Peixinhos da horta

Peixinhos da horta ([pɐjˈʃĩɲuʒ ðɐ ˈɔɾtɐ]) is a traditional dish in Portuguese cuisine. The name of the dish is literally translated as "Little Fish from the Vegetable Garden", as it resembles small pieces of colorful fish.^[1] It was introduced to Japan by Portuguese sailors Antonio da Mota, Francisco Zeimoto and Antonio Peixoto in the sixteenth century, where it was eventually developed into tempura.^[2][3][4] In 1543, or later, Portuguese missionaries also came to Japan.^[5] The peixinhos da horta (green beans) gave rise to tempura, a typical Japanese dish.^[6][7]

A plate of Peixinhos da horta

Preparation

Peixinhos da horta is usually prepared with green beans in a wheat flour based batter that are then deep-fried.^[8] Other vegetables such as bell peppers and squash are also used.