Tendon
Crispy tempura over rice glazed with sweet sauce. ยท Japan
Crispy tempura over rice glazed with sweet sauce.
About Tendon
Prawn and vegetable tempura is arranged over a bowl of rice and drizzled with a sweet-savoury soy glaze that soaks into the batter and rice. It is a satisfying tempura rice bowl.
๐๏ธ History & Culture
Tempura, the deep-fried seafood and vegetables that form the base of tendon, is widely believed to have been introduced to Japan by Portuguese missionaries and traders in the 16th century, though its exact origins are debated. The specific arrangement over rice with a sweet-savoury glaze, known as tendon (short for tempura-donburi), emerged later as a quick, satisfying meal and became popular in the Edo period (1603โ1868) alongside other donburi rice bowls.
Regional variations exist across Japan, with some areas favouring a thicker, darker sauce and others a lighter, sweeter one, while toppings can range from classic prawn and squid to seasonal vegetables like lotus root and green pepper. Culturally, tendon is a staple of casual dining, served in dedicated tempura shops, lunch counters, and even convenience stores, reflecting Japan's appreciation for contrasting texturesโcrisp batter, tender seafood, and fluffy riceโin a single, comforting bowl.
๐ณ How to make Tendon
AI-assisted, not kitchen-testedTendon (Tempura Rice Bowl)
Tendon is a classic Japanese donburi featuring crispy prawn and vegetable tempura served over steamed rice and finished with a glossy sweet-savory soy glaze. The warm sauce is poured over the tempura at the table so the batter stays crisp at the edges while soaking through at the base.
- Prep
- 25 min
- Cook
- 25 min
- Total
- 50 min
- Serves
- 2
- Difficulty
- Medium
Recipe ingredients
- 300 g (1ยฝ cups) Japanese short-grain rice, rinsed until water runs clear
- 4 whole large prawns, shell on, deveined, tails intact
- 1 whole sweet potato, peeled, sliced 5 mm thick
- 4 pieces shiso leaves, optional, for aroma
- 120 g (1 cup) cake flour, low-protein; keeps batter light
- 1 whole egg yolk, room temperature
- 180 ml (ยพ cup) ice-cold sparkling water, cold gas keeps batter crisp
- 500 ml (2 cups) neutral oil, for frying, e.g. rice bran or canola
- 60 ml (ยผ cup) dashi, kombu and bonito, or instant
- 45 ml (3 tbsp) soy sauce
- 45 ml (3 tbsp) mirin
- 15 g (1 tbsp) granulated sugar
- 2 g (ยฝ tsp) grated daikon, to serve
- 2 g (ยฝ tsp) grated ginger, to serve
- 2 g (ยผ tsp) shichimi togarashi, optional, to serve
Steps
- 1 Cook the rice: combine 300 g rinsed rice with 360 ml water in a rice cooker or heavy pot, bring to a boil, reduce to lowest heat, cover and cook 12 minutes, then rest off heat 10 minutes. Fluff and keep covered.
- 2 Make the glaze: combine dashi, soy sauce, mirin and sugar in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat and reduce for 3-4 minutes until slightly syrupy and the sugar is fully dissolved. Keep warm.
- 3 Prepare the prawns: pat very dry with paper towels. Make 3 small slits along the underside of each prawn to prevent curling. Lightly dust with cake flour.
- 4 Make the batter right before frying: whisk the egg yolk with the ice-cold sparkling water in a bowl, then sift the flour over the top and stir briefly with chopsticks, leaving some lumps. Do not overmix.
- 5 Heat oil to 175-180 ยฐC / 350 ยฐF in a deep heavy pot. Dip a prawn in batter, letting excess drip off, and lower into the oil. Fry 2-3 prawns at a time for about 2 minutes, turning once, until the batter is pale gold and crisp. Prawns are done when the flesh at the thickest part is opaque and reaches an internal temperature of 62 ยฐC / 145 ยฐF; the tails will be bright red.
- 6 Fry sweet potato slices the same way for 2-3 minutes until golden and tender when pierced.
- 7 Drain tempura on a wire rack (not paper towels) to keep the batter crisp.
- 8 Divide hot rice between two bowls. Arrange 2 prawns and sweet potato slices on top of each bowl. Spoon 60-75 ml of the warm glaze over each serving so it runs through the batter onto the rice.
- 9 Serve immediately with grated daikon, grated ginger, and shichimi togarashi on the side. Pour the glaze tableside if you want the batter to stay extra crisp.
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Tendon โ frequently asked questions
What is Tendon?
Prawn and vegetable tempura is arranged over a bowl of rice and drizzled with a sweet-savoury soy glaze that soaks into the batter and rice. It is a satisfying tempura rice bowl.
What is Tendon made of?
Tendon is made with prawn tempura, rice, soy glaze, mirin and dashi.
Where does Tendon come from?
Tendon comes from Japan, and is especially associated with Nationwide. Tempura, the deep-fried seafood and vegetables that form the base of tendon, is widely believed to have been introduced to Japan by Portuguese missionaries and traders in the 16th century, though its exact origins are debated.
Where can I eat Tendon?
A Japanese tempura shop, the glaze soaking into the rice.
How do you make Tendon?
Making Tendon at home takes about 25 minutes of prep and 25 minutes of cooking. The recipe on this page serves 2 and is rated medium. Full ingredient list and step-by-step method are in the recipe section above.
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