I was a picky eater as a kid. Foods couldn’t be touching on the plate, salad had to be dressing-free, and condiments other than ketchup were off limits. Despite my mom’s best efforts to get me to try new foods, I was set on eating French fries and PBJ sandwiches for the rest of my life.

My stubborn eating habits presented a huge problem when we would visit family in Japan each summer. I grew up eating Japanese cuisine, yes, but I had boundaries. There were exactly three types of sushi I would eat, two acceptable fillings for onigiri (rice balls), and two sweet bread varieties that I liked. I wouldn’t go near anything mixed, pickled, or with sauce. However, there was one classic Japanese food that I was willing to order at any restaurant: tempura.

Tempura is the Japanese equivalent of American fried foods. Your kids may not like rotisserie chicken or fancy cheese, but I’ll bet they like chicken nuggets and mozzarella sticks, right? And I’m sure they all eat French fries. Maybe some of your children will even eat fried fish or shrimp, even if they won’t touch other seafood!

This was how tempura was for me. I would happily chow down on tempura-battered shrimp and vegetables while the rest of my family ate more sophisticated meals. With this in mind, I can confidently say that your vegetable-hating children will not just tolerate, but will actually enjoy these tempura green beans. (The dipping sauce is another story – I know I wouldn’t have touched it lol).

Tempura green beans are perfect for sneaking vegetables into your kids’ diets, but they’re also great for adults! Serve them up as a party appetizer, side dish, or even just as an afternoon snack.

Looking for more kid-friendly vegetable recipes? Try out these crispy baked sweet potato fries!