gobi manchurian recipe with step by step photos. cauliflower manchurian is a popular indo chinese recipe of pan fried cauliflower florets coated with a spicy sauce. this delicious starter snack is easy to prepare and taste damn good.
this gobi manchurian recipe is a dry version and makes for an excellent starter/side dish or snack. i have already posted a gobi manchurian with sauce. when i make veg fried rice or simple fried rice without any veggies, i prepare the gobi manchurian with sauce or as we say in india, with gravy.
fairly easy to prepare, this delicious dry gobi manchurian recipe is not spicy like the restaurant or street versions. if you want, you can add more of the ginger, garlic and green chilies and increase the spice and heat in the dish.
the gobi manchurian dry that we get outside has a good amount of red color added to the batter. here, no colors are added. to get an orangish color, you can increase the amount of kashmiri red chili powder or deghi mirch. this will also add some heat and a smoky flavor.
to cut down the fat, i have not deep fried the gobi florets. it does reduce the crispness, though. but as a healthier option, i have pan fried the gobi florets. if you prefer, you can deep fry the batter coated cauliflower florets.
usually at home, i serve the gobi manchurian with roti. as thats how we prefer it. you can serve them plain with a spicy sauce like schezwan sauce or even red chili garlic chutney. even tomato sauce goes well. you can also wrap the cauliflower manchurian in a thin roti and top with some shredded carrots, cabbage and onions along with some sauce.
you can also serve this gobi manchurian as a snack or as a side dish with veg fried rice or hakka noodles or noodles or burnt garlic fried rice or 5 spice rice.
how to make gobi manchurian
preparation
1. firstly chop or break the gobi/cauliflower in medium size florets. heat water with salt and boil it. rinse the cauliflower florets and add them to the hot water. cover and let the cauliflower florets get blanched in the water for 15-20 minutes. later drain and keep aside.
2. in a bowl mix together the dry ingredients for making the batter.
3. add water and whisk to make a smooth batter without any lumps.
4. dip each cauliflower floret in the batter.
5. fry the batter coated cauliflower florets in hot oil. i have pan fried and added about 6 tbsp oil. later i have not added any oil while stir-frying the spring onions etc. you can also deep fry or shallow fry. i have fried in batches of three. so depending on the size of your pan, you can fry at once or in batches. the frying does take some time, so patience is the key.
6. when one side gets cooked and crisp, turn over each florets and pan fry the uncooked sides. flip for a couple of times more, so that the florets are evenly fried and light golden.
7. drain the fried cauliflower florets on a kitchen paper towel.
making gobi manchurian dry
8. no need to add any oil again. in the same pan, add chopped ginger, garlic and green chilies. saute for half a minute.
9. then add the chopped spring onions & capsicum/green bell pepper. increase the flame and stir fry till the capsicum is half cooked or almost cooked.
10. add soy sauce, tomato sauce, black pepper and salt. stir.
11. add the pan-fried cauliflower florets.
12. stir fry for two to three minutes ensuring the spiced sauce coats the cauliflower florets well. lastly, add vinegar and stir well. switch off the fire. mix in the chopped spring onions greens or garnish with them while serving cauliflower manchurian.
serve dry gobi manchurian as a snack or as a side dish with veg fried rice or schezwan fried rice or cabbage fried rice or mushroom noodles.
few more snacks recipes for you!
Gobi Manchurian
INGREDIENTS
for pan frying gobi florets
- 1 medium cauliflower
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 4 tablespoon corn starch
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper powder
- ¼ to ½ teaspoon kashmiri red chilli powder or deghi mirch (add about 1 teaspoon to get a good color. but this will also increase the heat a bit)
- 1 teaspoon soy sauce
- 1 cup + 1 tablespoon water or as required
- 5 to 6 tablespoon oil for pan frying
other ingredients
- ¾ cup chopped spring onion (scallion whites) - reserve the greens for garnish
- ½ cup finely chopped capsicum (green bell pepper)
- 1.5 inch ginger, finely chopped Or 3 teaspoon finely chopped ginger
- 8 to 10 medium garlic, finely chopped Or 3 teaspoon finely chopped garlic
- 2 green chilies, finely chopped Or 1 teaspoon finely chopped green chilies
- ½ tablespoon finely chopped celery (optional)
- 1.5 tablespoon light soy sauce or ½ to 1 tablespoon soy sauce you can also add as per your taste
- 1 tablespoon tomato sauce or add as required
- 1 teaspoon rice vinegar Or ½ teaspoon white vinegar or apple cider vinegar
- ¼ to ½ teaspoon black pepper powder
- salt as required
INSTRUCTIONS
preparing cauliflower florets
- firstly chop or break the gobi/cauliflower in medium size florets.
