Elderflower tempura with elderflower dipping sauce

Method

1. Remove most of the elderflower stalks and shake all the heads to remove any insects.
2. To make the dipping sauce, mix the cordial with 150ml cold water in a small saucepan. Mix the arrowroot with 1 tbsp of the elderflower cordial mixture in a bowl to a smooth paste. Return to the pan and heat gently for 5 minutes until it’s just simmering, is clear and has thickened to a coating consistency. Put to one side to cool.
3. To make the tempura, pour the oil into a large pan and heat to 190°C or until a cube of bread browns in 20 seconds. Mix the egg and the fizzy water in a large bowl. Sift all the dry ingredients with a pinch of salt, add to the liquid all in one go and stir to mix (it doesn’t matter if it’s lumpy).
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5. Dip the flowers into the batter and fry one at a time until crisp but not brown. Drain on the lined tray and dust with the extra sugar. Serve at once with the dipping sauce.