Have you ever tried Chicken Manchurian? It’s a delicious dish made with pan-fried chicken chunks and seasoned with a fiery sauce. In this article, I’ll show you how to make Chicken Manchurian at home. 

You are going to love this awesome recipe. The ingredients are pretty easy to find except for a few spices. But there are substitutes for them, so even if you don’t have all the ingredients, you can still enjoy this mouth-watering dish. 

As you will see soon enough, this dish is really simple to cook, and the result is simply fantastic! So without further ado, let’s learn how to cook tasty Chicken Manchurian. 

 

What is Chicken Manchurian?

When it comes to Chinese food, Chicken Manchurian is one of the most popular dishes out there. It’s made with diced chicken and vegetables that are stir-fried in a sweet-and-sour sauce that’s flavored with garlic and ginger. In this recipe, the chicken is fried and then soaked in the famous Manchurian sauce. The sauce typically consists of soy sauce, rice vinegar, chili garlic paste, and sometimes ketchup or tomato paste.

The Chicken Manchurian is so popular around the world because it is a versatile dish that can be served up in many different ways. It pairs well with rice, noodles, and even lo mein. Regardless of what you pair Chicken Manchurian with- one thing’s for sure- this dish is a masterpiece of spices and flavors. 

The best thing about it is the way it combines the best elements of two distinct cuisines. The spicy flavor of the Indian cuisines merges flawlessly with the humble tastes of the Chinese ways of cooking. 

 

How Did Chicken Manchurian Originate?

Judging by its name, you might think that this recipe is Chinese Cuisine. But one taste, and you will find that’s not the case after all. It is an Indo-Chinese recipe made with a creative combination of Indian and Chinese cooking. 

The Chicken Manchurian recipe is thought to have originated in the Indian city of Mumbai. The dish was introduced by Chinese immigrants who lived in the city. More specifically, it was created by a Chinese chef named Nelson Wang. 

The Chicken Manchurian recipe has since become popular all over India, and it’s now considered to be a national dish.

In addition, the recipe is also popular in other parts of the world, including Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. Moreover, the Chicken Manchurian recipe has gained popularity in Western countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. 

 

Health Benefits of Eating Chicken Manchurian 

Chicken Manchurian is not just tasty, it’s a healthy dish as well. It has low calories and fat so you can enjoy this dish without having to worry about gaining weight. It is also a good source of protein and vitamins. The vegetables in the dish provide essential nutrients like fiber and vitamins. The sauce adds flavor without adding too many calories.

This dish is a great source of protein and iron. Eating Chicken Manchurian can also help boost your immune system and keep your heart healthy. As you know, chicken is a great source of protein, this helps keep your body healthy and active. 

One of the main reasons why Chicken Manchurian is so popular is because it has so many health benefits. It’s high in protein and fiber, and it also contains essential vitamins and minerals. Plus, it tastes great! Therefore, if you’re looking for a delicious and healthy meal, Chicken Manchurian is the best option.

 

Ingredients Required to Make Chicken Manchurian 

• Boneless chicken breasts, cut into small pieces. Cutting the chicken breasts into small, bite-sized pieces makes marinating a lot easier. The spices penetrate deep into the pieces. This makes each bite perfectly juicy and spicy. 
• Salt and Pepper. These basic ingredients add the slight flavors of warm spices deep into the chicken. So you can taste the Indian side of the dish in every inch. 
• Egg. Coating the chicken with egg locks the moisture inside it. Even after frying the chicken, it remains juicy and tasty. This is a very useful trick, especially for this recipe. However, you can skip the eggs if you don’t have any available. 
• Red chilies. The red button chilies are there to add an extra fire of spice and to make the sauce all the tastier. These are easy to substitute with any kind of dried chilies. Though, you might have to change their amount. Do a taste test to adjust the spice to your desire. 
• Chicken cubes. These are used to add flavor to the sauce. They can be replaced with chicken bouillon. If you don’t have those, you can also use some chicken broth for this recipe. 
• Cornflour. You need this ingredient to make the cornflour slurry. In its place, you can also use cornstarch for the slurry. The method of making the slurry will be given below. The method is the same with cornstarch, even the amounts are the same. All you have to do is replace cornflour with cornstarch. 
• Chili garlic sauce. This adds the Indian kind of aroma and taste to the dish. If you don’t have this at hand, you can also add more ketchup and some extra red chilies in its place. Another great option for you is Sriracha. 
• Ketchup. You can use tomato puree in place of ketchup but then you will also have to add some vinegar and sugar to the sauce. 
• Chili powder. This ingredient is optional. It’s for those who like their Chicken Manchurian extra spicey. So you can simply skip this if you think the dish has enough spices already. 

