VEGETABLE MANCHURIAN WITH HOT GARLIC SAUCE

Ingredients:
1 cup cabbage- very finely chopped or finely grated
1 cup green beans – finely chopped
1 cup carrots – grated
4-5 florets- grated cauliflower
1 small bunch green onions- finely chopped
2 table spoons white corn flour
1 tea spoon soya sauce
1 tea spoon finely chopped garlic
1 tea spoon white pepper powder
Salt to taste
Water as required
Oil for Frying
Method:
Mix all the vegetables with salt, corn flour, soya sauce and white pepper powder.
If it is too dry, add a little water and mix well to form into small balls.
Heat oil in a wok or a fry pan and deep fry these vegetable balls until golden brown.
Can be consumed as is or with the accompaniment of any ketchup or sauce.

For the Hot garlic Sauce:
Ingredients:
1/4 cup finely chopped garlic
1 table spoon finely chopped ginger
1/3 cup red chilli paste
¼ cup tomato ketchup
1 table spoon soya sauce
1 tea spoon white pepper powder
1 pinch MSG (Mono sodium glutamate) – Optional
2 table spoons oil
1 table spoon chopped sweet green peppers
1 table spoon sliced onion
1 table spoon green onions
1 table spoon corn flour dissolved in 2 table spoons of cold water
Salt and according to taste
Sugar- optional
Method:
1. Heat oil and fry the ginger and garlic on high heat
2. Add sliced onions and green peppers and fry again for 2 mins until soft
3. Add pepper powder, MSG (if using), salt, soya sauce, tomato sauce, red chilli paste and fry for 1-2 minutes
4. Add ½ cup water and let it boil; check for seasoning; add sugar if needed and if it is too spicy.
5. Add the corn flour slurry and adjust the consistency
6. Remove from fire.
7. Garnish with chopped green onions.

To serve:
Arrange the vegetable balls on the serving dish, and pour the sauce on top. Serve hot, garnished with chopped green onions with a side of schezuan fried rice.

Variation:
As mentioned above, prepare the vegetable balls and set aside. Prepare the sauce without the water. Add the fried vegetable balls in it and toss so that it coates them. Do not fry or mix for a long time as they become soft and soggy. Just toss for less than a minute on high heat and remove from fire. Garnish with green onions and serve immediately to retain the crunch.