Tendon
Tendon
Tendon, tempura donburi, is one of the most satisfying Japanese rice bowl dishes: a deep bowl of freshly steamed white rice topped with pieces of crispy, light tempura and finished with a sweet, savoury tare sauce. The contrast of the crisp tempura coating against the soft rice underneath, all brought together by the rich sauce, is one of those combinations that feels unmistakably Japanese in its balance of textures and flavours. It is also relatively straightforward to make at home once the tempura technique is in place.
A proper tendon starts with good tempura frying, light batter, precise oil temperature and quick plating to preserve the crunch. The tare sauce is a mix of dashi, mirin, soy sauce and sugar, reduced to a glossy consistency and drizzled over the finished bowl. The quality of the dashi is important here: a broth made from good katsuobushi flakes and kombu will produce a sauce with genuine depth, while a shortcut dashi will taste flat by comparison.
The tools here cover both the frying and the serving aspects of tendon. Tempura pots and draining racks for the frying stage are complemented by the deep donburi bowls with lids that are traditional for serving. The lids are not merely decorative, they keep the bowl warm during the brief time between plating and sitting down, and they add to the presentation quality of the dish when brought to the table.
Tendon can be made with almost any ingredient that works in tempura: prawns, white fish, sweet potato, aubergine, shiso leaf, lotus root. Having the right tools makes it possible to cook multiple items in quick succession and plate a complete bowl in minutes.
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Serve in traditional donburi bowls and explore our cookware for the right frying pot.
Showing 11 products
AVAILABILITY: In stock (5 items)
The Yakumi Seasoning Container is a Japanese multi-compartment condiment dish for holding yakumi accompaniments - ginger, wasabi, negi, and other seasonings - neatly at the table for ramen, soba, and Japanese noodle dishes. Product Type Professional Stainless Steel Seasoning Container...
AVAILABILITY: In stock (498 items)
The Iwachu Saucepan, Japanese cast iron saucepan with enamel interior for making soups, sauces, and simmered dishes with exceptional heat retention and even distribution. Includes 1 cast iron saucepan (handle removable) Dimensions Inner diameter: Ø160 x D75 mm, Outer size:...
AVAILABILITY: In stock (498 items)
Nami Donburi bowls with lids, a set of two with the wave Nami pattern in blue and white porcelain. Ideal for rice bowls, donburi, or noodle dishes. Includes 2 bowls + 2 matching lids, 545g each Dimensions 15 × H10.5...
AVAILABILITY: In stock (-1 items)
The Stainless Tempura Vat, deep stainless steel frying pot with a built-in draining rack, designed specifically for frying Japanese tempura and other deep-fried dishes cleanly and safely. Culinary Typology Tempura Batton (天ぷらバット: Authentic Japanese Fried Food Draining Tray & Wire...
AVAILABILITY: In stock (0 items)
The Frying Ring, Japanese stainless steel ring mould for shaping perfectly round eggs, pancakes, and hamburger patties in a frying pan. Simple, reusable, ideal for precise presentation. Includes 1 frying ring Dimensions 24.5 cm length, ×10 cm ring Material Stainless...
AVAILABILITY: In stock (500 items)
The Iwachu Tempura Fondue Pot Fryer is a cast iron deep fryer with a built-in thermometer and oil draining rack, everything needed for crisp, light Japanese tempura at home. Includes 1 cast iron pot Dimensions 22 × 17 × H10.5...
AVAILABILITY: In stock (0 items)
The Tempura Fryer Pot, Japanese deep-frying pot with a draining rack and thermometer for consistent, clean tempura frying at home. Compact design suits small Japanese kitchen hobs. Artisan Manufacturer Yoshikawa Cookware (Est. 1946) Vessel Typology Agemono Nabe (Specialized Japanese Deep...
AVAILABILITY: In stock (0 items)
Tempura Batter Mix, Japanese ready-mix flour blend for light, crispy tempura. Just add cold water and ice for a batter that fries up shatteringly light and airy every time. Contents 1 pack, 450g Origin Made in Japan 🇯🇵 Browse also:...
AVAILABILITY: In stock (0 items)
The Stainless Tempura Vat Set includes a deep pot and draining rack for frying perfect tempura at home. The rack keeps earlier batches crisp above the oil as you cook. Includes 3-piece set (lids + trays) Dimensions 22.2 × 16.8...
AVAILABILITY: In stock (500 items)
The PRO Tempura Pot Fryer, professional-grade Japanese deep-frying pot with a thermometer and draining rack. Thick stainless steel base maintains stable oil temperatures for consistently perfect tempura. Vessel Typology Traditional Japanese Tempura Fryer (天ぷら錈 - Tenpura Nabe) Special Functionality Integrated...
AVAILABILITY: In stock (499 items)
Shima Donburi Bowls with Lids (set of 2), clean Shima stripe pattern in classic Japanese blue and white. Generously sized for donburi rice bowls and noodle dishes, with lids to keep contents warm. Provenance Hasami-yaki (Nagasaki Prefecture) In the Box...