 

Tips to Make Chicken Manchurian 

Here we have some great tips to help you make the perfect Chicken Manchurian:

• For this recipe, boneless and skinless chicken breasts are best. You have to cut them into small bite-sized pieces, so they marinate well and cook evenly. 
• Before coating it with flour, rub the chicken with salt and pepper and leave it aside for a few minutes. This way the spices can seep into the chicken and enhance its flavor. 
• The oil should be heated properly before frying the chicken. Make sure it is hot enough to cook the chicken quickly. But it shouldn’t be so hot that it burns the chicken instantly. 
• As soon as the chicken is cooked, take it out of the pan and put it on a plate. This will allow the surplus oil to get off the chicken. Less oil means more health. 

 

How to Make Cornflour Slurry?

To make cornflour slurry, simply add equal amounts of cornflour (or cornstarch) and water in a bowl. Mix until the mixture becomes smooth with no lumps leftovers. 

Cornflour slurry makes the Manchurian sauce thicker. You can adjust its amount as you wish. 

 

Chicken Manchurian Recipe 

 

Servings: Serves 4    Prep Time: 10 minutes + 30 minutes to Marinate    Cook Time: 20 minutes    Total Time: 1 hour    Cuisine: Chinese, Indian

 

INGREDIENTS:

To Marinate Chicken:

2 chicken breasts, cut in ¾ inch small cubes, ½ tablespoon garlic paste, 1 tablespoon light soya sauce, 1 egg, 4 tablespoons cornflour, ½ teaspoon white pepper, ½ teaspoon salt, 4 tablespoons oil (to stir-fry, divided into two halves)

 

For Manchurian Sauce:

2 tablespoons oil, 1 tablespoon garlic (minced), 5 whole red button chilies, 2 tablespoons soya sauce, 1 chicken cube, ½ cup capsicum or bell peppers of any color (sliced), ½ cup ketchup, 4 tablespoons chili garlic sauce, 1 ½ cups water (Use 1 cup water for thicker gravy), 2 tablespoons cornflour slurry (the method is in the description) , ½ teaspoon red chili powder (optional), ¼ teaspoon black pepper powder, 2-4 tablespoons green onions (thinly sliced), Fried Rice (to serve)

 

DIRECTIONS:

Marinate the Chicken 

Take a large bowl and throw in the garlic paste, soya sauce, egg, cornflour, white pepper, and salt. Mix these well and then add the chicken. Toss the chicken lightly and set it aside for half an hour to marinate. 

 

Fry the Chicken 

Take a pan and heat 2 tablespoons of oil in it. Add half of the chicken to the pan. Stir fry the chicken until it turns white. Then take it out of the pan. Add 2 more tablespoons of oil to the pan and add the second half of the chicken. Stir fry it in the same way as the first half. 

 

For Manchurian Sauce

Add two more tablespoons of oil to the pan and heat it to make the sauce. Add the garlic and red button chilies and fry for a minute. Then add the ketchup, chili garlic sauce, capsicum, and soya sauce. Simmer this for another minute, then add the water and stir gently until the sauce is well mixed. Now add the cornflour slurry and cook until the gravy turns glossy. This will only take a minute. As it cooks, keep stirring so there are no lumps left in the sauce. And at last, you can taste the sauce. Add the red chili powder and black pepper according to your liking. 

 

Serving the Chicken Manchurian 

Serve the fried chicken and drizzle the Manchurian sauce, generously, over the fried chicken. Garnish it with green onions and enjoy with some fried rice. 

 

Nutritional Information: 

Calories per serving	448 kcal
Carbohydrates	26g
Protein	28g
Fat	25g
Saturated Fat	3g
Polyunsaturated Fat	7g
Monounsaturated Fat	15g
Trans Fat	1g
Cholesterol	113mg
Sodium	2548mg
Potassium	590mg
Fiber	1g
Sugar	10g
Vitamin A	352IU
Vitamin C	4mg
Calcium	35mg
Iron	1mg

 

 

FAQs: 

Here are a few of the most-asked questions about chicken Manchurian that we could find and we will try to answer as best as we can. 

