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Home » Appetizers & Snacks

Gobi Manchurian- Fried Cauliflower in Spicy Sauce

Published: Jun 8, 2012 · Modified: Nov 12, 2021 by Tanvi · This post may contain affiliate links

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Indo Chinese cuisine is an exciting break from the everyday meals I make at home.It cuts the boredom of rolling flatbreads, boiling lentils & picking rice - the sizzling wok replaces the whistling pressure cooker. The kitchen suddenly beams with warmth of sesame oil, tang of vinegar and smoky soya sauce.The bliss is rounded off with the kick from indian spices like red chilli powder or garam masala- you have a marriage of cuisines.A cuisine which occupies an  emotional space in the heart of every Indian & which greets them with a promise of satisfaction. The concept may sound little weird to few but for me its indulgent & addictive - I am yet to meet an Indian who doesnt like it.

Talking about Indo Chinese I tend to travel back in time to ol' college days - I fondly think of the little hangout near college - ' The Yak'.  A dimly lit room, walls adorned with red & gold cloth hangings and a seating capacity of just ten - the place eternally smelled smoky & was jam packed. I have lived so many of those silly yet cute occasions of college life there, particularly the sunday evenings  when the hostel mess was off. Right from exchanging those inquisitive glances when the love birds walked in as we snacked on vinegar soaked chillies to hideous gossips that followed over slurps of steaming thupka or taming chopsticks to behave, everything was so much fun.There were no contemporary interiors or ornate themed furniture, no uniformed waiters or elegant cutlery & serveware, I doubt there was an AC even - but it was one time of life with good friends & good food.

A widely popular vegetarian dish of the indo chinese genre, Gobi Machurian is nothing but batter fried cauliflower florets in a 'Manchurian' sauce. Do not confuse the origins of  'Manchurian' sauce - it definitely has nothing to do with that region in South East Asia. Creatively masterminded by chinese who lived in eastern parts of  india for centuries, just imagine it to be an amber-colored, tangy and remotely sweet sauce with hints of indian spices. Indo chinese IS what it is due to typical indian condiments - I make it a point to use the indian brands for the authentic taste. However, you can confidently use your pantry to try this recipe.

You will find streets of India dotted with vendors selling robust Indo Chinese (sometimes better) than what we prepare in our homes. Just drop the calorie bug off your mind when you hit the streets though. From traditional chowmein, chicken lollipops, chilli noodles to chop suey -  everything has the essential indian tadka. It is difficult to resist the aroma emanating from their woks when garlic & ginger saute in turmeric hued seasme oil or when soya sauce simmers with generous pinches of garam masala. Even more mouth-watering is the way those carts look - neatly arranged rows of shredded vegetables, oiled noodles and odd colored sauce bottles - promising that everything is made FRESH!

Coming back to the recipe, manchurian sauce can be dry or wet - it's totally your call. I prepare the consistency somewhere in between. It coats the cauliflower florets thoroughly but is not runny. Anything from deep-fried cauliflower,paneer (indian cheese), chicken strips, breaded tofu, shrimp or vegetable balls can be combined with this sauce to make lip smacking appetizers or main course. This dish cannot be made in advance, it tastes best when the cauliflower is crispy (freshly fried).

Serves 2-3

Ingredients 

For the Gobi Fritters

  • 1 medium cauliflower
  • 5 tablespoon all-purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1 Serrano chilli, minced
  • 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, minced
  • 2 fat garlic pods, minced
  • 1 teaspoon dark soya sauce (I use Ching's brand)
  • ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ¼ cup water (or as required to make the batter)
  • Canola Oil for frying (or vegetable oil)

For the Manchurian Sauce

  • 2 tsp dark soya sauce (I use Ching's brand)
  • 4 tablespoon chilli- tomato sauce (I use Maggi Hot & sweet)
  • ½ teaspoon honey
  • 2 teaspoon cornstarch +4 tablespoon water
  • 3 tablespoon pure sesame oil
  • 2 teaspoon ginger, chopped
  • 3 garlic pods, chopped
  • ¼ cup chopped scallions, white parts
  • ¼ cup chopped red onion
  • 1 teaspoon coriander powder
  • ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
  • 1 teaspoon red chilli powder (adjust to tolerance)
  • ¼ tsp garam masala
  • 1.5 tablespoon white vinegar (or to taste)
  • For Garnish - chopped scallions(green parts)

Method 

Making Cauliflower Fritters 

Cut the cauliflower florets into halves or quarters. Wash thoroughly under running water & let the water drain.

