Beer-battered vegetables with ginger soy dipping sauce

Much as I like Japanese tempura vegetables, I have less success with that type of batter than I do with a good old-fashioned beer batter. So, this dish is really a Western version of the former. Any beer will do – as will Champagne. You want a yeasty fizzy liquid to help the batter work. I added a mixture of black and white sesame seeds to the batter – but nigella seeds, smoked paprika, fresh chopped herbs or even desiccated coconut will give a nice twist. You can use any vegetables, just m