Veg Manchurian Recipe

🥢 Vegetable Manchurian

Veg Manchurian Indian Dinner recipe is a popular Indo-Chinese dish made with crispy vegetable balls tossed in a delicious, spicy, tangy and slightly sweet Manchurian sauce. Perfect as an appetizer or with fried rice and noodles.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cooking Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Servings: 4
Cuisine: Indo-Chinese
Course: Appetizer / Main Course

Ingredients

For the Manchurian Balls

• 1 cup finely chopped cabbage
• ½ cup grated carrot
• ¼ cup finely chopped capsicum
• 2 tbsp spring onion, chopped
• 3 tbsp all-purpose flour (maida)
• 2 tbsp cornflour
• 1 tsp ginger-garlic paste
• ½ tsp black pepper
• Salt to taste
• Oil for deep frying

For the Manchurian Sauce

• 1 tbsp oil
• 1 tbsp finely chopped garlic
• 1 tsp finely chopped ginger
• 2 green chillies, chopped
• 2 tbsp finely chopped onion
• 2 tbsp finely chopped capsicum
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp red chilli sauce
• 1 tbsp tomato ketchup
• 1 tsp vinegar
• ½ tsp black pepper
• Salt to taste
• ½ cup water
• 1 tbsp cornflour mixed with 2 tbsp water
• 2 tbsp spring onion greens

Method

1. Prepare the Manchurian balls
Add cabbage, carrot, capsicum, spring onion, maida, cornflour, ginger-garlic paste, pepper and salt to a bowl. Mix well. The vegetables will release some moisture, so avoid adding water.

2. Shape and fry
Take small portions of the mixture and shape them into round balls. Heat oil over medium heat and deep-fry the balls until golden and crispy. Drain on a kitchen towel.

3. Prepare the sauce
Heat oil in a wok or pan. Add garlic, ginger and green chillies. Stir-fry for a few seconds. Add onion and capsicum and cook on high heat for 1–2 minutes.

4. Add sauces
Add soy sauce, red chilli sauce, tomato ketchup, vinegar, pepper and salt. Mix well.

5. Thicken the sauce
Add ½ cup water and bring it to a gentle boil. Stir in the cornflour slurry and cook until the sauce becomes glossy and slightly thick.

6. Toss the Manchurian
Add the crispy Manchurian balls and toss gently until they are well coated with the sauce.

7. Garnish & serve
Garnish with spring onion greens and serve hot.

🍽️ Serving Suggestions

Serve Veg Manchurian with:

• Vegetable Fried Rice
• Hakka Noodles
• Schezwan Fried Rice
• Chow Mein

Tips for Perfect Veg Manchurian

• Don’t add too much water while making the balls.
• Fry the balls on medium heat so they cook evenly.
• For extra-crispy Manchurian, fry the balls twice.
• Add the fried balls to the sauce just before serving to retain their crispiness.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make Veg Manchurian without deep frying?
Yes. You can air-fry or bake the Manchurian balls, although deep-frying gives the most traditional crispy texture.

Why do my Manchurian balls break while frying?
The mixture may contain too much moisture. Add a little more cornflour or maida and make firm balls.

Can I prepare the balls in advance?
Yes. Fry the balls ahead of time and prepare the sauce just before serving. Toss them together at the last moment.

How can I make dry Veg Manchurian?
Use very little water in the sauce and skip or reduce the cornflour slurry. Toss the fried balls with the thick sauce.