Crispy Creole Tempura Green Beans with Charred Lemon

1. Preheat Oven

Preheat your oven to 200°F. This will keep your tempura green beans warm and crispy while you finish frying the whole batch.

2. Char Lemon

Heat a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Place the lemon halves cut-side down in the skillet and cook for 2 to 3 minutes until the bottoms are nicely charred. This step adds a delightful smoky, caramelized flavor that will enhance the final dish. Once charred, set the lemon halves aside.

3. Heat Oil

In a large cast-iron skillet or heavy-bottomed pot, pour in the sunflower oil and heat it to 375°F. While the oil is heating, prepare an ice water bath by filling a large bowl with ice and water. This will come in handy to keep your batter chilled.

4. Prepare Batter

In a separate bowl, whisk together the cake flour, arrowroot powder, baking powder, Creole seasoning, fine sea salt, and freshly ground black pepper. This mixture forms the base of your tempura batter, ensuring a light and crispy texture.

5. Mix Batter

Now, pour the chilled club soda into the dry ingredients, adding a few ice cubes to keep the mixture cold. Stir gently with a spoon until just combined; it's fine if there are a few lumps. The cold batter will help create that perfect crunch when fried.

6. Fry Green Beans

Dip the trimmed green beans into the batter, making sure each bean is well coated. Using a wire spider or slotted spoon, carefully lower the battered green beans into the hot oil. Fry them in batches for 2 to 3 minutes, or until the batter is light golden and crisp. Once done, transfer the green beans to a paper towel-lined plate to drain any excess oil, then place them in the preheated oven to stay warm.

7. Serve

When all the green beans are fried, arrange them on a large platter. Dust them lightly with additional Creole seasoning for an extra kick. Serve immediately with the charred lemon halves on the side, for squeezing over the crispy green beans. The combination of the tangy lemon and the spicy Creole seasoning will elevate this dish to a whole new level. Enjoy!