National Tempura Day 2022: National Tempura Day is celebrated on January 7 of every year. Tempura is a kind of Japanese dish made from seafood and vegetables which are battered or deep-fried. The term “Tempura” refers to the European roots of the dish.
It originated from the Latin word “Quatuor Tempora” which relates to the days when Catholics have eaten fish and vegetables instead of eating meat.
According to Latin, The word Tempura means times or periods which is used by the Spanish and Portuguese missionaries that refer to the Lenten period of Days of Ember. The name may be derived from Portuguese, but it gained popularity in southern Japan.
They refer to Tempura as the food that is prepared by using hot oil. Nowadays the term Tempura relates to the satsuma age type of fried fish cake which is made without batter.
So National Tempura Day is a perfect day to enjoy the taste of tempura with your family members and friends.
History of National Tempura Day:
The exact origin and the founder of National Tempura Day are still unknown. Tempura is a popular dish around the world. It is made from either seafood or with vegetables which are battered and fried deeply.
The recipe Tempura was introduced to Japan by the Portuguese Jesuit missionaries in the year 1549. There is a belief Portuguese Jesuit Tokugawa Isyasu, the founder and first shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan, loves tempura very much.
From the period of the Genroku era (ranging from September 1688 to March 1704), Tempura is a very familiar dish that is often eaten at street vendors called “Yatai.”
Nowadays, chefs all over the world include the dish tempura on their menus by using different varieties of batters and ingredients that include zucchini, asparagus, non-traditional broccoli, and dry fruits.
Some of the meats, chicken, and cheeses, especially mozzarella, are served in tempura style in some American restaurants. A recent variation of tempura sushi has the entire pieces of sushi that will be dipped in batter and tempura fried, which has been made especially for sushi lovers.
How to celebrate National Tempura Day:
Celebrating Tempura Day is quite easy by collecting or gathering the ingredients and making the tempura dish of your own.
Then you can invite your family members, friends, and even co-workers for dinner and serve them the tempura dish that you made of your own.
How to observe National Tempura Day:
What is your favorite way to enjoy tempura? Mix up your best tempura recipes. When you do, let your friends and family be your taste testers!
Fun facts about National Tempura Day:
- Only seafood and vegetables are used in tempura frying.
- Tempura batter consists of eggs, flour, and cold water, sometimes with oil or spices added.
- Etymologists don’t know exactly where the word ‘tempura’ came from, but it might have grown out of a Latin phrase meaning “in the time (tempora) of Lent,” or just the Portuguese word for seasoning.
- Traditionally, tempura was cooked in sesame oil, though vegetable and canola oil are more common today.
