Gluten free may seem to be a fad, but it is a very real dietary need for some people. Gluten is not easy to digest and many people have issues with wheat. If you happen to be one of them, you don’t have to shun tempura.
Regular tempura is traditionally and most commonly made with wheat flour and that’s why Tempura is not gluten free.
Tempura
Tempura is a Japanese dish of seafood or vegetables that have been battered and deep fried. It is made with sweet potato, but tempura can also be made with other types of potatoes or yams. Tempura is usually served with a dipping sauce such as soy sauce, but it can also be served with salt and pepper.
In Japan, tempura is usually made with wheat flour and eggs, which makes it unsuitable for people who are intolerant to gluten. However, tempura can also be made with rice flour and cornstarch instead of wheat flour. This version of tempura does not contain any gluten and is safe for people who cannot eat gluten.
What should you order in a Japanese restaurant if you can’t have gluten?
Japanese food is known for being healthy, but it’s also known for being full of gluten.
But if you’re a celiac, or if you have some other reason that you can’t eat gluten, don’t despair. There are plenty of options at a Japanese restaurant that will leave you feeling satisfied and happy. Here are some suggestions:
- Tempura
Tempura is battered and fried seafood or vegetables. It’s usually made with wheat flour, but if you ask the restaurant ahead of time they should be able to make it with rice flour instead.
- Sashimi
Sashimi is raw fish served with no added ingredients except soy sauce (soy sauce doesn’t contain any gluten). You may need to ask for it without wasabi as well; wasabi often contains wheat flour in its ingredients.
- Teriyaki chicken or beef
Teriyaki is a sweet sauce made from soy sauce and sugar, sometimes with ginger and garlic added as well. This can be served on its own or over rice (make sure it’s not fried rice). Teriyaki chicken or beef can also be ordered without any sauce at all; just grilled meat seasoned with salt and pepper will be fine!
The best substitute for tempura batter
Tempura can be made with wheat flour, but it’s also possible to make tempura without the gluten. The best substitute for tempura batter is a combination of cornstarch and rice flour. Cornstarch is a fine powder made from corn kernels, while rice flour is a gluten-free grain that comes from ground rice.
To make your own tempura batter, mix 2 parts cornstarch with 1 part rice flour and 2 parts water in a bowl until it becomes smooth. Then dip each piece of food into the batter before frying it in hot oil.
Tempura is a Japanese way of cooking in which seafood and vegetables are battered, deep-fried and served piping hot
Tempura is usually served with dipping sauces such as soy sauce or ponzu (citrus-based sauce), although some restaurants serve it with grated daikon radish or ginger.
The batter used in tempura is made from wheat flour and water, so it contains gluten. However, since the food itself does not come into contact with the batter, tempura can be enjoyed by those who have been diagnosed with celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity.
In general, tempura batter contains egg, flour, seltzer water or beer and salt
Tempura is a popular Japanese dish of vegetables and seafood battered and deep fried. It’s often served with dipping sauces that are made with soy sauce and dashi, a broth made from dried bonito, fermented fish and seaweed.
Some recipes also add leavening agents such as baking soda or baking powder to make the batter lighter in texture. However, some people who have a gluten intolerance or celiac disease may still be able to eat tempura because it’s not always prepared using wheat flour.
If you have celiac disease or a gluten intolerance, ask your doctor about eating tempura if you’re not sure whether it’s safe for you to do so.
Gluten contamination can happen when chefs prepare food in areas where gluten-containing food is prepared
Gluten contamination can also happen if a chef uses the same utensils to cook gluten-free and non-gluten free items.
When it comes to tempura, there are two main ingredients that you need to pay attention to. First, the batter itself will contain flour or starch. Second, the oil used for frying may also contain gluten.
If you are making tempura at home, you will want to be extra careful about these ingredients. You will want to make sure that your batter does not contain any gluten ingredients and that your oil is safe for consumption by those with celiac disease or other forms of gluten intolerance or sensitivity.
Conclusion
Tempura is made with wheat flour and on the surface, it would appear that tempura is not gluten free. However, according to a gluten free diet blog, tempura is gluten free because wheat flour has been removed from the batter leaving solids behind. Also, tempura is served with sauce and so there is no risk of cross contamination. Therefore, tempura is safe for people following a gluten free diet.