Manchurian
Manchurian is a popular Indo-Chinese dish that features deep-fried vegetable or meat balls tossed in a tangy and spicy sauce. This dish showcases a fusion of flavours, combining traditional Chinese cooking techniques with Indian spices and ingredients. This is a recipe I love so much, and it was actually taught to my mum by my cousin. It’s a beautiful mix of Indian spices and rich Chinese flavours. You can enjoy Manchurian with rice, naan, or even just on its own. Just be careful when tossing the cabbage balls so they don’t fall apart!
Manchurian Balls
- 1/2 Cabbage
- 4 Carrots
- 3 Green Chillis
- 3 Cloves Garlic
- 75g Plain Flour
- 3 Tbsp Corn Flour (You May Need More If Your Mixture Is Too Wet)
- 2 Tsp Salt
- 1 Tsp Black Pepper Powder
Sauce
- 5 Cloves Garlic, finely chopped
- 4cm Ginger, finely chopped
- 2 Green Chilli, finely chopped
- Spring Onions, whites and green separated, finely chopped
- 3 Tbsp Ketchup
- 3 Tbsp Sriracha (Or Any Hot Chilli Sauce)
- 4 Tbsp Soy Sauce
- 1 Tbsp Dark Soy Sauce
- 1 Tbsp Rice Vinegar
- 1 Tbsp Sugar
- 2 Tsp Cornflour Mixed With 2 Tbsp Water
Step 1
Blitz up the carrot, cabbage, chilli, garlic and ginger in a food processor to form a coarse crumb
Remove 1/4 and keep to the side for the sauce later
Step 2
Add salt, pepper, cornflour and plain flour to the veg and combine. It shouldn't be doughy and should just stick together - add more corn flour if necessary
Step 3
Press gently into golf ball-sized balls and then deep fry on a low med heat for 5 mins, until just golden.
Allow to cool slightly and turn the heat to high. Fry again on high heat until deeply golden and very crispy
Step 4
For the sauce, fry off the spring onions whites, garlic, ginger and chilli until fragrant.
Step 5
Add in the ketchup, sriracha, rice vinegar, sugar and 250ml water. Bring to a simmer and add in the reserved veg. Cook for 3 mins then add in the corn flour slurry.
Taste for seasoning
Step 6
Add in the Manchurian balls and toss very gently. Cook for 2 mins and then remove into your serving dish. Sprinkle with spring onions and enjoy
