Monday, August 11, 2008

Tofu Manchurian

Soya sauce was the only Soya product I had tried till date. For no particular reason, I always ignored other Soya products. On my weekly grocery shopping passing by the super market’s refrigerator, to pick some cheese, I found myself staring at the tofu in there. All I remembered was the JFI-Soya event being hosted by Sia of Monsoon Spice. After standing there for some time I took my plunge; I walked away with the tofu to the cashier.

Once at home, I did not know what to do with it. I thought of checking on the net for some nice tofu recipes. As an after thought I decided to replace paneer with Tofu in a dish I make quite often, as it is a healthier version of the paneer and tastes and feel very much like it (Atleast this is what I had heard about it). Hence I came up with Tofu Manchurian, the name of the original recipe has only been altered to indicate the usage of Tofu in it :)

Tofu Manchurian

Ingredients:
200 gm Tofu
1/2 Green Capsicum cut into square pieces
1 Carrot Julienne
1 Onion cut into square pieces
1 Green chilly slit and cut into 1” pieces
1 T Spring Onions chopped finely
3 T Soya sauce
3 T Corn flour
2 tsp Black pepper
200 ml Water
Oil for frying

Thaw the tofu and cut it into 2 cm cubes.


Cut all the vegetables required.


Make a paste of corn flour with water and add salt and 1 tsp Black Pepper to it. Put the Tofu pieces in it. In a wok heat oil for frying and fry the dipped Tofu pieces. Once light golden remove on a paper towel. Keep aside the remaning cornflour paste.


Heat 1 tsp Oil in a wok and add chilly and Onion to it. Sauté till onions turn transparent. Add the capsicum, carrot and black pepper to it and cook for 2 mins. Add the Soya sauce and mix well.


Add the water. Of the remaining Corn Flour paste take 2 T in a bowl and add some more water to it to make it into a flowing paste. After the first boil add this corn flour mix stirring constantly.


Add the fried Tofu pieces after the first boil. Let it cook for 2-3 mins.

Enjoy this as a side dish with fried rice or noodles.


It goes very well as a starter too, by reducing the water used to make the gravy.

Tofu indeed is very similar in taste and feel to Paneer; and it being very healthy is the Bonus. I am definitely going to try more Tofu recipes in future.

Thanks Sia for introducing me to this wonderful Soya product.

Photobucket

19 comments:

Sum Raj said...

looks awesome....loved the colour soo much...

Unknown said...

Nice entry....

pls check my blog.. surprise is there..
http://srikarskitchen.blogspot.com/2008/08/paneer-mutter-masala-award.html

Sagari said...

thats a healthy manchurian nidhi ,yummmmm

Srikitchen said...

first time to ur blog! excellent recipes u have! event going in my blog! join it!

Nidhi said...

~srikars Kitchen
Checked it, Sri..You always pleasantly surprise me. Thanks

~srilekha
Welcome!
Sure..off to check your blog.

Jayashree said...

Aahh....I see that you've discovered the pleasures of cooking for events :-))
Nice entry.

Sia said...

i love paneer manchurian and replacing it with tofu is a wonderful idea:) i have started experimenting tofu in most of the recipes which calls for paneer and it has been quite successful till now. have u tried palak tofu? it tastes wonderful and so is tofu stuffed paratha/kulcha. both the recipes can be found at my blog if u need any reference :)
thank u girl for sending me this delicious entry :)

Nidhi said...

~Jayashree
Ohh definitely...I think they are addictive ;)

~Sia
Thank you dear. I am excited about experimenting with Tofu. Thanks for hosting this wonderful event!

Purva Desai said...

Tofu Manchurian looks really inviting and a healthy replacement to paneer.
And will try ur chana dal option when I make it next time...thanks for sharing dear

Deepthi Shankar said...

lovely dish .. have always been hesitant to try tofu for no particular reason ... looks very tempting

Uma said...

mmm. this is one delicious manchurian. Awesome recipe Nidhi!

Srikitchen said...

added u to my blogroll nidhi and don't miss to participate in the event going in my blog.

notyet100 said...

firts timehere..u jave awesome blog,.nic eidea of tryin tofu instead of paneer in manchurian,,regardin breakfats event willmail her and ask,.if it suits will surely send..thnks for visitin...

Nidhi said...

~Purva
Thanks!

~Vegetable platter
:) I too was like that till I cooked this. I guess Sia's event is a good initiave for people like us ;)

~Uma
Thanks Dear.

~Srilekha
Thanks Sri!
Sure I am definitely in.

Yasmeen said...

tofu Manchurian is something new to try .Looks very tempting. Thanks for posting it.

Sunshinemom said...

Beautiful colour! Nice gloss and a great recipe!

Dershana said...

Hi nidhi, love the tofu manchurian. a little treat for you at my blog :-)

Nidhi said...

~Dershana
Thanks.
Off to check your blog.

MelbournePollachi said...

Great Nidhi..

I just finished your recipe today..


Kind regards,
Pradeep Rajkumar.