Ingredients

  • 1 egg yolk
  • 1 cup ice water
  • 1 cup rice flour
  • 1/2 cup mirin or sake
  • 1/2 cup Tamari soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1/4 cup grated daikon radish
  • 1 teaspoon ginger, grated
  • Vegetable oil, for frying
  • 1 tablespoons sesame oil, for flavoring frying oil
  • 1 cup flour, for dusting
  • 1/2 pound large shrimp, cleaned, tails on
  • 1/2 pound scallops
  • 1 cup broccoli florets
  • 1 sweet potato, peeled and sliced 1/4-inch thick
  • 2 carrots, peeled and sliced diagonally in strips
  • 4 ounces Chinese green beans, ends trimmed
  • 4 ounces mushrooms
  • 5 stalks asparagus, ends trimmed
  • 1 red bell pepper, cut in strips
  • 2 Japanese eggplants, halved and cut into 1/4-inch slices

Method

  • In a mixing bowl, lightly beat egg yolk and pour in ice water, slightly mix.
  • Add the flour all at once, stroke a few times with a fork just until ingredients are loosely combined.
  • The batter should be somewhat lumpy.
  • Yield: 4 servings
  • In a small saucepan over low-medium heat, combine mirin, soy sauce and sugar.
  • Cook for 3 to 5 minutes until sugar dissolves.
  • Transfer to a bowl, add grated radish and ginger just before serving.
  • Yield: 1 cup
  • Heat about 2 inches of vegetable oil to 375 degrees F in a wok or deep-fryer.
  • Flavor with sesame oil.
  • Dry the vegetables well.
  • Dust shrimp and vegetables in flour to soak up remaining moisture, shake off excess.
  • Dip the shrimp and vegetables into the batter one by one.
  • Drop 6 pieces at a time in hot oil.
  • Do not overcrowd the pan.
  • Fry until golden brown, turning once, about 3 minutes.
  • To keep the oil clean, skim the small bits of batter that float in the oil between batches.
  • Remove the fried pieces from the oil and drain on a paper towel for a few seconds.
  • Serve with dipping sauce.
  • Yield: 8 servings