Crispy Tempura Shrimp Rice Bowl (Tendon)

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Enjoy a perfect balance of textures with this classic Japanese Tendon. Crispy, golden-fried tempura shrimp are served over steaming rice and drizzled with a savory, sweet sauce.

↓ The ingredients ↓ The steps

Tendon, short for tempura donburi, is a beloved Japanese comfort dish that elevates simple ingredients through the art of perfectly light, crispy frying. This bowl combines juicy shrimp encased in airy tempura batter with a rich, savory-sweet tendon sauce and creamy accents for a satisfying meal. It is a quintessential example of Japanese home-style cooking that emphasizes texture and harmony in every bite.

A bowl of crispy tempura shrimp served over white rice, garnished with green onions, seaweed, and bonito flakes.
A bowl of crispy tempura shrimp served over white rice, garnished with green onions, seaweed, and bonito flakes.
Prep20 mins
Cook15 mins
Total35 mins
Yield1 bowl
DifficultyMedium
Calories650 kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. 1Devein and clean the shrimp
    A close-up of a hand using a knife to carefully devein a raw shrimp on a white cutting board.

    Place the shrimp on a cutting board. Using a small knife, make an incision along the back of the shrimp to remove the vein. Ensure the shrimp is cleaned thoroughly under running water before proceeding.

    Tip: Removing the vein not only improves the appearance but also ensures a cleaner taste for your tempura.
  2. 2Make incisions for stretching
    Knife making small, precise cuts along the underside of the raw shrimp.

    Carefully make three small incisions along the underside (belly) of the shrimp. This step is crucial as it prevents the shrimp from curling up during the frying process.

    Tip: Be gentle with the knife to avoid cutting all the way through the shrimp meat.
  3. 3Stretch the shrimp
    Hands stretching a prepared shrimp to elongate it before battering.

    Using both hands, gently press and stretch the shrimp meat outward. This technique elongates the shrimp, giving it a better shape for the Tempura Shrimp Rice Bowl.

    Tip: Use firm but steady pressure so the shrimp remains intact while lengthening.
  4. 4Dip in tempura batter
    Shrimp being coated in a smooth, light-colored tempura batter.

    Submerge the prepared shrimp into the tempura batter, ensuring it is evenly coated. Lift the shrimp and allow any excess batter to drip off before frying.

    Tip: Keep your batter cold to ensure an extra crispy, light texture after frying.
  5. 5Fry the shrimp
    Battered shrimp frying in a pot of hot oil, showing bubbling batter.

    Carefully place the battered shrimp into a pot of oil heated to approximately 60% heat. Fry the shrimp for about 30 seconds until they turn a light golden color, then remove them promptly to prevent overcooking.

    Tip: Monitor the oil temperature closely; too hot will burn the batter, while too cool will make it greasy.
  6. 6Assemble the rice bowl
    Fried shrimp being placed on a bed of white rice in a bowl, ready for garnishing.

    Arrange the freshly fried tempura shrimp over a bowl of steaming white rice. Drizzle with the homemade sauce and a creamy sauce for added flavor.

    Tip: Garnish with chopped green onions, seaweed strips, and bonito flakes just before serving to maintain their texture.
  7. 7Drizzle with homemade sauce
    A close-up shot of dark homemade sauce being poured from a squeeze bottle onto crispy fried shrimp over a rice bowl.

    Take the fried shrimp arranged over the bowl of rice and drizzle it generously with the homemade sauce. This ensures every piece of crispy shrimp is coated in flavor.

    Tip: Drizzle in a circular motion to ensure even coverage across all the shrimp.

Storage Instructions

Short term
1 day
Best enjoyed immediately as texture will soften

Burn It Off

Running
~60 minutes at a moderate pace (~10 km/h).
Zumba
~85 minutes of high-energy dancing.
Brisk Walking
~2 hours of steady activity (~5 km/h).

Frequently Asked Questions

Making the small precise incisions along the underside of the shrimp belly is the most effective way to cut the muscle fibers and keep the shrimp straight during the frying process
While you can make a simple batter with all purpose flour egg and cold water a commercial tempura mix is formulated to stay light and crispy much longer than a standard homemade batter
The creamy sauce is a modern addition that adds a nice richness and contrast to the savory tendon sauce but it is completely optional and can be omitted if you prefer a more traditional flavor profile
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