Vegetarian Manchurian – Indian Chinese dish!
Do you know that there is nothing comforting like a spicy and warm bowl of Indo-Chinese food during winter. I get cravings for indo-chinese food like Manchurian, chili paneer or Hakka noodles.
Do you know that there is nothing like a spicy and warm bowl of Indian Chinese food during winter like soup or a dish called Manchurian or Hakka noodles which fall under Indian Chinese food category?
Indian Chinese food is adaptation of Chinese flavors and cooking techniques but suitable to Indian tastes. Originally, Indian Chinese cooking became famous or developed when Chinese immigrants moved to Calcutta now known as Kolkata in 18th century. Chinese cuisine is very popular within Indian communities. It is really different from the authentic Chinese dishes and often influenced by Indian flavors.
If you are interested in learning more about the history of Indian Chinese Food then I would recommend this article. It is interesting to know how one culture can influence others through food and has a wonderful result. With out further ado, try it for yourself with this recipe. Please don’t freak out with the list of ingredients. I usually have most of them in my kitchen and I am sure you do too.
Vegetarian Manchurian
Ingredients
Vegetarian balls
- 1 cup carrots, shredded
- 1 1/2 cups cabbage, shredded
- 1/2 green bell pepper, shredded
- 1/4 cup green beans
- 1-2 green chilies
- 1 small piece of Ginger ( about 1 tsp)
- 1 tsp garlic
- 1/2 cup boiled rice
- ¼ cup bread crumbs
- 3 tablespoons corn starch
- salt to taste
- 1 tsp black pepper
- Oil for frying
Sauce
- 1 tbsp oil
- 1/2 cup green bell pepper (combination of red & green) chopped into cubes
- 1/2 cup onion chopped into cubes
- 1 teaspoon green chilies finely chopped
- 1 1/2 teaspoon ginger finely chopped
- 1 1/2 teaspoon garlic finely chopped
- salt to taste
- black pepper to taste
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp chili sauce/paste, like sriracha
- 1 tbsp vinegar
- 1 tbsp corn starch
- 1 tsp sugar or honey
- 1/2 cup water more if you plan to keep more sauce
- 1/4 cup scallions for garnish
- Garnish - Chili oil
Instructions
Vegetarian Balls
- Shred the vegetables using a food processor or using a grater. Make sure you do not blend it and make a paste. Because it can easily go that route. Squeeze out water from the shredded vegetables, please do it before you add the other ingredients. reserve that water.In a separate bowl add corn starch, bread crumbs, boiled rice, vegetables, salt pepper, ginger chili paste, soy sauce and mix well. There will be a lot of water that would get released from the vegetables that helps bind everything together. .
- Heat oil in pot for frying. The oil should be at 350 F for frying. Divide the mixture in equal portions and make round shaped balls out of the mix and deep fry them until golden and crisp. remove them on absorbent paper. Keep them aside till we are ready to serve them.
Sauce
- Take oil in pan, add ginger, garlic and chilies. Saute it for few seconds and add the onions and bell peppers. Mix well. Let it cook for couple of minutes. In another bowl add soy sauce, chili paste, vinegar, cornstarch, sugar, salt, black pepper
- Add in the extra water if needed. Mix everything well. Let it cook for sometime.
- Once the sauce thickens, add the fried manchurian balls to the sauce. Let it cook for two minutes and soak in the sauce. Garnish it with the scallions.
Notes
I served them with hakka noodles. I will share the recipe some other day for the noodles. But you can serve it with steamed rice. You can also make fried rice out of the gravy and balls and serve it as fried rice. Either ways you will love this dish.
Bon Appetite!
XOXO, Devangi
Are you sure you mean, the size of a “tennis ball’? Your photos look more the size of golf balls. I will make these, but will make them smaller than your instructions……
Hello I am planning on making and freezing the Manchurian balls. Could you please tell me how to thaw them? Thank you
You can remove them few hours before frying them. Thaw them at room temperature.
Thank you for this wonderful recipe!