master-cooks | The Expert Approved Dipping Sauce You Need To Try With Tempura

Tempura, a beloved Japanese dish known for its light and crispy texture, is often enjoyed with a dipping sauce that enhances its flavors without overpowering its delicate batter. A traditional and expert-approved dipping sauce for tempura is tentsuyu. This sauce is a harmonious blend of dashi, soy sauce, and mirin, offering a perfect balance of umami, saltiness, and sweetness that complements the tempura's subtle taste. Dashi, a Japanese stock made from kombu (seaweed) and bonito flakes, provides a rich, savory base that elevates the dish. Soy sauce adds depth and a slightly salty note, while mirin, a sweet rice wine, introduces a hint of sweetness and a glossy finish to the sauce. To prepare tentsuyu, combine equal parts of dashi, soy sauce, and mirin in a saucepan and gently heat until the mixture is warm, allowing the flavors to meld together. For an added layer of complexity, some variations include grated daikon radish or ginger, which imparts a refreshing and slightly spicy kick. This classic dipping sauce not only complements the tempura but also highlights the artistry and simplicity of Japanese cuisine, making it a must-try accompaniment for anyone seeking an authentic tempura experience.

Tentsuyu dipping sauce has three core ingredients

Tentsuyu, referred to as tempura soy sauce by restaurant owner Billy Wang, is the classic dipping sauce for a variety of tempura-battered meats and vegetables. This sauce is quite straightforward, typically made from soy sauce, mirin (a sweet Japanese cooking wine made from rice that can even enhance the flavor of scrambled eggs), and dashi (a traditional Japanese soup stock). The combination of savory, salty, sweet, and umami flavors pairs perfectly with deep-fried shrimp, carrots, lotus roots, and virtually any tempura-fried item.

"The quintessential dipping sauce is tempura soy sauce," Wang explains, "which is created by blending soy sauce, mirin, and soup stock in a ratio of 1:1:4, with grated daikon radish added for an extra kick." While you can adjust the ratios to suit your preferences, the majority of the sauce is based on dashi stock rather than soy sauce. Dashi is typically made from a flavorful Japanese powder that enhances the taste of any dish. If you don’t have dashi on hand, vegetable or fish stock can serve as a substitute.

Not only can you adjust the ratios in tentsuyu, but you can also spice it up and personalize the sauce. Some people incorporate bonito flakes, sugar, or other ingredients. "You can also mix in yuzu paste or chili salt for added depth," Wang suggests. Experimenting with this dipping sauce is a great excuse to prepare another round of tempura shrimp and vegetables.

The Expert-Approved Dipping Sauce You Need To Try With Tempura

Tentsuyu dipping sauce has three core ingredients

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