- heat water with salt and boil it. rinse the cauliflower florets and add them to the hot water.
- let them get blanched in the water for 15-20 minutes. later drain and keep aside.
frying cauliflower florets
- in a bowl mix together the ingredients for making the batter - all purpose flour, corn starch, soy sauce, black pepper, kashmiri red chili powder and salt.
- add water and whisk to make a smooth batter without any lumps.
- dip each cauliflower floret in the batter.
- fry the batter coated cauliflower florets in hot oil. i have pan fried and added about 6 tbsp oil. later i have not added any oil while stir frying the spring onions etc.
- you can also deep fry or shallow fry. i have fried in batches of three. so depending on the size of your pan, you can fry at once or in batches. the frying takes some time.
- when one side gets cooked and crisp, turn over each cauliflower florets and pan fry the uncooked sides.
- flip for a couple of times more, so that the cauliflower florets are evenly fried and light golden.
- drain the fried cauliflower florets on a kitchen paper towel. fry all the cauliflower florets this way in batches.
making gobi manchurian
- no need to add any oil again. in the same pan, add chopped ginger, garlic and green chilies. saute for a half a minute.
- then add the chopped spring onions & capsicum. add chopped celery if using. increase the flame and stir fry till the capsicum is half cooked or almost cooked.
- add soy sauce, tomato sauce, black pepper and salt. stir.
- add the pan fried cauliflower florets.
- stir fry for two to three minutes ensuring the spiced sauce coats the cauliflower florets well.
- lastly add vinegar and stir well. check the taste and add more of soy sauce or tomato sauce as per your taste.
- switch off the fire. mix in the chopped spring onions greens or garnish with them while serving cauliflower manchurian.
- serve gobi manchurian as a snack or as a side dish with veg fried rice or mushroom fried rice or veg hakka noodles or veg noodles.
Great recipe! Loved it and everyone who ate it loved it. Thank you for your website and amazing recipes!!
thank you smita for sharing this feedback. thanks for the rating as well. welcome and happy cooking.
Can I bake the florets instead of frying ?
you can bake them. but they won’t be crispy.
Dassana Thanks for this amazing recipe. Last time I shallow fried the florets. As you suggested it wasn’t crispy enough. I’ll be deep frying them this time. Could you advise if corn starch and corn flour are the same ?
welcome arvind. corn starch and corn flour are same.
This turned out perfectly! I had to give myself a pat on the back! It tastes like something offered in a restaurant. Just one question though. I had some batter that was left over and was wondering what I could do with it. I ended up discarding it but can it be stored and used later or is there any other way to use it?
Thanks Anitha for your positive feedback. You can use any other veggie like potatoes, mushroom, french beans, broccoli or paneer with this batter.
Hi dassana.. I want to make this for tonight but d issue is I don’t have any sauces coz my hub DNT like any sauces so I never buy.. itz strange but true.. so can u suggest me what to replace instead of sauce.. no matter even if it’s spicy
. Thanks and let me know ..
Welcome Fazila. Without sauce the taste will change. but you can add red chilli powder and lemon juice to the dry gobi manchurian. for an indian taste you can even add chaat masala powder.
Simply the best. You are indeed my everyday saver. Thanks for always sharing point to point recipe
welcome hiral. thanks for your positive words.
Hi dear, tried this today it came out so well. Thanks for the wonderful recipe. I tell my friends also that if I do any recipe from ur website, sure it will be yummy no doubt :).. everyone liked at home. Thank you..
Welcome Divya. Thanks for your positive feedback and for spreading word about website.
Very educative