Monday, March 7, 2011

Soya Manchurian

I picked up the pack of Soya chunks from the super market, and when we were home, little niece Hima asked to what it was. And D replied, it was what Chota Bheem ate and what made him that strong! And after that, for the next week I have lost count on the number of times she asked me to make ‘Chota Bheem’s food’ out of it!!! and I, incidentally was too busy at work that week and didn’t find time till the next weekend to make something out of soya chunks that she would eat.
Finally I decided to make Manchurian out of it, as D, me and Hima’s parents would love it, but for her I decided to give the fried soya chunks with just tomato sauce. And through out the cooking time I took, she has ran into the kitchen every 2 minutes asking if the ‘Chota Bheem food’ is ready!!
She ate it with delight and so we ate the Manchurian. It did come out pretty well, in a perfect consistency and taste.

Soya Manchurian

Preparation time : 20 min
Cooking time : 20-30 min
Serves : 4-5

Ingredients:
Soya chunks - 2 cups
Milk - 2 tbsp
Crystal salt - ½ tsp
Boiling water
Oil to deep fry

For batter:
Corn flour - 2 Tbsp
Rice flour - 1 Tbsp
Maida - 2 Tbsp
Orange food color - a small pinch, optional
Red chili powder - ½ tsp
Salt - ½ tsp
Water

For Manchurian sauce:
Cooking oil - 1 tbsp
Onion - 3 medium sized
Capsicum - 1, slit into 1” thin strips
Garlic - 4-5 cloves
Green chilies - 8- 10 (I didn’t have chili sauce, so used chilies)
Ajinomoto - 1 pinch, optional
Salt - ½ tsp, vary acc to taste
Vinegar - 1 Tbsp
Soya sauce - 1 Tbsp
Tomato ketchup - 2 Tbsp
Pepper powder - 1 tsp, optional (adjust as per your taste)
Corn flour - about 1 Tbsp, based on the required consistency

Method:
• In a big vessel, bring water to boil and when boiling, add crystal salt and milk
• Dump the soya chunks into the vessel, cover and keep aside for 10 minutes
• After 10 mintes, repeat the process in another vessel of boiling water for 10 more minutes. Check if they are soft, by breaking up one.
• Drain the soya chunks and squeeze out the excess water. If needed, pat dry on a clean kitchen towel

For sauce:
• Meanwhile in a wide pan, heat 1 Tbsp oil and add chopped onion, garlic and green chilies
• When done, add capsicum and sauté for a few seconds - don’t over cook the capsicum, retain the crunchiness
• Add salt, sauces, ajinomoto if using and stir
• Mix corn flour in water without lumps and add to the pan - adjust the consistency to your preference

Frying the soya chunks:
• In a skillet, heat oil for deep frying
• Ina small bowl, mix the flours, salt and chili powder for batter and add water to make into a thin paste. It should be of running consistency - not too thick not too thin
• Take the softened and drained soya chunks, dip it in the batter and deep fry in oil, 6-8 at a time on medium flame till golden brown
• When done, keep on a kitchen towel to drain excess oil
• Repeat with the rest of the chunks
• When done, add these to the prepared sauce, heat slightly again
• Adjust salt and pepper as per taste and optionally garnish with some more sautéed onions or chopped scallions and serve hot
• Goes well with fried rice as an accompaniment, or as a starter as is

Tips n Tricks:
• The batter, if too thick makes the Manchurian balls hard, and if too thin, doesn’t get the crisp texture and may absorb more oil
• The quantity of sauces used can be varied as per your taste - no hard and fast rule on the exact measures
• Adding milk while soaking the soya chunks eliminates the odor in it

12 comments:

  1. superb looking soya manchurian. This is not done :-p just had dinner n here you are tempting me...

    Deepa
    Hamaree Rasoi

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  2. Yummo..love it..beautiful color n flavors!!


    US Masala

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  3. Soya manchurians looks absolutely wonderful n inviting..

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  4. I love soya chunks they look so yummy !

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  5. Wow that looks very tasty! YUMMY Love soy made this way

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  6. This is really healthy and tasty manchurian..Bookmarked!!

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  7. Looks deelish! Thanks for sharing.. must try!

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  8. Wow, love soya chunks and this manchurian looks so tempting and delish! Great recipe..thanks for sharing!

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  9. hmm will try chota bheem trick on my kulli, coz personally i dont like soya chunks, so never brought them home, though i know they are good

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  10. yummi!!!
    shobha
    www.sbhobhapink.blogspot in

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