What is Vegetable Manchurian?
Manchurian is a dish made up of vegetables or protein. The core ingredient is coated in a batter of cornflour (cornstarch) after which it is ready to deep fry. Once crispy, we coat it in a spicy sauce. Sauce ingredients vary from recipe to recipe, but it will usually contain soy sauce, chilli and vinegar. Delicious!
Why is it called Manchurian?
Strictly speaking, the Indo-Chinese take on Manchurian has an ambiguous history. It’s an Indian interpretation of Chinese food, possibly taking some direction from India’s Chinese community. The Chinese immigrant community in India began centuries ago, and many settlers lay down new roots around the ports of Kolkata and Madras. The vibrant and flavoursome cooking of India’s Chinese communities has carved a place in all our appetites. Aside from nomenclature, it most likely has very little connection to Manchuria, the region of modern Northeastern China and its’ cuisine.
The rise of Indo-Chinese cuisine
Manchurian, and most Indo-Chinese food for that matter, has a bit of a cult following in the Indian community. The ever-growing appetite for umami-rich Chinese-style food cooked to suit the Indian palate is prolific. Walk into many Indian-owned restaurants and you’ll likely spot an Indo-Chinese dish; from Chilli Paneer and Hakka Noodles, to Schezwan Rice (an Indian interpretation of Sichuan) and this Vegetable Manchurian. I love Hakka Noodle Dosas. They are collision of Indo-Chinese and South Indian flavours. Indo-Chinese food is fast food – often street food. It’s packed with flavour and usually swimming in rich, crimson-tinted sauces. Peppers, onions, garlic and ginger feature heavily, as do chillies. Lots of chillies.
Manchurian troubleshooting
Ingredients for Vegetable Manchurian
CabbageCauliflowerCarrotsSpring onions (scallion)Cornflour (cornstarch)Plain flour (all-purpose flour/maida)Baking sodaBaking powderGingerCoriander leavesAny oil suitable for frying (e.g. sunflower, rapeseed, peanut, vegetable)Peppers (capsicum)OnionsGarlicGreen chilliesSoy sauceVinegarWhite or black pepperMSG (optional)SugarSalt
How to make Vegetable Manchurian
If you like this, you’ll love my recipe for Hakka Noodles
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How to make Indo-Chinese Vegetable Manchurian
