauce. Also, if you haven’t used all the shrimp tempura for sushi rolls, they can be a great addition to other Japanese dishes. People like to add shrimp tempura to miso and udon soups, and you can even experiment with various ramen dishes. However, it is recommended for any leftovers not to stay in a refrigeration unit for more than two days, and it is not advisable to freeze them as they lose their flavor and texture.
If You Love Sushi Dishes, Definitely Try Shrimp Tempura Roll
We are all used to raw fish as the main ingredient of sushi, but shrimp tempura is certainly an interesting variation. If you are in a restaurant, make sure to order shrimp tempura rolls, not just shrimp tempura, since, for the latter, you will just get deep-fried pieces of shrimp, but consider also making at home, as it won’t take more than half an hour.