Meanwhile, in your fryer let the oil heat up. In a bowl, throughly mix all the ingredients listed to make a smooth batter . Dip the gobi florets in the paste and deep fry on low-medium heat till golden brown. Drain on paper towel. Set aside. (Tip :- Let the fritters stay warm in the oven while you make the sauce)

Note - I do not boil the cauliflower before frying. Do not fry the florets on very high heat else they will be raw from inside.

Making the Manchurian Sauce

In a small bowl, whisk together soya sauce, tomato-chilli sauce & honey. Set aside. In another bowl, mix cornstarch & water and let stand.

In a wok/pan , heat up the oil to smoking hot. Add chopped garlic & ginger and cook for 1 minute or till you smell the aroma. Next add the chopped scallions (white part) & red onion and cook for 2-3 minutes or till light brown in color. Add the coriander & turmeric powder next along with the soya sauce mix made earlier. Simmer for another 2-3 minutes  on medium-high heat or till you see bubbles on the sides.Next, add the cornstarch mix to the wok. Reduce the heat to low and let everything simmer for another 2-4 minutes till the sauce thickens.

Next, taste & adjust the salt in the sauce. Sprinkle the garam masala & vinegar to the wok and stir everything well.Remove from heat and add the fried cauliflower to the pan & (very gently)  toss well so that the florets are evenly coated.Dont stir too much with spoon at this point, else cauliflower gets mushy.

Garnish with chopped green scallions & serve immediately.

Notes :-

  1. Substitute dark soya sauce with tamari.
  2. Adding tomato - chilli sauce adds extra heat, you can substitute with plain tomato ketchup of choice.

More Appetizers & Snacks

  • Schezwan Paneer Tart
  • Hariyali Chicken
  • Spicy Garlic Wings
  • Shishito Pepper Pakora (Fritters)

Filed Under: Appetizers & Snacks, Indian Streetfood & Indo Chinese Tagged With: Easy Recipe, Fats and Oils/Tel, garlic, ginger, gobi manchurian, Green Chilli, Green Chillies, indian food, indian food blogs, indian side dishes, indian spices, indian vegetarian, Indo Chinese, indo chinese cuisine, indo chinese vegetarian appetizers, making manchurian at home, Onion/Pyaaz, Recipe from blogs, Red Chilli powder, Spices & Seasonings/Masaale, spicy recipe, tangy cauliflower appetizers, Turmeric/Haldi

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. sybaritica

    June 08, 2012 at 3:38 pm

    Beautiful dish... I will be trying this!

    Reply
  2. Rosa May (@RosasYummyYums)

    June 08, 2012 at 4:04 pm

    Scrumptious and beautiful! A marvelous way of preparing cauliflower. What a wonderful combination of flavors.

    Cheers,

    Rosa

    Reply
  3. Suzi

    June 08, 2012 at 4:04 pm

    Oh my gosh this looks fantastic and your photos really do this dish justice. Tha sauce sounds killer, love the spice. Beautiful.

    Reply
  4. Sublime Palate

    June 08, 2012 at 6:27 pm

    This really takes me back to my Delhi days.. Those vans selling Indian-Chinese food and how the finely shredded veges and noodles up are thrown so skilfully up in the air and back to the wok to prepare that perfect hakka / chowmein! I miss that food and watching them cook. Your Gobi Manchurian looks delicious!!
    I love your writing. You should seriously consider sending these articles to a food magazine if you haven't already done that. Great work! All the photos are awesome though the last has such a cool, rustic touch to it - my favorite from this series:)

    Reply
    • Tanvi

      June 08, 2012 at 8:05 pm

      Oh my Vishakha, thats a HUGE compliment. But I ll take it 🙂 Thanks so much!

      Reply
      • Sublime Palate

        June 08, 2012 at 8:46 pm

        I meant it, seriously. And you deserve it! 🙂

  5. chinmayie @ love food eat

    June 08, 2012 at 6:39 pm

    That looks good! I am not a huge fan of Indo-chinese food mainly because of how greasy it is but the only thing I would eat once in a while in gobi manchurian! It's my guilty pleasure 😉

    Reply
  6. Eha

    June 08, 2012 at 8:31 pm

    I refuse to let my 'health oriented' brain take over, 'cause this looks SO delicious!! That Manchurian sauce is to die for: [now, how can I incorporate all your beautiful tastes into the cauliflower without deep-frying?] Mmhh . . . grey matter ticking away . . .

