January 7: National Tempura Day

It's no mere weekday. It's National Tempura Day. If you don't succeed, fry, fry again! 

Photo licensed via Creative Commons on Flickr

Photo licensed via Creative Commons on Flickr

To celebrate this savory day, let me share with you five creative and interesting types of tempura I've spied around the web. Which one is your favorite?

1. Donut tempura (OK, not really). 

Photo licensed via Creative Commons on Flickr

Photo licensed via Creative Commons on Flickr

It may look like a donut, but it's actually shrimp. I'd still take a bite. 

2. Tempura ice cream

Photo licensed via Creative Commons on Flickr

Photo licensed via Creative Commons on Flickr

Ice cream. Wrapped in batter and fried. It might sound like a bit much, but one bite and I bet you'd be saying "just enough".

3. Octopus tempura

Photo licensed via Creative Commons on Flickr

Photo licensed via Creative Commons on Flickr

I'm not sure if I could eat something that looked like it might attack, Syfy movie style, but it is interesting to know that this exists. 

4. Tempura squash blossoms

Photo licensed via Creative Commons on Flickr

Photo licensed via Creative Commons on Flickr

I'd hit that. You?

5. Banana tempura

Yep: that's a fried banana dessert, served a la mode. I am hungry and longing for this thing. 

Have you ever sampled a creative tempura variation?