Gobi Manchurian & Chilli-Garlic Fried Rice

Gosh, it's been months since I posted anything on my blog and am feeling already guilty about it. I must admit that my work life has truly taken a toll on me that I have nearly forgotten what cooking is all about. London life is fast, super fast! Weekdays come, weekends go and I just go with the flow. Months have gone by and I just left my hobby, my passion somewhere that I did not even get the time to revive it.  But no more....today I bring to you not one, but two recipes of Indo-Chinese influenced dishes. The very popular Gobi Manchurian and Chilli-Garlic Fried rice. So be ready with your wok and spoon, we have work to do!! :)

Gobi Manchurian

Ingredients:

• 1 medium cauliflower (break into florets)
• 1/4 cup Maida
• 3 tsp cornflour
• 1 scallion or salad onion (bulb and green finely chopped)
• 1 bell pepper (cut into bite size chunks)
• 2 tsp chopped ginger
• 2 tsp chopped garlic
• 1/2 tsp red chilli powder
• 1 tsp red chilli flakes
• 1 tsp milk
• 1 tsp soy sauce
• oil for deep frying
• salt to taste
• a pinch of red food colour (optional)

Method:

1. Boil the cauliflowers florets for 3-4 minutes in plenty of water. To it add the milk. Drain and pat dry the florets. 
2. Make thin batter out of flour, 2 tsp cornflour, half of chopped ginger and garlic, red chilli powder and salt to taste.
3. Dip the florets in the batter and deep fry the florets in batches. keep aside.
4. In a separate wok, add 3 tsp of oil. Add the remaining chopped ginger and garlic, crushed dried red chilli flakes and fry for a minute. Now add the chopped bell peppers. Saute for another couple of minutes.
5. Add 1 & 1/2 cup of water to the wok and bring it to a boil. Meanwhile mix 1 tsp of cornflour to 1/4 cup of water & dissolve well. Gradually add the cornflour water to the boiling gravy & stir continuously till it resumes boiling. Boil till the gravy becomes transparent and starts to thicken.
6. Add the deep fried florets to the gravy along with soy sauce. Cook the gravy for 2-3 minutes more and remove from fire.

Chilli-Garlic Fried Rice

Ingredients:

• 10 cloves of garlic (finely chopped)
• 1 cup of cooked rice
• a bunch of scallions or salad onions (bulb and greens finely chopped)
• 1 carrot (finely chopped)
• 1 capsicum / bell pepper (finely chopped)
• 2 fresh red chillies (grind to a wet paste)
• 2-3 dried red chillies (broken into pieces)
• 1 tsp soy sauce
• 1 tsp malt vinegar
• 1 tbsp cooking oil
• salt to taste

Method:

1. Heat oil in a kadai or wok. Add the chopped garlic to the oil and saute for 30 seconds.
2. Now add the chopped scallion bulb, chopped carrot, bell peppers, red chilli paste, dried red chilles and salt. Saute for 2-3 minutes.
3. Turn the gas to its highest flame and add the cooked rice to the wok along with scallion greens, soy sauce, vinegar and stir fry for 2-3 minutes.
4. Serve hot, hot, hot!!