I always stock up dates in my refrigerator. I eat them just like that or sprinkle them on my cereal, couscous and often make my favorite dates cake in caramel sauce, the yummiest cake of all. So, this time I wanted to try something different with my dates and I did. I was reminded of tempuras and so tried making dates tempura. The dates were coated with the batter and gave them a deep fry, it came out perfectly crispy and yummy. Dates itself is sweet and soft, when deep fried it got a caramelized taste which enhanced the taste of the dates remarkably. In no time you get to enjoy dates tempura and this is going to be the favorite snack of everyone from here onward.

Dates Tempura

Ingredients:

• Dates- 20 no’s
• All-purpose flour or Maida- 6 tbsp
• Baking soda- 2 pinches
• Salt- a pinch
• Sugar- 1 1/2 tbsp
• Water- 2-3 tbsp, just enough to make a thick batter
• Vegetable oil- for frying

Preparation:

• Heat oil in a non-stick frying pan.
• Combine all purpose flour, baking soda, salt and sugar in a bowl.

• Add water to the flour mix and make into a thick batter.

• Put the dates into the batter, coat it evenly with the batter.
• Fry the dates coated in batter until both sides turn golden in color.

• Transfer the dates tempura on to a paper towel.
• Just like me, you will also be tempted to taste it while it’s hot.

Tips:

• If the batter is watery, add more of the all purpose flour and make it thick, you want the dates to be covered with the batter.
• If you want you could also add 1 egg to the batter.

One batter, two veggies and you get to devour two crunchy deep fried appetizer…

Onion rings and tempuras are my favorite deep fried appetizers. I had the best onion rings at Clementine’s restaurant located in downtown South haven, MI. We had been a frequent visitor to South Haven during summer and used to stop at this restaurant just to taste their homemade onion rings. Since then I wanted to try onion rings in my kitchen and it took a while for me to make this.

Recently I had scallion tempuras in a restaurant and that was my inspiration to try tempuras with scallions.

I used the same batter to make onion rings and scallion tempuras. They came out crunchy and puffed up.

Onion Rings and Scallion Tempuras:

Ingredients:

For making batter:

• Flour- 1 1/4 cups
• Cornstarch- 1/3 cup
• Chilly powder- 1tsp
• Baking powder- 1 tbsp
• Salt- 1 tsp
• Ice water- 1 cup + 2 tbsp

• Scallions or green onions, cut 3 inches long- 4 stalks

• Onion, cut into 1/4 inch thick rings- 2
• Vegetable oil- for frying

Preparation:

• In a large bowl of cold water, soak the onions for 15 minutes. Drain on paper towels.

• Fill in a large bowl, halfway with ice.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, salt and chilly powder.

• Add the ice water and stir until a thin batter forms.

• Place the batter bowl inside the bowl of ice.
• In a deep fryer or skillet, heat enough oil for frying.
• Using tongs, dip the scallions and onion rings in the batter, letting the excess drip off.

• Drop the rings and scallions in batches into the oil and deep fry until golden.

• Using a slotted spoon, transfer the rings and scallions to a paper towel.

• Serve the onion rings and scallion tempuras with tomato ketchup.