Cauliflower Manchurian...Gobi Manchurian

Hello all

Back again…

Busy is hardly an excuse ,but I was so busy that I did not know what was going on in my kitchen, and in my absence sweet child of mine feasted on maggi noodles and more maggi noodles and then some more.

Now that the scene is calmer, he’s decided that it is really un-cool to miss the mother or express any sign of affection. After all, he is going to be twelve next month. Right now the book that is influencing him is “Diary of a Wimpy Kid”, so the confusion of choosing between Roderick and Greg Hefley as role models.

Decisions, decisions!!

How difficult is life?

In this entire tussle, I realized that I miss my mommy too….and I miss the taste of home…..so therefore Inspirations….

Truth be told, I miss the home delivery to my parents home.        

There is this little joint, not in the wall, but in a Minivan. Yup, the engine is there, the insides have been removed to accommodate a kitchen and the service is done on the roadside through a ginormous window in the Minivan.

It’s called RAJA CHINESE BTW.

He makes this awesome Manchurian, loaded with msg (ajino moto) and road side dust and pollutants from the cars that ply the road.

But I guess that’s why its so addictive.

Gobi Manchurian (Gobi=Cauliflower) was what I was craving, so that was dinner last night.

Before we move on to the red velvet cookies…

For the

Cauliflower Manchurian...Gobi Manchurian...

You need

1 head cauliflower

1 big onion chopped

1 tsp each finely chopped ginger and garlic

2-3 green chilies chopped

½ tomato chopped

1 stalk lemon grass (optional)

Salt, red chili flakes and pepper to taste

½ cup each corn flour and plain flour

1/3 cup tomato ketchup

1 tsp soy sauce

1 tsp ajino moto /msg

2-3 tsp red chili sauce/green chili sauce (optional)

1 tsp vinegar

1 cup chopped fresh coriander

Oil to deep fry

Wash and cut the cauliflower into florets.

Put them in a bowl with a few teaspoons of water and cover with cling film. Zap in the microwave for 3 minutes.

Remove them from the bowl and drain on a kitchen towel.

In the meanwhile, place a pan on the heat, and add 1 tsp oil to it. When it is hot add the onions and the chopped ginger and garlic.

This lemon grass is from my garden,and hubby dear is not very enthusiastic about it.So I use only this.Let this cook and remove it before the family can see or taste it.

Fry till the onion is translucent,add the green chillies

Add the salt and the red chili flakes and pepper.

Now add the tomato and a third of the coriander.

Mix the sauces with the liquid left after cooking the cauliflower.

Add to the pan and stir well.Add the msg and the lemon grass stalk to let the flavour steep in.Check the seasoning now too. Keep aside and put the oil on to heat for the fritters.

Mix the corn flour and the plain flour, and season it with salt pepper and the red chili flakes.

 I have a bottle of Chinese seasoning powder that contains sesame seeds and celery powder, so I dunked a bit of that in too. Mix with water to a thinish batter.

Dip the florets into the batter and drop them into the hot oil.4- 5 florets at a time, you don’t want to cool the oil. Remember, you are not looking to cook the cauliflower, mushy will be bad….the crunch is what is needed.

Prefer to do all this when there is no one around, otherwise the fritters for the dish end up in tummies and not in the sauce…..the sauce is left JILTED…..at the altar of its life.

That's what remains of the batter.

Heat the sauce again and add a little of the batter. Little, you don’t want a gluggy mess. The sauce should be glossy as your Lipper….spicy kisses are good too. Good way to introduce flavors to your little ones too. LOLZ

To this add the fritters and mix well.

More of the coriander, mix, mix and pour into a bowl, and eat while it’s still warm.

This one takes offence at being reheated.I removed the lemon grass stalk.

Chopsticks…wow!

Only can’t use them well, these are just for tashan! Just for show!

Made for dinner, this was, only it didn’t last that long.

Ode to Raja Chinese. I’m sure you have one in your neighborhood that you are just addicted to….

So what are you baking today???