[1] Tempura green beans (photo © Southern Selects).

[2] Tempura green beans served in a basket, like fries (photo © The Tuck Room | NYC).

[3] Shishito peppers tempura. Here’s the recipe (photo © A Spicy Perspective).

January 7th is National Tempura Day, and while you can head to your nearest Japanese restaurant, you can make Tempura Green Beans at home. This recipe, with Spicy Sriracha Mayo Dip, is courtesy of Southern Selects, which makes it with French green beans.

What’s the difference between French green beans and regular green beans?

French green beans, called haricots verts in French, are slightly longer and skinnier than regular green beans and may be a little bit more expensive. They are both the same genus and species* but haricots verts are harvested earlier than regular green beans, so they are more tender and more flavorful.

> The history of tempura.

> The history of sriracha sauce.
 
 
RECIPE: GREEN BEAN TEMPURA 
 
Ingredients

 
For The Sriracha Mayonnaise (Spicy Dipping Sauce)

 
Preparation

1. MAKE the sriracha mayonnaise dipping sauce. Whisk all ingredients in a small bowl. Set aside.

2. PREPARE the green beans. Whisk together the dry ingredients until well combined, then whisk in the sparkling water. Do not overmix or the dough will become tough and chewy.

3. DIP the beans in the batter, shaking off excess batter. Fry them in vegetable oil at 375°F in batches, for 2 to 3 minutes, turning as necessary until golden and the beans are tender and crisp.

3. TRANSFER the beans to a plate lined with paper towels to drain the excess oil.

4. SERVE the hot beans with the sauce on the side.
 
 
MORE TEMPURA RECIPES 

 
 
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*Green beans Order Fabaceae, Subfamily Faboideae, Genus Phaseolus,
Species vulgaris. The genus and species are abbreviated as P. vulgaris.