Tempura prawns

Method

• step 1

  Peel the prawns, carefully leaving the tail end intact.

  

• step 2

  Butterfly by slitting down the back of each prawn.

  

• step 3

  Open out and remove the black thread. Pat the prawns completely dry on kitchen paper. Mix all the dipping sauce ingredients together. Fill a wok or pan no more than a third full with oil and heat it.

  

• step 4

  Meanwhile, pour the soda water into a bowl.

  

• step 5

  Add the flours and baking powder gradually and lightly mix until just combined (a little lumpiness is fine).

  

• step 6

  Test the heat of the oil by dropping in a piece of bread – if it sizzles and floats to the top, the oil is hot enough. Dip the prawns in the batter.

  

• step 7

  Lower carefully into the oil in batches of three or four. Don’t overcrowd the pan. Fry for 2-3 minutes until very pale golden.

  

• step 8

  Remove from the pan with a slotted spoon or wire spider and drain on kitchen paper. Serve straightaway with the dipping sauce.