'Cheats' battered courgette/zucchini?

[Youngerberry Profile]

Last week I made some tempura courgette, using very thin slices, and the whole family loved it. The trouble is, it was a lot of work for not much result, so I'm wondering if there are any shortcuts I could take. If I used thicker slices, I assume they wouldn't cook so thoroughly, so is pre-cooking the slices prior to frying and option? What about shallow frying the slices en-masse in a wide pan, and then pouring the batter on top, to make one big courgette pancake? Any suggestions welcome

[Earthmaiden Profile]

I think anything like that is a labour of love. You probably don't need wafer thin slices but you wouldn't want then too thick. The thing about tempura is the lovely light, thin crispness. If you made a 'pancake' you'd lose that.

What did you fry it in? (I mean pan, deep fat fryer .. etc)

[karadekoolaid Profile]

Shortcuts, in cooking, never provide the same results as completing the process from start to finish. In this case, you were making tempura vegetables which , although it does not have many steps to the recipe, requires some details which might be time-consuming. It´s the details which count.
If you pre-cooked the courgettes you would have tempura mush, unfortunately.

[jeral Profile]

Youngerberry, my suggested cheat would be to do a deal with the family, that if they want them, they must do the peeling and slicing and you'll stand doing the frying If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

The thicker the item, the thicker the batter needed, so both cook in the same time. But then it wouldn't be light crisp tempura any more as water comes out of most veg if thicker.

There's no shortcut for frying quicker really as the oil cools too quickly if adding a lot of cold items at once, plus it needs more oil if using a bigger pan and also has the risk of instantly bubbling up and over. A "spider" (almost flat big mesh spoon) is handy, assuming it fits the pan easily.
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There's a recipe here for flaky scallion pancakes that could be subbed with drained/blotted courgette.
https://tenderflake.ca/recipe/chinese-scallion-pancakes
Even with bought pastry, it wouldn't be quicker than tempura'ing though.

[scullion Profile]

i had 'tempura' at a hotel restaurant, some years back. the veg was too big and the batter was thick and claggy. i'm not sure the chef had ever eaten it done properly before - it didn't seem like it.
a very unpleasant experience for something that should be light and crisp.

[Youngerberry Profile]

If you pre-cooked the courgettes you would have tempura mush, unfortunately.

Unfortunately I only saw your reply after I attempted to pre-cook them...and they did indeed turn to mush!

[Youngerberry Profile]

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There's a recipe here for flaky scallion pancakes that could be subbed with drained/blotted courgette.
https://tenderflake.ca/recipe/chinese-scallion-pancakes
Even with bought pastry, it wouldn't be quicker than tempura'ing though.

Thanks for the recipe, and the suggestion of using a spider.

I think I might try some sort of savoury courgette cake next time.

[Youngerberry Profile]

What did you fry it in? (I mean pan, deep fat fryer .. etc)

I deep-fried them in pan. I got rid of the deep fat fryer because it disagreed with our waistlines...

[PatsyMFagan Profile]

I think I might try some sort of savoury courgette cake next time.

They make a lovely addition to a cheese flan ..

[karadekoolaid Profile]

Hahaha!
Doesn´t matter. If you don´t try it, you don´t know whether it will work or not.
And I have to admit having certain problems with a good Tempura batter.

[jeral Profile]

The main problem I have with tempura batter is that it slips off sometimes. I haven't shaken the veg in flour first as the last thing I want is a gluey lining that purchased battered things often have as I prefer the batter as scraps if it refuses to stick.

Courgette muffin recipes often crop up. This one is written for children, i.e. easy, so ought to be fairly foolproof which not all muffins are:
https://realfood.tesco.com/recipes/chee ... ffins.html

[Suelle Profile Website]

I think I might try some sort of savoury courgette cake next time.

Look up recipes for Australian courgette slice. It's like a crustless quiche, but made sturdier by adding oil and flour.

eg https://www.taste.com.au/recipes/zucchi ... 7e3f81a702

[KeenCook2 Profile]

jeral, that really is a nice easy recipe - will definitely give it a try! (I might have to ask OH to turn the oven on for me though )

[Suffs Profile]

What about courgette pakoras?

[karadekoolaid Profile]

What about courgette pakoras?

Great idea, Suffs. You can also add some grated sweet potato.

[Seatallan Profile]

There's a lovely Rose Elliot recipe for a rice & courgette gratin. I haven't made it for yonks but this thread has inspired me to rediscover it.