Golden tempura vegetable fritters with a small bowl of spicy peanut dipping sauce on a white plate.
Appetizers

Tempura Vegetable Fritters with Spicy Peanut Dipping Sauce

Prep20 minCook15 minTotal35 min

Original recipe: 4 servings · Easy

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Ingredients

  • 1 cup

    grated

  • 1 cup

    grated, excess moisture squeezed out

  • ½ cup

    finely diced

  • ¾ cup
  • ¾ cup · ≈ 180 ml
  • 1 tablespoon · ≈ 15 ml

    for batter and spraying

  • ¼ cup
  • 1 tablespoon · ≈ 15 ml
  • 1 tablespoon · ≈ 15 ml
  • 2 teaspoons · ≈ 10 ml
  • ½ teaspoon
  • 1 clove

    minced

  • 1 teaspoon · ≈ 5 ml
  • ½ teaspoon
  • ¼ teaspoon

    freshly ground

Ingredient quantities adjust from the original 4 servings. Instructions and cooking times stay unchanged.

Measurement guide

tbsp = tablespoon · tsp = teaspoon. Use measuring spoons, not table cutlery. Metric equivalents are estimates. ¾ = three quarters; ½ = one half; ¼ = one quarter.

Directions

  1. Prepare the vegetables

    Grate the carrot and zucchini. Squeeze excess moisture from zucchini using a clean towel or hands. Finely dice the red bell pepper. Place all prepared vegetables in a mixing bowl.

  2. Make the tempura batter

    In a separate bowl, combine the tempura batter mix with ice cold water and 1 tablespoon vegetable oil. Whisk gently until smooth but do not overmix; some lumps are fine.

  3. Form the fritter batter

    Pour the batter into the bowl with prepared vegetables. Add salt and black pepper, then gently fold everything together until well combined.

  4. Preheat and prepare air fryer

    Preheat the air fryer to 375°F (190°C) for 5 minutes. Lightly spray or brush the air fryer basket with vegetable oil to prevent sticking.

  5. Shape and air-fry fritters

    Spoon heaping tablespoons of the batter into the air fryer basket, flattening slightly. Leave space between each fritter. Spray the tops lightly with vegetable oil. Air-fry for 8-10 minutes until golden and crispy, flipping halfway through for even cooking.

  6. Prepare the spicy peanut dipping sauce

    While fritters cook, mix creamy peanut butter, soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, chili flakes, minced garlic, and lime juice in a small bowl until smooth.

  7. Serve

    Serve the hot tempura vegetable fritters immediately with the spicy peanut dipping sauce for dipping.

These tempura vegetable fritters feature a light, airy batter that crisps beautifully without deep frying, thanks to air-frying technology.

Made with fresh carrots, zucchini, and bell pepper, these fritters showcase vibrant colors and textures.

The spicy peanut dipping sauce adds an exciting depth of flavor, balancing creaminess, heat, and sweetness for a delicious appetizer experience.

Equipment

  • air fryer
  • mixing bowls
  • whisk
  • grater
  • knife
  • cutting board
  • measuring cups
  • spoon
  • small bowl

Metric measurements

For the original 4 servings. This reference table stays fixed when you change the portions above.

Ingredient US amount Metric equivalent
carrotgrated 1 cup 120 grams
zucchinigrated, excess moisture squeezed out 1 cup 120 grams
red bell pepperfinely diced ½ cup 75 grams
tempura batter mix ¾ cup 90 grams
ice cold water ¾ cup 180 ml
vegetable oilfor batter and spraying 1 tablespoon 15 ml
creamy peanut butter ¼ cup 60 grams
soy sauce 1 tablespoon 15 ml
honey 1 tablespoon 15 ml
rice vinegar 2 teaspoons 10 ml
chili flakes ½ teaspoon 1 gram
garlicminced 1 clove 1 clove
fresh lime juice 1 teaspoon 5 ml
salt ½ teaspoon 3 grams
black pepperfreshly ground ¼ teaspoon 0.5 grams

Cooking tips

  • Use ice cold water in the batter to help achieve a crisp texture when air-fried.
  • Do not overmix the tempura batter; a few lumps contribute to a lighter, crisper coating.
  • Squeeze moisture from zucchini thoroughly to prevent soggy fritters.
  • If your air fryer basket is small, cook fritters in batches to avoid overcrowding.
  • For less heat, reduce chili flakes or omit them from the peanut sauce.

Substitutions

  • Use almond or cashew butter instead of peanut butter for a different nut flavor, but note possible allergen changes.
  • Regular all-purpose flour can replace tempura batter mix, though texture will be less light and crispy.
  • Swap soy sauce for tamari to make the dipping sauce gluten-free.

Storage and reheating

Store leftover fritters in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat in the air fryer at 350°F (175°C) for 3-4 minutes to restore crispness. Keep the dipping sauce refrigerated separately and use within 3 days.

Allergen notes

Potential allergens include peanuts, soy. Check all labels and substitutions; this is not an exhaustive allergen assessment.

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