Gobi Manchurian is a real crowd pleaser. It’s got crispy cauliflower coated in a delicious sauce. Delicious! Normally this dish is deep-fried when served as streetfood. However, making this recipe healthier, calls for an air-fryer or baking in an oven. Airfryer and baking give you yummy, crispy cauliflower, oil and calorie-free.
To make this dish, you will need cauliflower florets, cornstarch, all-purpose flour, soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, ginger, green onions, and a variety of spices. I made the sauce with soy sauce, vinegar, ketchup, and chili garlic sauce, giving it a tangy and spicy flavour.
Gobi Manchurian dry can be an appetizer or main dish in gravy, and you can make it however you like. You can make it with gravy by adding cornstarch and water to the sauce, or you can throw in your own veggies to create something special.
Gobi Manchurian is yummy and can be enjoyed by everyone. Airfryer or bake it and you won't have to feel guilty. Give this recipe a try and enjoy the yummy taste of Gobi Manchurian, whether you like it baked or cooked in an Airfryer!
This was inspired by my air fryer chilli paneer recipe on this site, and pairs well with both vegan hakka noodles and vegan fried rice. You can also use the gravy to make soy curls taco.
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Ingredients
For air fried gobi manchurian
- fresh cauliflower
- corn flour
- plain flour
- red lentil flour (can be replaced with corn flour and plain flour)
- water
For cauliflower manchurian gravy
- vegetable oil or olive oil
- onion
- ginger, garlic
- red pepper
- green pepper
- chilli sauce hot or sweet as per taste
- soy sauce
- corn flour
- water for corn flour
- green onion
- Salt as per taste
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions for cauliflower manchurian in air fryer
Bring water to a boil in a pan, then turn off the heat. Add the cauliflower florets and let them soak in the hot water for 10 minutes. Drain the excess water.
In a bowl, mix the marinade ingredients together.
Add water to create a thick slurry.
Toss the cauliflower florets in the slurry until coated.
Pass the florets through a sieve to remove excess slurry.
Preheat an air fryer at 190C for 5 minutes. Transfer the coated florets to the air fryer.
Cook the florets in the air fryer for 5 minutes at 190C | 375F, then brush or spray oil on them.
Cook for an additional 13-14 minutes at 190C|375F, until the cauliflower is golden brown and crispy.
Instructions for Gobi manchurian gravy recipe
Heat oil in a pan and add sliced ginger, garlic, and onions. Mix well.
Add green and red capsicums, along with salt, and sauté for 2-3 minutes.
Add soy sauce, chili sauce to this mix. In a separate bowl, mix cornflour and water together to make a slurry. Add this to the wok.
Allow the mix to come to boil.
Add the air-fried cauliflower florets to the pan and cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Turn off the heat and serve the cauliflower manchurian hot or warm.
Substitutions
- Instead of cauliflower, you can use broccoli or zucchini.
- Don't like the sweet and spicy sauce? You can always sub it out. Maybe try teriyaki or garlic sauce.
- Gluten-free option: If you're gluten intolerant, switch out the all-purpose flour with rice flour or gluten-free flour.
Variations
Spice up the Manchurian sauce with chili flakes or sriracha.
- Mix honey in the Manchurian sauce for a yummy flavor.
- For garlicky flavor, stir in some finely chopped garlic to the Manchurian sauce.
- Toss in toasted sesame seeds to the Manchurian sauce for a nutty taste.
- Manchurian with a twist: Spice up your Manchurian with pineapple for a unique flavor.
- Forget the cauliflower and make Tofu Manchurian. Make the tofu crispy in the air fryer and then mix it with the Manchurian sauce.
Storage
Store the chopped veggies separately. Make a quick slurry and dip the vegetables in it.
Top tip
- Preparing the cauliflower: Cut the cauliflower into bite-sized florets and soak them in salt water for 10-15 minutes to remove any dirt or bugs.
- Combine all-purpose flour, corn flour, salt, pepper, and water to make a smooth batter. Don't make the batter too thick or too thin. Dunk the cauliflower florets in the batter and cover them completely.
- Air Fryer: Spray some oil on the basket and place the cauliflower florets in a single layer, making sure they are not touching. Shake the basket occasionally to ensure even cooking.
- Sauce: In a separate pan, prepare the Manchurian sauce by sautéing garlic, ginger, green chilies, and vegetables in oil. Mix in soy sauce, chili sauce, ketchup, vinegar and sugar. Keep it going until the sauce thickens.
- Once the cauliflower is cooked, mix it in the Manchurian sauce. Sprinkle with spring onions and serve up.
FAQ
Do not overcook the cauliflower when its kept in hot water for few minutes. Try using red lentil flour in the batter while making baked gobi manchurian in air fryer.
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
gobi manchurian in air fryer
Equipment
- Mixing bowl
- wok
Ingredients
For air fried gobi manchurian
- 500 gms fresh cauliflower
- ¼ cup corn flour
- ¼ cup plain flour
- ¼ cup red lentil flour ¼ cup lentil flour can be replaced with 2 tablespoon corn flour and 2 tablespoon plain flour
- ½ cup water
For cauliflower manchurian gravy
- 2 tablespoon oil vegetable oil or olive oil
- 1 medium Onion diced
- 1 tbsp. sliced ginger
- 1 tbsp. sliced garlic
- ½ medium Red capsicum diced
- ½ medium Green capsicum diced
- 2 tablespoon chilli sauce hot or sweet as per taste
- 2 tablespoon soy sauce
- ½ tablespoon corn flour
- ¼ cup water for corn flour
- ½ cup Green onion 1 cup,sliced
- Salt as per taste
Instructions
gobi manchurian air fryer recipe
- Bring water to a boil in a pan, then turn off the heat. Add the cauliflower florets and let them soak in the hot water for 10 minutes. Drain the excess water.
- In a bowl, mix the marinade ingredients together and add water to create a thick slurry.
- Toss the cauliflower florets in the slurry until coated.
- Pass the florets through a sieve to remove excess slurry.
- Preheat an air fryer at 190C for 5 minutes. Transfer the coated florets to the air fryer.
- Cook the florets in the air fryer for 5 minutes at 190C, then brush or spray oil on them.
- Cook for an additional 13-14 minutes at 190C, until the cauliflower is golden brown and crispy.
- Keep it aside.
For gobi manchurian with gravy
- Heat oil in a pan and add sliced ginger, garlic, and onions. Mix well.
- Add green and red capsicums, along with salt, and sauté for 2-3 minutes.
- Add soy sauce,chilli sauce to this mix
- In a separate bowl, mix cornflour and water together to make a slurry,Add this to the wok
- Add the air-fried cauliflower florets to the pan and cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Turn off the heat and serve the cauliflower manchurian hot or warm.
Notes
Food safety
We sometimes take for a granted that we have years (or decades) of cooking experience, that the average visitor may not. Add to, or remove from, the list below with health and safety tips.
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
- Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
- Always have a good ventilation when cooking on a stove.
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