Gobi Manchurian as the name suggests is made from cauliflower. The Manchurian is also a mixture of some other vegetables, including carrots, cabbages and onions. The balls of this Manchurian are made from grated Gobi which is the primary ingredient in the recipe. Other grated vegetables like carrots and cabbages are also mixed to make small balls that are deep-fried and then cooked in a flavourful sauce. The sauce is a mixture of different ingredients, such as garlic, soya sauce, chilli sauce, and certain spices.
Video: YouTube
This Indo-Chinese delight is extremely popular, especially in the northern part of the country. While it is certainly a healthier version of the Manchurian made from all-purpose flour, it is not completely healthy. The name Gobi Manchurian automatically strikes the health cord in everyone's heart. The name might be deceptive as Gobi Manchurian to everyone's surprise is not completely healthy. It is far from anything healthy.
How Is Gobi Manchurian Made
Gobi Manchurian is typically made by taking some cauliflower, and then grating it finally. A mixture of some vegetables is mixed and small balls are made out of the mixture that are further covered with some cornflour. These balls are deep-fried in some oil. It is then mixed into a sauce that is simultaneously prepared by a mixture of other sauces. Some people like to prepare all the sauces like soy sauce, chilli sauce, and garlic mixture from scratch. But one can easily find it ready-made in the market.
By looking at the list of the ingredients, one can easily analyse that except for cauliflower and some other vegetables, no ingredient or step involved in the preparation of this Manchurian is healthy. In fact, in many parts of India especially Goa, this dish has been banned from being sold at stalls as certain street vendors use artificial colours and bad vegetables for the preparation.
Image Credits: Freepik
The Chinese sauces used in the preparation of this Manchurian have an extremely high glycaemic index and low nutritional value. Other than the fiber present in the vegetables used, nothing is healthy at all. The deep-fried Manchurian balls are extremely bad for the heart. They may develop problems like constipation, bloating and other gastrointestinal problems.
How To Make Gobi Manchurian Healthy
Gobi Manchurian is a recipe that is always going to be slightly unhealthy because its taste is such that it is incomplete without using some ingredients like soya sauce and tomato ketchup. But there are so many steps that can be avoided easily during the process of making Gobi Manchurian that can make it a healthier version of the otherwise conventional recipe. Here is a healthy baked Gobi Manchurian recipe that everyone can try making at home.
Ingredients Needed
* Cauliflower
* Parchment Paper
* All Purpose flour/ Corn starch
* Soya Sauce
* Chilli Sauce
* Tomato Ketchup
* Spices
* Pink Salt
* Baking Soda
Recipe
* To make this healthy version of Gobi Manchurian, the flower of cauliflower has to be cut into small pieces and then blanched. It is not appropriate to make the Manchurian without blanching the Gobi.
* It helps in retaining moisture. Along with the florets of Gobi, add some turmeric powder into the pain during the process of blanching. Let the water boil for five minutes and then strain the florets from the pain. Now in a separate container, take some corn flour or all-purpose flour as per choice.
* Add some black pepper, salt and other spices that one may like to add. Also, add some baking powder to the mixture. Create a thick batter out of it and put the florets of the Gobi inside the mixture. Cover all the florets with the mixture properly and then bake it in the oven for 25 minutes at 200°C.
* After 25 minutes, the florets will be cooked properly. Now to prepare the gravy, take a pan and heat some butter. Add some ginger, garlic and chopped vegetables like onions and tomatoes. Now add some soya sauce, tomato ketchup and chilli sauce.
* Chilli sauce can also be prepared very easily at home. Now add some water to give it a gravy-like texture. The final step is to add the cauliflower and sprinkle some herbs from the top. The healthier version of Gobi Manchurian is ready.
This recipe of Gobi Manchurian is a lot better than deep frying it. Instead of using an oven, one can also go for an air fryer.