14 DAY TRIAL // If you're a foodie, chances are that you've until now feasted on dozens of treats, snacks and dishes. Then again, it's unlikely you've ever given deep-fried maple leaves a try. Unless you live in Japan and are well accustomed to the local cuisine, that is.
Not to beat about the bush, it appears that folks in this country eat maple leaves all year round, and especially during the autumn months. The official name for this dish is Maple Tempura, and word has it that folks in Japan consider it a delicacy.
How to make Maple Tempura
Before you go looking for some leaves that you might deep-dry to satisfy your hunger for authentic Japanese food, you should know that there is more to making this odd dish than simply throwing some maple leaves in a pan and leaving them there for a few minutes.
As detailed by Oddity Central, the first step is collecting maple leaves that are the right shape and size, and sticking them inside salt barrels where they must be kept for a year or so. Once out of these barrels, the leaves get to take a bath in a special batter.
By the looks of it, the traditional recipe for this batter includes flour, sesame seeds and sugar. As soon as the dipping session comes to an end, the leaves are deep-fried until they get all nice and crispy. Apparently, this takes about 20 minutes, the same source details.
Oddly enough, the people who have had the chance to sink their teeth into this peculiar Japanese dish say that, despite being kept in salt for about a year, the maple leaf has very little – if any, that is – taste. In fact, it appears that the leaf is only used because of the entertaining shape it gives to the dish.
Not a new recipe
It is believed that folks in Japan have been eating deep fried maple leaves for about a millennium. Thus, the origins of the dish can be traced back to people who lived in the country's Kansai region about 1,000 years ago.
Presently, the dish is sold at several restaurants across the country. However, those who want to snack on some deep-fried maple leaves while watching TV or playing computer games can simply buy a bag from local shops. Local media reports say that, in the city of Nabari, a bag of Maple Tempura sells for about $5.7 (€4.54).
