Tempting Tempura (Vegetarian and Seafood)

My son had been asking me all day today for Tempura. He tells me that he's dying to eat it. I thought about it and agreed that I too would like some. I went through the refrigerator to see what vegetables needed to get eaten. Tempura can be made from any vegetables or herbs you have available around the house. My family like Shrimps and I was lucky to still have half of a 2 pound bag in the freezer from last week's meal.

I was told that Shiso make excellent tempuras. So I went out to the garden and picked a few red and green Shiso. Then I saw some nasturtium flowers growing close by and thought, "Ah! This will also make excellent tempuras."

Batter ingredients: There is no measuring here.
All purpose flours
Eggs
Water
Bread crumbs--optional.
Salt & Pepper
Shrimps
(You can use any vegetables or herb you like. These are left over vegetables that we had in the fridge.)

Here are the steps:
Make sure you have 3 bowls, eggs, flours, and bread crumbs in each bowl.
1. Cut up the shrimps half way and fold it up so that it is long like "Step 1" picture. This is to get more coating on the shrimps and to help it cook faster.

2. Beat the eggs and add about 1TBS water to loosen the egg. For easier coating.
3. Add a little salt and pepper to the flours. Dip the shrimp into the flower one at a time and gently coat.
4. Lastly transfer to the bread crumb bowl and coat. Then fry in a sauce pan.

On med-heat cook the shrimps. Done!

For the Vegetables I skip the bread crumb steps. Just dip them into the egg mixture, coat with flours, and fry.

With the flowers and this should be the process for any flowers you use. Dip gently into the egg, then coat with flours, hold by the stem and dip the crown into the hot oil. Fry the flowers for only a few seconds. Done!
I held the stem with my fingers but you can use a tong or chop sticks. I just like to live dangerously. *wink*

Next we have the Shiso leaves. Hold the stem of the leaves and swipe the leaves on the egg mixture a few times. Then swipe on the flours, this gives it a thin coating and fry.

Doesn't this look mouth watering? Serve with Frugal Lee's Tempura sauce.

Frugal Lee's Tempura sauce:
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/8 cup water
1/4 cup Mirin--or 1/8 cup sugar

Servings: 4 Adults, 2 Children
Time: 50 mins. --That's because I made a lot. For a single serving I'd say less than 30 min?
Cost: ~$7.00 (This meal cost more because of the shrimp. I bought a 2lb bag for $13 and used half.)