“Vegetable Manchurian”-Time tested Quick Recipe

Between office, home, blogging world and kids school, it often seems like life is one long, hectic chain of events. But no matter how busy you are, it’s essential for your mental health and well-being that you make time to relax. For me cooking and trying out new recipes works as a stress buster. It’s an art where I am allowed to cross the limitless boundaries of creativity.

Today has been a real hectic day at work with too many events falling out of place. Finally I am back at home and todays agenda was not to try any new recipe but to make some time tested recipe which is easy to make and tasty to eat.

So, here comes the recipe of Vegetable Manchurian. This is a delicious dish which is easy to make at home. 

Ingredients for the Manchurian Balls:

Carrots: 2 finely chopped

French beans: 1/4 cups finely chopped

Corn Kernels: 1/4 cup

Capsicum: 1 finely chopped

Onion: 1 finely chopped

Ginger: 1" piece, chopped finely

Garlic: 2 big cloves chopped finely

Green chilli- 1 chopped finely

Spring onions (scallions): 1/2 bunch chopped finely

Cornstarch: 3 tbsp

Flour: 1 tbsp

Salt to taste

Chilli powder: 1 tsp

Oil for deep frying

For Manchurian Sauce

Spring onions:1/2 bunch chopped finely

Shredded Red Onion: 1

Shreded Capsicum: One finely sliced

Ginger: 1/2" piece chopped finely

Garlic: 2 cloves chopped finely

Green chilli: 1 chopped finely

Chili powder: 1/2 tsp

Tomato sauce: 2 -3 tsp

Soya sauce: 2-3 tsp

Cornstarch: 1 tbsp ,mix with water to make a paste.

Water- 1 cup

Salt to taste

Oil-4 tsp

Method

1. Mix all the veggies and the ingredients of the Manchurian balls together in a bowl(preferably with hand and no need to add water as the water from vegetables are enough to bind). Make small balls out of this mixture and deep fry in hot oil till golden brown.

2. For the Manchurian sauce heat oil in a pan and add ginger, garlic and the white bottom portion of the spring onions. Sauté it for a minute and add shredded red onion and capsicum and stir fry them for a minute. Now it’s time to add salt, chilly powder, tomato sauce and soya sauce.

3. Add 1 cup of water to it and when it boils add the cornstarch paste. When the sauce starts to thicken add the Manchurian balls and immediately off the stove. Add the top green portion of the spring onions on top. Serve hot with Fried Rice or Hakka Noodles.

It is a simple dish but tastes great. Now let me give some background about its origination.

The recipe for Manchurian derives its name from the native region of "Manchuria" in China, where it originated. Over years, the traditional recipe has evolved to take the current fusion version, where Indian and Chinese spices come together to constitute a lip-smacking main course recipe wooing her hearts and palate.

Happy tasting and savor the Food for Life!