Why it works: Egg and flour are a kitchen classic. They rank in the top 15% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 106,462 recipes. Both carry isobutyraldehyde, which smells malty, green. The science ↓
Japanese Very Light Tempura Batter
Ingredients
Directions
Break the egg into a bowl containing the iced water and whisk until frothy.
Add baking soda and flour.
Beat until the flour is just mixed in. Do not over beat.
Batter should be so thin that the merest wisp clings to the vegetables dipped in it.
If it seems too thick, add a little more iced water, and keep the batter cold.
Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)
Counts 2 of 3 ingredients. The other 1 aren't in our nutrition table and add nothing above, so the real totals are higher.
What these numbers assume: 2 portions
| Ingredient | Portion assumed | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Flour | 1 cup (125g) all-purpose | 455 |
| Egg | 1 large egg (50g) | 78 |
| Water | not in our table | 0 |
One typical portion per ingredient; the recipe's quantities are not counted. A rough guide only, not for medical or dietary planning.
Steps grouped into stages for easier reading; the method is the source's own.
Explore the science
The flavor team
The pairs that carry this dish. Each one is judged two ways: how much their aromas overlap, and how often cooks already put them together.
-
Egg + flourtop 15% of all pairsSmell alikelowCooked together106,462 recipes
Shared aroma: isobutyraldehyde (malty, green).
Egg and flour barely smell alike, yet cooks put them together in 106,462 recipes: they work on texture and structure more than aroma.
Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs
What each ingredient does
- Egg
- Binds the batter and adds richness and structure as it sets in the hot oil.
- All-purpose flour or tempura flour
- Forms the coating structure that becomes crisp when fried.
- Iced water
- Keeps the batter cold and thin, so it fries light rather than heavy and doughy.
- Baking soda
- Releases gas that lightens the batter and helps it puff and crisp.
The step that matters
Beat only until the flour is just mixed in. Overmixing develops gluten in the flour, making the batter tough and heavy instead of light and crisp. Lumps are acceptable and preferred.
“What each ingredient does” and “The step that matters” were written by Claude from this recipe’s own method and reviewed in samples by CompKitchen.
You might also like
White Cake431 recipes
Pound Cake373 recipes
Orange Bundt Cake349 recipes
Spice Cake344 recipesThe free Flavor Lab newsletter: one surprising pairing a week and the molecular reason it works, in 60 seconds. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Prefer an account? Create a free account to save pairings and unlock the full chemistry.