Monday 10 January 2011

Meat-Free Monday: Carrot & Beetroot Tempura


I have had this recipe, for beetroot and carrot tempura, book-marked since September. I was slightly baffled as to why they called it "A light summery starter" when it is during the winter that my veg box is besieged by carrots and beets and I am scratching around desperately for things to do with them.

This was a very good use for them! The tempura batter is really excellent, giving a thin, light coating and the vegetables inside cooked to a perfect tender finish.

Instead of the creme fraiche dipping sauce, I made a dip of 2% fat Greek-style yoghurt (yes - still from my generous supply from TOTAL!) thinned with a little water, with a clove of garlic, some dried dill and some drips of my completely insane home-made chilli sauce.

It may be deep-fried, but this was still a lighter, fresher dish than a lot of the winter foods we've been eating, and it made a perfect finger-food supper in front of The Big Lebowski.

8 comments:

kat said...

Yum I love tempura but have never had it with this kind of dipping sauce, a nice change up

Simona said...

Very interesting: I like the contrast of textures in the tempura.

Bettina Douglas said...

I'm also a fan of vegetable tempura. Carrot & beetroot with yoghurt dipping sauce sounds delicious.

I think that for Delia creme fraiche = summer. It is a favorite summer ingredient.

mscrankypants said...

I've never had tempura beetroot -- sounds delicious.

hungryandfrozen said...

I absolutely love good tempura, although I'm a bit wary of home deep frying (just because our kitchen always ends up smelling like oil and I can never keep it at the right temperature and someone always gets burned!!) Tempura beetroot sounds fantastic.

Alicia Foodycat said...

Kat - it did make a nice change from the lemony/vinegar based sauces I would usually make.

Simona - I was impressed by how well the vegetables cooked.

Mother - Delia can clear a supermarket of creme fraiche very easily.

Cranky - it was good.

High Plains Drifter said...

love the smiley face in the yogurt sauce!

Alicia Foodycat said...

Laura - since I got a digital thermometer I have had deep frying under control!

HPD - the smiley face was unintentional! I only realised when I posted the picture, but I thought it was cute.

LinkWithin

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...