Vegetable Manchurian with Gravy

Indian-Chinese cuisine is very popular in India, UAE, and the US. Unless you're from India you aren't really exposed to all the wonderful dishes that Indo-Chinese cuisine has to offer. Thanks to me, however you can learn a few dishes and show it off to your friends and family! This one is a little hard to make and requires some patience but at the end, it'll be worth it! Good Luck!

For the Vegetable Manchurian balls:
Cabbage – 4 cups, finely shredded
Carrots – 2 cups, grated
Onion – 1 medium, finely chopped
Garlic – 4 large cloves, finely chopped
Green Chilies – to taste, finely chopped
Salt & Black Pepper – to taste
All-purpose Flour – 6 tbsp or as needed
Corn Starch – 2 1/2 Tbsp
Oil for deep frying


  

For the Sauce:
Oil – 1 Tbsp
Ginger – 2 Tbsp, minced
Garlic – 6 large cloves, chopped
Green Chilies – to taste, finely chopped
Soy Sauce – 1/4 cup
Sugar – 1 1/2 tsp
Corn Starch – 1.5 Tbsp
Vegetable Broth (stock) – 3 cups
Spring Onions – cut at a diagonal for garnishing

 

 Method:
 1. Heat the Oil well for deep-frying on medium heat.
2. Prep all the vegetables.
3. In a large bowl, mix the following: Cabbage, Carrots, Onions, Garlic & Green Chillies.
4. Mix gently but well.
5. Mix in Salt, Pepper, Corn Starch & Flour.
6. Sometimes, the Vegetables may need more or less Flour and Starch depending on how fine they have been shredded. Adjust those two as needed. You should be able to form a ball.
7. Form balls and drop into hot Oil and fry till golden on all sides.
8. Remove into a paper towel. Fry all the Vegetable Manchurian Balls and keep aside.
9. For the gravy, take a wok and heat Oil (1 Tbsp) on medium flame.
10. Add Ginger, Garlic & Green Chillies and saute for 30 seconds.
11. Add in the Soy Sauce and mix.
12. In a separate bowl dilute the Corn Starch with some room temperature Stock or Broth. Mix well till there are no lumps.
13. Add in the balance of the Stock and mix into the wok.
14. Add in Sugar to balance.
15. Additional Soy Sauce or Sugar may be added to taste.
16. Bring the gravy to boil and allow it to thicken up a bit.
17. Once it is thick enough, turn off the flame.
18. Place your Manchurian Balls in a serving dish and pour the hot gravy over it.
19. Garnish with Spring Onions and serve Hot.


Tips:
1. Do not fine shred the vegetables where they get limp and mushy.
2. Do not over-work the vegetables while mixing.
3. It is very important to prep all the vegetables when you are making Chinese or Indian Chinese Cuisine.
4. If you are making the Manchurian for a party, make the balls and keep them hot, make the gravy minus the corn starch. Add the Corn Starch to the gravy the last possible minute to thicken up and then add the Manchurian Balls.