Tofu manchurian is a great companion for hakka noodles or fried rice. Perfect for vegans or those who want to avoid paneer, or chicken.It also has no fat and half the calories. I must admit, I never liked tofu recipes much. Always would wonder, how people eat it so much. However, a visit to a vegan Asian restaurant Huong Viet changed everything for me.It made me fall in love with Vietnamese cuisine all over again. Now, I love making Vietnamese salad, noodle soup as per the weather. Another latest addition to this is vegan mayo with tofu.
It has a peculiar taste and texture. Soft, firm, extra firm.It took me a while to understand which one I can eat. Someone who has not eaten it earlier, needs sometime to get used to it. I like the firm or extra firm one which can be fried like halloumi and Indian cottage cheese or paneer cubes. When you bake it or air fry it, the texture looks no different to its vegetarian options. In fact, when you put it in gravy, you will not know if its tofu or paneer. These days I ditch making my paneer and reach out to tofu chilli instead. Saves time and effort both!
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Equipment
- wok
- air fryer or oven
Ingredients
Tofu cubes
- extra firm tofu
- corn flour/tapioca starch/arrowroot
- oil
- salt optional if soy sauce is already too salty.
- soya sauce
Sauce mix
- tomato sauce
- hot chilli sauce adjust as per your taste
- sweet & sour sauce optional
- soy sauce adjust as per your taste
vegetable mix
- sesame oil or any vegetable oil
- sliced ginger
- sliced garlic
- Onion finely chopped
- Green bell peppers chopped
- Red bell peppers chopped
- Salt as per taste (Adjust as per salt in Soy sauce)
- black pepper powder
How to make tofu manchurian in air fryer?
Use the below steps to prepare pieces in air fryer.
- Cut the Tofu in cubes. Add tapioca starch/corn flour, salt, soy sauce and Oil.
- Place the pieces in the air fryer basket. You may use the steamer sheets or baking sheets with holes.
- In a preheated airfryer (190C/375F for 5 minutes) Cook in air fryer at 190 deg C for 10-11 minutes. Stir the pieces in the basket once between the cooking
Keep it aside and add to wok once gravy is ready.
How to make it in oven?
Use the below steps to prepare pieces in fan forced oven.
- After tossing the tofu pieces in the starch mix, spread them on a tray lined with baking sheet
- Bake in an oven(pre heated for 10 minutes) at 190 deg C(fan forced) for 15-16 minutes.
How to make manchurian gravy?
Steps for manchurian gravy are common whether you fry the pieces, bake in an oven or air fry pieces.
- Heat oil in a wok, add ginger, garlic and chilli. Add onion,salt cook on medium flame for few minutes.Now, add rest of veggies.
- Add the sauces with pepper and let it cook for few minutes.
- Add the tofu cubes to the mix
- Toss all ingredients together for few minutes.
- (optional)If you prefer a thin gravy , then this is the time to add 2 teaspoon corn flour/tapioca starch mixed with 1 cup water and let it boil.
- Garnish with sesame seeds and chopped spring onion greens.
Tofu manchurian Recipe
Equipment
- wok
- air fryer or oven
Ingredients
Tofu cubes
- 300 grams extra firm tofu
- 2 teaspoon corn flour/tapioca starch/arrowroot
- 2 teaspoon oil
- ½ tsp. salt optional if soy sauce is already too salty.
- 2 tsp. soy sauce
Sauce mix
- 1 tablespoon tomato ketchup
- 1 tablespoon hot chilli sauce adjust as per your taste
- 1 tablespoon sweet & sour sauce optional
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce adjust as per your taste
vegetable mix
- 2 tablespoon sesame oil or any vegetable oil
- 1 tbsp. sliced ginger
- 1 tbsp. sliced garlic
- 1 Onion chopped or ½ cup
- ½ Green capsicum chopped or ½ cup
- ½ Red capsicum chopped or ½ cup
- Salt as per taste Adjust as per salt in Soy sauce
- ½ teaspoon pepper crushed
Garnish
- ½ teaspoon Sesame seeds
- ¼ cup green onions chopped
Instructions
Prep tofu pieces in Air fryer
- Cut the Tofu in cubes,Add tapioca starch/cornflour,salt,soy sauce and Oil.
- Place the marinated tofu pieces in the air fryer basket. You may use the steamer sheets or baking sheets with holes.
- In a preheated airfryer (190C/375F for 5 minutes) Cook in air fryer at 190 deg C for 10-11 minutes. Stir the pieces in the basket once between the cooking
- Keep it aside and add to wok once gravy is ready.
Prep tofu pieces in Oven
- After tossing the tofu pieces in the starch mix, spread them on a tray lined with baking sheet
- Bake into oven(preheated for 5 minutes) at 190 deg C(fan forced) for 15-16 minutes.
Steps for tofu manchurian gravy
- Heat oil in a wok, add ginger, garlic and chilli. Add onion, cook on medium flame for few minutes. Now, add rest of veggies.
- Add the sauces with pepper.
- Add the cubes to the gravy. Toss them well. let it cook for few minutes.
- If you prefer a thin gravy , then this is the time to add 2 teaspoon corn flour/tapioca starch mixed with 1 cup water and let it boil.
- Garnish with sesame seeds and chopped spring onions.
Notes
Nutrition
Variations
The spice is as per your taste, hence please adjust the chilli sauce, soy sauce and red chili powder accordingly. You can use air fried baked tofu or fried tofu as per your choice in the above recipe.
Storage
You can air fry pieces and keep it in refrigerator for 2-3 days. Add it to fresh gravy for a great dish.
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