    Reply
    • Tanvi

      June 08, 2012 at 10:02 pm

      Haha...I think you can roast the cauliflower instead. I do it at times when I m not in mood of frying.The taste is not AWESOME as original but good (because the sauce is so flavorful)!Try it & let me know 🙂

      Reply
  7. Melange

    June 08, 2012 at 11:37 pm

    The dish Gobi Manchurian has come out superbly well here tanvi...Nice clicks to go with it.loved reading you.

    Reply
  8. Priya

    June 09, 2012 at 11:01 am

    Makes me hungry,super tempting and irresistible..

    Reply
  9. TasteFood

    June 09, 2012 at 2:02 pm

    This looks fantastic. What a great way to prepare cauliflower.

    Reply
  10. Ira Rodrigues

    June 10, 2012 at 9:19 am

    Your dish is remind me when i lived in India, I always order Gobi Manchurian for my side dish 😉 yumm...looking at your photo, I wanted to dive. How much i missed it

    Reply
  11. Lauren @ Part Time House Wife

    June 11, 2012 at 6:47 am

    I saw this on tasteologie and at first glance thought it was meatballs...then I saw it was cauliflower! Amazing.... totally making this! Yummmy

    Reply
  12. Lauren @ Part Time House Wife

    June 11, 2012 at 6:48 am

    Saw this on tasteologie and at first glance thought it was meatballs! I'm so excited that its cauliflower! I'm totally making this!!! Yummmmm

    Reply
    • Tanvi

      June 12, 2012 at 2:12 pm

      Thanks Lauren. Hope you like it 🙂

      Reply
  13. Peter @Feed Your Soul

    June 11, 2012 at 9:25 am

    these look awesome. saw you on tasteologie. must try.

    Reply
  14. Pragati

    June 11, 2012 at 10:01 am

    Yummy!!! I have always wanted to makes these at home... Can't wait to try this recipe.

    Reply
  15. [email protected] Chef in disguise

    June 11, 2012 at 9:51 pm

    My husband loves cauliflower and I think he will be instantly in love with this recipe

    Reply
  16. Nami | Just One Cookbook

    June 12, 2012 at 8:41 pm

    I love cauliflower Tanvi! This looks so delicious and love the glaze... I learned new word today - manchurian. Very yummy looking dish!

    Reply
  17. Sarah

    June 13, 2012 at 3:48 am

    Oooh, that looks delicious! This might change my boyfriend's mind about cauliflower.

    Reply
  18. [email protected]

    June 13, 2012 at 6:18 am

    yum
    I'm going to try it with baked cauliflower for a slightly more healthful version! thanks 🙂

    Reply
  19. Arch

    June 13, 2012 at 7:09 pm

    This reminds me of Bangalore. We would have the vendors selling it off their carts, with all the sounds of sizzling and tossing of those cauliflowers ! Beautiful pictures !

    Reply
  20. Faith

    June 14, 2012 at 5:19 am

    This is so enticing, Tanvi! I love the bold flavors that are perfectly balanced in here. I'm bookmarking this one!

    Reply
  21. kankana

    June 15, 2012 at 11:54 am

    I have always preferred Ind-Chienese to just authentic Chienese and that I think is in all Indian's taste bud 🙂 The glaze in the opening photo is seriously making me crave for it!

    Reply
  22. [email protected]'s Recipes

    June 16, 2012 at 5:42 am

    I love this cauliflower dish! So flavourful!

    Reply
  23. dassana

    June 17, 2012 at 12:57 am

    i like indo chinese food and do try to make it whenever possible. the cauliflower manchurian is looking delish.

    Reply
  24. Karen

    June 20, 2012 at 5:11 am

    What an informative post and a nice recipe to try...thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  25. [email protected]

    June 20, 2012 at 11:50 am

    Who would have guessed the cauliflower could be so gorgeous?

    Reply
  26. Tanvi

    June 20, 2012 at 12:18 pm

    Thanks so much everyone.

    Reply
  27. Reem | Simply Reem

    June 22, 2012 at 8:54 pm

    Tanvi, you dont know how much I love gobhi manchurian..
    Berco's in delhi was my place to go Or haka saka in defence for this...LOL
    Love the pictures!!!

