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    Home » Recipes » Asian Inspired

    Super Crispy Vegan Tempura

    Willow Moon in front of bushes.
    Updated: Dec 17, 2025 · by Willow Moon · This post may contain affiliate links · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. · I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
    Jump to Recipe Pin

    This Super Crispy Vegan Tempura is light and crunchy. Eat it with a sweet dipping sauce or a savory mustard dipping sauce. 

    Vegan tempura on a plate with dipping sauce.

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    ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

    "This recipe was well received at our Super Bowl party this weekend. Thanks so much for sharing!
    - Dana"

    This Super Crispy Vegan Tempura is an easy recipe you can make at home. No need for take-out!

    I used two different sauces for this gluten-free tempura. The first was a mustard dipping sauce, which I really enjoyed, because I like the spiciness of the mustard.

    By the second or third time that I ate these, I wanted a sweet sauce, so I included that link as well.

    So there's lots of possibilities on what you dip this vegan tempura in!

    Other recipes you might like are my Baked Vegan Onion Rings and Fried Squash.

    Jump to:
    • ❤️ Why You'll Love It
    • 🧾 Ingredients
    • 🔪 Instructions
    • 🥡 Storage
    • ♨️ Reheating
    • 🍠 Vegetables For Tempura
    • 🍘 Other Appetizers
    • 📋 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    ❤️ Why You'll Love It

    • It takes less than 30 minutes to make.
    • It's a great way to get in some veggies.
    • It's cheaper than takeout and you can customize it to your liking. Eat it with your favorite veggies and dipping sauce!

    🧾 Ingredients

    Ingredients on a cutting board with labels.
    • Vegetables: I used red bell pepper, onion, zucchini, and yellow squash. Use your favorite veggies.
    • Cold club soda: Adds a light texture to the tempura batter. Sparkling water or seltzer water will also work. I used club soda when I first published this recipe and sparkling water when I updated it.
    • Rice flour: Adds a crispy texture and makes the batter gluten-free. Use white rice flour or brown rice flour.
    • Salt: Enhances flavors and adds flavor.
    • Canola oil or other high-heat oil: A high heat neutral tasting oil like canola oil, corn oil, safflower oil or peanut oil all work well. Do not use olive oil.

    To see the full list of ingredients with measurements and instructions, see the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

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    🔪 Instructions

    Rice flour, salt, and sparkling water in a mixing bowl with whisk.

    Step 1: Add club soda, rice flour, and salt to a mixing bowl.

    Tempura batter in a mixing bowl with whisk.

    Step 2: Whisk to get all the lumps out.

    Vegetables being dipped in tempura batter.

    Step 3: Dip sliced vegetables in batter, removing the excess batter.

    Cast iron skillet with oil and battered veggies.

    Step 4: Heat oil in a deep pot or frying pan. It should be deep enough to cover the veggies. Fry the vegetable slices in the hot oil, in batches to keep the oil hot, turning with a slotted spoon after they look crispy. The vegetables are done when they are golden brown and crispy.

    Place tempura veggies on paper towels or a rack to let the excess oil drain off. Sprinkle with salt. Serve with tempura dipping sauce.

    Vegan tempura on a plate with dipping sauce.

    🥡 Storage

    This vegan tempura recipe is best served right away, but if you have leftover tempura store it in an airtight container up to 5 days.

    ♨️ Reheating

    To reheat vegan tempura, place on a parchment lined baking sheet and heat in the oven for several minutes.

    🍠 Vegetables For Tempura

    • Sweet potatoes
    • Kabocha squash
    • Mushrooms
    • Eggplant
    • Broccoli
    • Asparagus
    • Cauliflower
    • Green beans
    Vegan tempura on a plate with dipping sauce.

    🍘 Other Appetizers

    • Vegetable fritter bring dipped into vegan chipotle ranch dressing.
      The Most Amazing Vegetable Fritters
    • Baked Vegan Onion Rings
      Baked Vegan Onion Rings
    • Vegan Cream Cheese Puffs
      Vegan Cream Cheese Puffs
    • Caramelized Onion Fritters on a plate.
      Caramelized Onion Fritters

    If you tried this Vegan Tempura Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a ⭐️ star rating and let me know how you like it in the 💬 comments below. I love hearing from you!

    This gluten-free tempura is a great appetizer or side dish. It is sure to impress!