 

What is Chicken Manchurian Made Of?

Chicken Manchurian is made with some of the best cooking techniques and the tastiest ingredients. The chicken is diced and marinated with spices like garlic, ginger, peppers, and salt. Moreover, the Manchurian sauce is made with ginger, chilies, garlic, ketchup. Other ingredients like capsicum make it even more aromatic and tasty. 

 

What Does Manchurian Taste Like?

Chicken Manchurian has a spicy and slightly sweet taste. The thick sauce is made with the famous Indian spices, which give it a savory taste. You can make it even spicier with some extra spices. The ketchup gives it a sweeter taste. The chicken is made velvety with a Chinese technique and has a juicy texture.

 

Is Manchurian Chicken Spicy?

Yes, this dish can be spicy. This one is not for the faint of heart. But it can be made less spicy quite easily. You can adjust the spices as you wish. If you like, add even more of them to satiate your thirst for savory, but be very careful not to add too much. 

 

How Do I Make Chicken Manchurian Less Spicy?

Sometimes this recipe can get overwhelmingly hot and no one likes too much spice. So, what should you do in such a situation? You can make the dish less spicy by reducing the number of chilies and powdered pepper in the recipe. If that doesn’t work well enough, you can also add some chicken broth to lessen the hotness a little bit. 

 

What Is The Difference Between Chili Chicken and Chicken Manchurian?

These two recipes, when mentioned together, can cause a lot of confusion. The reason is that they both have almost the same recipe. 

There is no agreement over what makes these recipes different (or identical for that matter). There are variations of these recipes that have no differences at all. However, the most noticeable difference between their traditional recipes is the way they are cooked. 

Chicken Chili is fried in a batter of cornflour and then cooked with veggies and sauces. But, as you know our Manchurian is much different. It has to be marinated with spices first and then fried. After that, it is dipped in the sauce and served. 

There are also some differences in the taste and spices of the two distinct recipes. 

 

What Can I Serve With Chicken Manchurian?

Well, there is a long list of dishes that can go well with this recipe. However, I will only mention the traditional and most popular sides of this dish.

The fried rice comes first in this regard, it is simple and yet tastes magnificent with the Manchurian. It is also traditionally served with simple noodles, so you can give that a try as well. 

In addition, you can also serve it with steamed broccoli or fried green beans. 

 

Can I Make Chicken Manchurian Ahead of Time?

Of course, this dish can be made ahead of time. But you need to know a few things before you try that. 

First of all, make the dish as instructed in the recipe and then let it cool. When it is cold enough, store it in an airtight container and pop it in the fridge.

When you are ready to serve, simply reheat the dish. To do that, take it in a pan and heat over a medium-low flame until the chicken is heated through. Then you can serve and enjoy this yummy dish. 

 

 

In Conclusion

So, what can I say about this recipe, now that we all know it? One thing is clear, it is delicious in every way. It is quick and easy to make and all the effort that does go into making it is worth it. 

In this amazing recipe, the fried chicken comes together with an amazing sauce made of garlic, ginger, chilies, powdered peppers, salt, chicken cubes, and of course, ketchup. 

This thick and flavorful sauce represents the spicy Indian side of this recipe. The sauce and the fried chicken combine so well that you can taste every different ingredient perfectly. The savory and sweet combo had never tasted so great. 

Then there is the fried rice that makes its flavor stand out even more. You will see the same effect even if you serve it with simple noodles. This is what I love about this dish. It can taste awesome no matter what you serve it with. 

If you are looking for an easy chicken recipe that can make your whole family praise your cooking skills, this is the dish for you. 

In addition, what makes it so extraordinary is that you can easily change the recipe to fit your liking. Want to make it more savory? Add more of your favorite spices. Want to make it sweeter? Add some more ketchup. 

As you see, you can change it in any way you wish. 

I don’t think there is anything more I can tell you about this recipe. All that is left to do is try it out! And when you do try it, please let us know how it went in the comments. 

And don’t hold back if you have any tips and tricks that can help us improve our recipes.