Easy Veg Manchurian Recipe – A Delicious Tangy Indo-Chinese Delight

Veg Manchurian is a popular Indo-Chinese dish made with vegetable balls simmered in a tangy, spicy, and flavorful sauce. Perfect as a starter or a main dish when paired with fried rice or noodles, this recipe is a crowd-pleaser for every occasion.

Ingredients

For the Vegetable Balls:

• 1 cup cabbage, finely grated
• 1 cup carrots, finely grated
• 1/2 cup capsicum, finely chopped
• 2 tbsp spring onions, finely chopped
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour (maida)
• 2 tbsp cornflour
• 1 tsp ginger-garlic paste
• 1/2 tsp black pepper powder
• Salt, to taste
• Oil, for frying

For the Sauce:

• 2 tbsp oil
• 1 tbsp garlic, finely chopped
• 1 tbsp ginger, finely chopped
• 2 green chilies, finely chopped
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 1/2 cup capsicum, finely chopped
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp chili sauce
• 1 tbsp tomato ketchup
• 1 tsp vinegar
• 1 tsp black pepper powder
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1 tsp cornflour, dissolved in 1/4 cup water
• Salt, to taste
• 2 tbsp spring onions, chopped, for garnish

Instructions

1. Prepare the Vegetable Balls

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine grated cabbage, carrots, capsicum, spring onions, all-purpose flour, cornflour, ginger-garlic paste, black pepper powder, and salt. Mix well to form a dough-like consistency.
2. Shape the mixture into small, firm balls.
3. Heat oil in a pan and deep-fry the balls on medium heat until golden brown. Remove and set aside on a paper towel to drain excess oil.

2. Prepare the Sauce

1. Heat oil in a pan or wok. Add chopped garlic, ginger, and green chilies. Sauté for a minute until fragrant.
2. Add chopped onion and capsicum. Sauté for 2-3 minutes until slightly tender.
3. Stir in soy sauce, chili sauce, tomato ketchup, vinegar, black pepper powder, sugar and salt. Mix well.

3. Thicken the Sauce

1. Add the cornflour slurry (cornflour dissolved in water) to the pan. Stir continuously until the sauce thickens and becomes glossy.
2. Adjust the consistency of the sauce by adding water if needed.

4. Combine the Balls and Sauce

1. Add the fried vegetable balls to the sauce and toss gently to coat them evenly.
2. Simmer for 2-3 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.

5. Garnish and Serve

1. Garnish with chopped spring onions.
2. Serve hot as an appetizer or with fried rice or noodles for a complete meal.

Tips

• Squeeze out excess moisture from the grated vegetables to help the balls bind better.
• Fry the vegetable balls on medium heat to ensure they cook evenly inside and out.
• Adjust the spice level by varying the quantity of green chilies and chili sauce.

Nutrition Chart for Veg Manchurian (per serving, approximately 4 servings)

• Calories —————— 250 kcal
• Total Fat —————— 12 g
• Cholesterol ————— 0 mg
• Sodium ——————– 600 mg
• Total Carbohydrates — 30 g
• Protein ——————— 5 g
• Sugar ———————— 5 g
• Fiber ———————— 4 g

Note: These values are approximate and may vary depending on the ingredients used and portion size.