    Reply
    • Nikhil

      June 23, 2012 at 5:54 pm

      I think you mean Aka Saka. I used to love going for the chicken and sweet corn soup....

      Reply
  28. Nikhil

    June 23, 2012 at 5:53 pm

    Hi Tanvi,

    Do you think there is a way to stir fry or saute (or even better, bake!) the gobhi, instead of deep frying? I can't legitimately keep making this for my family if it's deep fried. Any thoughts? Thank you!

    Nikhil

    Reply
    • Tanvi

      June 23, 2012 at 6:43 pm

      Hi Nikhil,
      Frankly, I havent tried any other way except frying.You can bake the cauliflower florets at 400F for about 25-30 minutes or until they get browned evenly.You will have to toss the florets midway for even roasting on all sides. Keep in mind that when you bake, the batter should be slightly thicker than what I have mentioned in the recipe- may be 2tbsp water should be enough. Try it & let me know.
      Thanks ..Tanvi

      Reply
      • Nikhil

        September 18, 2013 at 7:25 am

        Hi Tanvi,

        It's been over a year, but I finally tried this recipe baking, rather than deep frying it. Overall, it was very very good, so thank you. Having had deep fried gobhi manchurian, you will miss the deep fried taste, which is better. But if you can get past that, you can enjoy the baked version for what it is. I did have to put more water than the 2tbsp you suggested, but you are right about generally needing less than in the fried version. The gorgeous color of the deep fried version is also missing, but that's incidental. Thanks again for a great recipe (both deep fried and baked)

  29. Nikhil

    June 24, 2012 at 2:48 am

    I will try it in a few weeks and let you know. Thanks!

    Reply
  30. magicofspice

    July 07, 2012 at 1:39 pm

    What a delightful way to prepare cauliflower...looks amazing!

    Reply
  31. sandhya Ram joshi

    October 01, 2012 at 10:41 pm

    Many thanks to u for this

    Reply
  32. Montreal and Beyond

    February 04, 2013 at 4:48 pm

    I consumed absurd quantities of gobi manchurian when I visited India last year, but haven't had it since coming home to Canada... until tonight. Your recipe resulted in extreme culinary nostalgia. Thank you!!

    Reply
    • Tanvi

      February 06, 2013 at 9:51 am

      Thank you so much for trying out and tge feedback. Its one of the dishes which takes me back home too!

      Reply
  33. Prateeksha

    July 31, 2013 at 2:12 am

    Was searching for a nice, well defined and balanced recipe for this dish from months....I think my search has ended up here !! Will try soon....

    Reply
  34. Ranjani

    September 05, 2013 at 11:45 pm

    Really thanks for the dish, tasty and yummy...

    Reply
  35. mythreya

    June 14, 2014 at 6:42 am

    My mouth is watering just by seeing your photographs.You are a good food photographer.

    Reply
  36. Shay

    February 23, 2015 at 7:53 pm

    I made this tonight and it was so delicious!

    Reply
  37. Sowmya

    May 07, 2015 at 12:32 pm

    Good day to you!
    I love gobi manchurian & have tried it once at home. The result was good but I boiled the cauliflower so it was really soft. I was wondering what went wrong as all the websites instructed me to do so. Trust me u'r gobi looks perfect & the pics are making me drool.. Haha
    Am gonna try this awesum recipe tomorrow. Bt telme something if I fry the florets without boiling will I get the raw taste? Waiting fr u'r reply.

    Reply
    • Tanvi

      May 07, 2015 at 3:16 pm

      No not at all. I never boil cauliflower. The frying has to be done correctly as I mentioned in the recipe. Don't fry on very high or very low heat. Fry on medium low heat till the florets are cooked through (but not mushy) and are crispy outside.

      Reply
  38. Vonnie

    September 28, 2015 at 12:08 pm

    The dish looks like chicken wings. Yummy. Gotta try

    Reply
  39. Mary Ann Pruter

    December 10, 2015 at 10:30 am

    Tried this yesterday and it was delicious. I doubled the batter and the sauce and it was perfect. For red chili sauce, I used Sriracha and I used Tamari instead of soya sauce. This was amazing.

    Reply
    • Tanvi

      December 10, 2015 at 11:17 am

      Yay! Love your substitutions!

      Reply

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