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Tempura Crab Jalapeno Poppers

Sue Lau
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5 from 2 votes
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 6 minutes
Total Time 3 hours
Course Appetizer
Cuisine Japanese
Servings 12 poppers
Calories 192 kcal

Equipment

  • wok or deep skillet; pair chopsticks; spider sieve; freezer

Ingredients
  

Peppers and Filling:

  • 6 very large fresh jalapenos
  • 8 ounces cream cheese at room temperature
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon grated ginger
  • 1-1/2 ounces dry picked crab 2 tbsp.

Popper coating:

  • 1/2 cup cornstarch more or less

Tempura Batter:

  • 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup cornstarch
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 large egg beaten until frothy
  • 6 ounces club soda
  • 2 ounces vodka

Drizzle:

  • 1/4 cup eel sauce or Japanese barbecue sauce
  • 1/4 cup Bang Bang sauce or Yum Yum sauce or spicy mayonnaise

Other:

  • Cooking oil as needed

Instructions
 

  • Split jalapenos in half lengthwise and through the stem so that is also split. Do not chop off the stem end. Leave it intact so you can make a pepper "Canoe".
  • Use a small paring knife to slide beneath the stem end and around the seeds and pith without cutting through the pepper.
  • Mix softened cream cheese with salt, ginger and crab until well mixed.
  • Fill pepper cavities with cheese mix, using a butter knife to scrape it level with the top.
  • Place peppers on a pan and freeze until firmly frozen. Maybe 2-3 hours will do.
  • Start heating your oil in the wok to about 350F and maintain that temperature throughout.
  • Stir together the flour, cornstarch and salt. Separate, whisk up the vodka and the egg, then gently stir in the club soda.
  • Gradually add the wet mix to the dry, gently stirring. But do not overmix- some lumps are fine. Like pancake batter, except thinner.
  • Take the jalapenos out of the freezer and dredge them in cornstarch, tapping off excess.
  • Then dip them in the batter, spooning batter over if needed.
  • Fry in the hot oil without crowding, turning over gently with chopsticks to cook both sides. They will appear light with some browning at the edges when they are done.
  • Use the spider to lift them out and drain on paper toweling.
  • Drizzle tops with eel sauce and yum yum sauce before serving.

Notes

From the kitchen of palatablepastime.com

Nutrition

Calories: 192kcalCarbohydrates: 18gProtein: 3gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 36mgSodium: 456mgPotassium: 74mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 352IUVitamin C: 8mgCalcium: 26mgIron: 1mg
Keyword fried Jalapeno poppers, tempura recipes
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