For the sushi lover on a budget, imitation crab is a quite splendid invention. I'm always looking for a new way to prepare it, something beyond the typical California roll or crab salad gunkan. There must be another creative way to eat it.
As the old adage goes, "when in doubt...deep fry it." I present to you tempura imi crab.
It all starts with choosing a tasty brand of imitation crab. Trust me, they're not all created the same. I've tried many different brands and this one is quite good.
The crab sticks get battered just as you would anything in the style of tempura. Apply a fair amount of dry tempura batter first, then only a light coating of wet tempura batter. Too much batter equals a doughy, starchy finish. Imi crab is a food with enough of its own flavor to hold up without a chef over-battering it.
Drop your battered crab sticks into the deep fryer. You'll want your oil set at about 375 and your cook time should only be 1-2 minutes.
Pull your crab sticks out of the fryer when they hit that classic golden tempura color. Try your damndest not to eat one before you get them all plated and sauced.
It just got real.
Plate them up. Top them with whatever sauce you prefer (I opted for spicy mayo). Don't eat too fast!
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