There’s something about the Indian version of Chinese food that tickles our taste buds, especially those of our kids!! Unfortunately, the Chinese food you buy from restaurants are chock full of additives and artificial flavouring, making it a bad choice for a healthy diet. But don’t worry – your kids don’t have to sacrifice Chinese food forever; we’ll show you how to make a healthier version of your favorite Chinese dish – Kid friendly Vegetable Manchurian!! And before you ask, no this does not contain any ajinomoto or MSG and is full of the goodness of vegetables.
For the balls:
1/2 cauliflower, grated
1/2 cabbage, grated
1 carrot, grated
Salt to taste
Black pepper powder
3 tbsp refined flour
1 tbsp cornflour
Method:
1. Put all the grated vegetables into a mixing bowl. Add all the other ingredients and mix together to get a dough-like mixture. There’s no need to add extra water because the water from vegetables will help bind it together.
2. Heat oil in a pan. Make small balls out of the vegetable dough; larger balls will not cook completely.
3. On a medium flame, deep fry the balls till brown. Drain on a napkin.
For the gravy:
1 tbsp oil
1 onion, finely chopped
1 tsp garlic, diced
1 tsp ginger paste
1 tsp soya sauce
1 tsp tomato ketchup
1 cup vegetable stock
1 tbsp cornflour dissolved in water
Salt to taste
Black pepper powder to taste
Method:
1. Heat oil in a wok. Add the garlic paste and ginger paste and fry for a couple of minutes till the raw smell disappears.
2. Add the onions and saute till light brown. Add all the sauces and seasonings.
3. Add the stock and boil. Add cornflour paste to get the desired consistency. Add the fried balls to it and turn off the stove.
This makes a great side dish with simple homemade fried rice or noodles and will have your kids smacking their lips! You can add any vegetables of your choice, but ensure that they’re all grated to the same size and that they’re not too watery, or the dough balls will not hold. So next time you have to pack your little one’s lunchbox, go ahead and surprise him with some delicious homemade Chinese food!
- For the balls:
- ½ cauliflower, grated
- ½ cabbage, grated
- 1 carrot, grated
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper powder
- 3 tbsp refined flour
- 1 tbsp cornflour
- For the gravy:
- 1 tbsp oil
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 1 tsp garlic, diced
- 1 tsp ginger paste
- 1 tsp soya sauce
- 1 tsp tomato ketchup
- 1 cup vegetable stock
- 1 tbsp cornflour dissolved in water
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper powder to taste
- For the balls: Put all the grated vegetables into a mixing bowl. Add all the other ingredients and mix together to get a dough-like mixture. There's no need to add extra water because the water from vegetables will help bind it together.
- Heat oil in a pan. Make small balls out of the vegetable dough; larger balls will not cook completely.
- On a medium flame, deep fry the balls till brown. Drain on a napkin.
- For the gravy: Heat oil in a wok. Add the garlic paste and ginger paste and fry for a couple of minutes till the raw smell disappears.
- Add the onions and saute till light brown. Add all the sauces and seasonings.
- Add the stock and boil. Add cornflour paste to get the desired consistency.
- Add the fried balls to it and serve with noodles or fried rice.
Author
Kanika has a Masters in computer science and is now a stay at home mom to a cute little boy, Onish. She loves to cook and tries new and yummy recipes to get her fussy toddler to eat healthy.