Peixinhos da horta (Portuguese green bean tempura) is one of the oldest recipes in Portuguese cooking, with roots in the 16th century. It is often called the ancestor of Japanese tempura.
The name means little fish from the garden, although there is no fish in it. Green beans are dipped in batter and fried, which makes them look like small fish.
Ingredients (serves 4)
- 250 g green beans
- Vegetable oil, for frying
- 75 g flour
- 100 ml cold sparkling water
- 1 egg
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Whisk the flour, egg and sparkling water into a smooth batter.
- Trim the green beans and cook them in salted boiling water over medium-low heat for 5 minutes. Drain and cool them in iced water.
- Once cool, dip the beans in the batter.
- Cover the bottom of a frying pan with oil and heat it well. Test with a little batter.
- When it sizzles, fry the beans until golden, turning them so both sides are golden.
- Serve with lemon and mayonnaise.
Learn to cook it with us
Want to learn step by step how to cook authentic Portuguese food? Join one of our hands-on cooking classes in Lisbon, or explore more Portuguese recipes.