It is naturally vegan, gluten-free and healthy. Serve with Schezwan Fried Rice.
What is Gobi Manchurian?
Gobi Manchurian is also known as Gobhi Manchurian and Cauliflower Manchurian. It is a fusion Indo-Chinese dish served in Indian restaurants. It is made with cauliflower florets that are deep-fried and then stir-fried in a manchurian gravy. The sauce is typically made with ingredients like soy sauce, vinegar, ketchup, onion, ginger garlic paste and various spices. The Indo chinese recipe is known for its tangy, spicy, and slightly sweet taste. You can find cauliflower manchurian with a gravy or dry gobi manchurian. Gobi Manchurian can be served as an appetizer, main course or side dish and is often accompanied by fried rice or noodles. It is possible to prepare manchurian dishes with a wide range of vegetables. Common ones include Vegetable Manchurian, Soya Manchurian and Paneer Manchurian. I like to prepare this low fat Soya Veg Manchurian and sometimes Baked Tofu Manchurian.
Air Fried Gobi Manchurian
Air-fried cauliflower florets are tossed in a spicy manchurian sauce. It is one of my favorite dishes when the chinese food craving hits! Instead of deep frying the cauliflower, It is a healthier option than the deep-fried version. My version is not made with a runny batter but rather the flour is sprinkled over the washed cauliflower. There is less mess and the cauliflower remains so crispy! I prefer the dry version of gobi manchurian as cauliflower can become spongy if soaked in too much moisture. You can however, easily adapt this recipe to make a gravy version. My go-to these days are the air-fried versions of so many recipes instead of using the traditional method. An example are these Air Fryer Onion Bhaji. Other Air Fryer recipes include Air Fryer Baked Potato and Air Fryer Punjabi Samosa Puffs
Why you will love this recipe:
Suitable for vegans and vegetarians Popular flavours – manchurian flavours will tantalise your taste buds! No fry recipe – air frying uses considerably less oil compared to having to deep fry the cauliflower florets. Less fat than the original – a healthier alternative than the deep fried version!
Air Fryer Gobi Manchurian Ingredients
Full ingredients with measurements are available in the recipe card below at the end of this post For the air fryer gobi You will need to make a batter using the corn starch, seasoning and water. Alternatively, you can toss washed cauliflower florets in a tray of cornstarch and seasoning. Cauliflower – look for cauliflowers that are pale white in colour with minimal dark spots. The fresher, the better. I like to cut the florets into medium sized pieces for cauliflower manchurian. Corn starch (corn flour)- alternatively, you can use rice flour which is also gluten free Salt and black pepper – add to taste Oil – you can either brush on oil or use a cooking oil spray I do not recommend using frozen cauliflower for this recipe. If you are not gluten-free you can also use all purpose flour For the manchurian sauce Soy sauce – you can use either dark soy sauce or a mix of light and dark soy sauce Onion, garlic, ginger and green chilli – you can use either red onions or yellow onions Capsicum – I recommend using green capsicum (green bell pepper) as red and yellow tend to be sweeter. However, you can use any colour Spring onions – you will need both the green and white parts. Try to keep them separate as they are used at different stages in the recipe Tomato ketchup or Tomato sauce Sweet chilli sauce Red chili sauce or Hot sauce Sesame oil – sesame oil, commonly used in chinese cuisine, provides wonderful chinese flavours to this dish but you can of course use olive, sunflower or vegetable oil. Corn starch – to make a corn starch slurry. Alternatively, use arrowroot powder Spice powders: red chili powder, cumin coriander powder Salt and black pepper – go easy on the salt as the soy sauce is already salty Optional: Green chilies for a more spicy sauce
How to make Air-Fryer Gobi Manchurian
Firstly, prepare the air fryer cauliflower. Cut the head of a cauliflower into medium sized florets. Wash thoroughly and allow the water to drain or pat dry with a paper towel In a large bowl, add the washed cauliflower and sprinkle over a mix of rice flour and corn starch. Season with salt and pepper. Add in a little oil and mix well Spray the air fryer basket with a bit of oil or use parchment paper. Arrange the cauliflower in a single layer. Spray over more oil over the battered cauliflower. Air Fry for 10 minutes at 185C or until just tender and golden brown. Cooking time and temperature may vary based on your produce and air fryer model. Now, prepare the manchurian sauce. In a pan, add the sesame oil and heat on medium heat. Add in the onions and cook until translucent on a medium flame. Then tip in the white parts of spring onion, garlic and ginger and green chillies if using. Sauté for a minute before adding the chopped green pepper. (I forgot to add in mine whist making the video of this recipe, cooked separately later and added to the cauliflower) Add in the spice powders, and whichever sauce you want to use to find the perfect balance of spicy and sweet. I like to use a mix of soy sauce, chili sauce, sweet chilli sauce and ketchup. Season with salt and pepper Now prepare the cornstarch slurry. In a small bowl, add the corn starch with a little water. Mix to make a thin paste. Pour into the pan and mix quickly. If you want a gravy recipe, add a bit more water. Tip in the cauliflower fritters. Toss everything on high heat for a minute then take off the heat. Garnish with the green parts of the green onions.
Pro Tips for Crispy Gobi Manchurian
Instead of making a smooth batter, I find it quicker to simply sprinkle the rice flour/cornstarch over the cauliflower. This reduces any risk of a too thin or too thick batter and it also keeps the cauliflower crispy. Ensure the cauliflower are dry before adding into the basket. If they still have water, they will steam rather than air fry Use sauces based on your heat preference. If preparing for kids, reduce the chili sauce and add a bit more ketchup Add more or less red chilli powder based on your preference Go easy on the salt as soy sauce is already salty. Do a taste test before adding the salt
Serving Suggestions for Cauliflower Manchurian
Schezwan Fried Rice or Hakka Noodles go great with this Indian chinese cauliflower. Another option is Burnt Garlic Fried Rice
Storage
It is best to consume Gobi Manchurian as soon as possible to enjoy its taste and texture at its best. To store Gobi Manchurian, follow these steps: It’s important to note that the texture of the cauliflower florets may change slightly after refrigeration, and they might become less crispy. When you’re ready to eat the stored Gobi Manchurian, you can reheat it in a pan on the stovetop or in the microwave until heated through.
Other Indo-Chinese dishes
Chili Paneer or make Vegan Chilli Tofu Masala Mogo Schezwan Baby Potatoes Vegetable Spring Rolls As always if you make this recipe, be sure to leave me a comment, rate this recipe and tag me on Instagram @jcookingodyssey or #jcookingodyssey. I love seeing all your photos of my recipe recreations! Don’t forget to follow me on social media using the buttons below – I can’t wait to see you all there!
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