    📋 Recipe

    Vegan tempura on a plate with dipping sauce.
    Pin Print Add to Meal Plan Go to Collections
    4.78 from 9 votes

    Vegan Tempura

    This Super Crispy Vegan Tempura is light and crunchy. Eat it with a sweet dipping sauce or a savory mustard dipping sauce. (gluten free)
    Course Appetizer
    Cuisine Japanese inspired
    Diet Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
    Prep Time 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time 15 minutes minutes
    Total Time 25 minutes minutes
    Servings 4
    Calories 208kcal
    Author Willow Moon
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    Tempura

    • 2 cups sliced vegetables - I used: red pepper, onion, zucchini, yellow squash
    • ¾ cup cold club soda
    • ¾ cup rice flour
    • Salt
    • canola oil or other high heat neutral oil

    Mustard Dipping Sauce

    • 1 ½ teaspoon mustard powder
    • 3 tablespoons mirin
    • 1 tablespoon low sodium gluten free tamari
    • 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
    • 1 teaspoon ume plum vinegar
    • 2 tablespoons amber coconut nectar
    • Sweet Dipping Sauce (optional alternative)
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • Mix sauce ingredients in a small bowl. Set aside.
    • Mix club soda, rice flour, and salt in a large bowl. Whisk to get the lumps out. Dip sliced vegetables in batter, removing the excess batter.
    • Heat oil in a deep pot or skillet. It should be two or three inches deep. Oil is ready when it reaches 350°F, or when a pinch of batter sizzles. If the oil isn't hot enough, the vegetables will soak up the oil.
    • Fry the vegetables, a few at a time to keep the oil hot, turning with a slotted spoon after they look crispy. The vegetables are done when they are golden and crispy.
    • Place veggies on paper towels or a rack to let oil drip off. Sprinkle with salt. Serve with dipping sauce.
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    Nutrition

    Calories: 208kcal | Carbohydrates: 43g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 631mg | Potassium: 279mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 2335IU | Vitamin C: 95.1mg | Calcium: 53mg | Iron: 0.6mg

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    *Note: Nutrition information should be considered an estimate only. Different nutrition calculators give you different results.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      4.78 from 9 votes (6 ratings without comment)

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Sandra Mccollum says

      August 05, 2016 at 7:06 am

      I love this, looks so crispy and perfect with the dipping sauce! My kids would love this as a snack.

      Reply
      • Willow Moon says

        August 06, 2016 at 4:50 pm

        Thanks Sandra!

        Reply
    2. xoxobellablog says

      August 04, 2016 at 8:53 pm

      I just love tempura! I have been making so much vegan food lately. I will have to try this out!!

      Reply
    3. Maggie Unzueta says

      August 04, 2016 at 6:27 pm

      I LOVe tempura. Gluten free tempura, even better!

      Reply
    4. Diana Johnson says

      August 04, 2016 at 4:53 pm

      This looks wonderful!

      Reply
    5. gunjan says

      August 04, 2016 at 3:14 pm

      I am sooo craving for this right now and the best part is that this recipe is vegan so my taste buds are screaming. Thanks for sharing. trying it today.

      Reply
      • Willow Moon says

        August 06, 2016 at 4:49 pm

        Great! I hope you like it as much as I do!

        Reply
    6. Elaine Matthews says

      August 04, 2016 at 12:03 pm

      There is nothing like a great tempura batter...especially when you are having a fried food craving! Thanks !

      Reply
      • Willow Moon says

        August 06, 2016 at 4:48 pm

        Definitely! Tempura is one of my favorite ways to eat fried food!

        Reply
    7. Lauren Vavala says

      August 04, 2016 at 10:38 am

      I was just thinking a couple weeks ago how I used to make tempura all the time, but haven't in years! Now I've seen it twice..it's definitely a sign I need to make this my bf is gluten free!

      Reply
      • Willow Moon says

        August 06, 2016 at 4:46 pm

        That's funny, you sound like me! Whenever I come across the same dish several times in one day, I know it's time to make it!

        Reply
    8. Amy says

      August 04, 2016 at 9:19 am

      Love the idea of this with veggies and that sauce looks amazing 🙂

      Reply
      • Willow Moon says

        August 06, 2016 at 4:41 pm

        Thanks Amy!

        Reply
    9. Sara says

      August 04, 2016 at 9:08 am

      This looks AMAZING!! Will have to try!

      Reply
      • Willow Moon says

        August 06, 2016 at 4:40 pm

        Thanks Sara!

        Reply
    10. Dr. Daisy says

      August 04, 2016 at 7:22 am

      Yumm! Thanks for sharing this recipe. I too don't eat many if any fried foods but there are times I wish I could find a healthy vegan alternative 🙂

      Reply
    Newer Comments »

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    Super Crispy Vegan Tempura

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