Hyderabadi Veg Manchurian Recipe step by step

If you love ordering Veg Manchurian at restaurants and dhabas but feel slightly scared to make it at home, don’t worry you’re not alone ! Those manchurian balls which feel very tempting are actually very easy to make. No magic, no secrets or no Chinese degree required.

This simple Veg Manchurian recipe is perfect for beginners and made quite easily with ingredients you already have at home. For my readers, make sure you try this recipe at home !

Why Veg Manchurian Never Gets Old

Let me tell you, one can never get old of veg manchurian because it has its own reasons. It is a perfect street-style food with a comforting aura. What makes it special is its texture, it feels crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. 

What makes Manchuria even better is, it can be enjoyed as a snack, or served as a starter for guests, or simply paired with fried rice or noodles. Let’s start with the recipe.

Ingredients required

For veg balls

Cabbage
Carrot
Capsicum (optional)
Spring onion whites
Ginger & garlic

For coating

Cornflour
All-purpose flour (maida)
Salt
Pepper

For the sauce 

            Garlic
            Green chillies
Soy sauce
Chilli sauce
            Tomato ketchup
            Vinegar

Choosing the right vegetables

1. Cabbage (the main ingredient)
2. Carrots
3. Capsicum (small amount)
4. Spring onion whites

Avoid choosing vegetables like onions as it releases too much water, tomatoes, Bottle gourd (lauki), and mushrooms. Using these vegetables can make the mixture watery, loose, and can lead to breaking of the balls.

Recipe overview 

 Prep Time – 20 minutes

Cooking time – 25 minutes

Servings – 3-4 people

Step-by-step method

Making the veg balls

1. In a bowl, add the following ingredients and mix well using your hands.

1½ cups finely chopped cabbage
½ cup grated carrot
2 tbsp finely chopped capsicum
2 tbsp spring onion whites
1 tsp grated ginger
1 tsp grated garlic
3 tbsp cornflour
2 tbsp maida (all-purpose flour)
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp black pepper

2. When you hold the mixture, it should come together and hold proper shape without breaking.

Quick tip : Do not add more water. If the mixture feels watery, add 1 more tsp of cornflour.

Frying the balls until golden brown

3. In a pan, heat oil for deep frying and keep the balls ready. They must be of small- lemon sized balls.
4. Fry the manchurian balls in batches  to avoid overcrowding and to equally fry the balls. It will take around 5 minutes.
5. The balls should turn light golden in color and crispy from the outside.

Quick tip : Fry the balls on medium flame. If the balls are dark brown in color they might be hard from the inside. We don’t want that.

Preparing the sauce

6. Heat 1 tsp oil in a pan and add finely chopped garlic, 1-2 chopped green chillies.
7. Then add 1 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp red chilli sauce, 2 tbsp tomato ketchup, 

1 tsp vinegar, ½ cup water and salt to taste. 

8. Keep cooking this mixture on high flame for 2 minutes until the sauce looks slightly thick.

Quick tip :  At this stage, taste the sauce once and adjust salt if required.

Mixing everything together

9. Now we add the fried veg balls to the sauce.
10. Toss the manchurian balls gently for a few seconds, 30-40 seconds. 
11. If you want slurry for the gravy, you can add a mixture of 1 tsp cornflour + 2 tbsp water to the gravy and mix until the sauce thickens. 

Quick tip : Once the balls are mixed, turn off the flame because overcooking the balls can make them soggy.

Your tasty veg manchurian is ready to be served hot !. You can serve it chopped green spring onions or simply onions. 

Frequently asked questions 

Why do Veg Manchurian balls break while frying?

Manchurian balls usually break when the mixture is too watery, or if the oil is not hot enough. Keep a balance of everything while you do it.

Can I prepare Veg Manchurian balls in advance?

Yes, manchurian balls can be prepared in advance and they can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.

Why does my Manchurian sauce taste too salty?

Since soy sauce is already salty, we need to carefully add the quantity of salt. Tasting the sauce before always helps.

How do I make Veg Manchurian gravy thicker?

You can make the manchurian gravy thicker by adding cornflour slurry to the gravy. Mix 1 tsp cornflour and 1 tsp cornflour and add.

 Can kids eat Veg Manchurian?

Yes, kids can eat veg manchurian. You can just reduce the green chillies and chilli sauce. 

Can I use the same recipe for Veg Manchurian dry and gravy?

The Veg Manchurian balls remain the same for both dry and gravy versions; only the quantity and thickness of the sauce change.