Is Vegetable Tempura Vegan?
Vegetable tempura is a popular Japanese dish made of thinly sliced vegetables that are battered and deep-fried. It’s often served with dipping sauces and/or eaten with rice. The light, crunchy texture and comforting warmth of tempura make it a favorite amongst vegans, but is it actually vegan?
What’s in a Typical Vegetable Tempura?
A typical vegetable tempura dish contains vegetables such as sweet potatoes, onions, mushrooms, bell peppers, eggplant, and broccoli. These vegetables are usually cut into thin slices and then battered with a mixture of flour, cornstarch, salt, and water. The batter is then deep-fried in vegetable oil until crispy. Tempura is usually served with dipping sauces such as soy sauce, ginger, and garlic.
Is Vegetable Tempura Vegan?
Yes! Vegetable tempura is typically considered to be vegan as long as the ingredients are vegan-friendly and no animal products are used. The batter is usually made with just flour, cornstarch, salt, and water and it’s fried in vegetable oil, making it entirely vegan-friendly.
However, it’s important to note that some restaurants may use egg in their tempura batter, so it’s always best to double-check with your server before ordering it.
What Other Vegan Tempura Dishes Are There?
Vegetable tempura is probably the most well-known vegan tempura dish. However, there are a few other vegan variations of the dish that are worth trying, such as:
- Sweet Potato Tempura: The batter for this dish is usually made with just sweet potato starch and water. It’s deep-fried until golden brown and served with a creamy dipping sauce.
- Mushroom Tempura: This variation consists of thinly sliced mushrooms that are battered in a light tempura batter and deep-fried. It’s usually served with a savory dipping sauce.
- Tofu Tempura: Tofu tempura is made with chunks of extra-firm tofu that are battered and fried. It’s often served with a sweet-and-sour sauce or a vegan-friendly teriyaki sauce.
- Fruit Tempura: This vegan-friendly dish consists of thin slices of fruit (such as apples and bananas) that are battered and deep-fried. It’s usually served with a sweet-and-sour dipping sauce.
Conclusion
Vegetable tempura is typically considered to be vegan, as long as the ingredients used are vegan-friendly and no animal products have been used. There are also several other vegan tempura dishes, such as sweet potato tempura, mushroom tempura, tofu tempura, and fruit tempura, that are worth trying.
