How to make crunchy and delicious gobi manchurian.

A delicious concoction of lightly battered gobi or cauliflower in a chili-laced sweet and sour sauce. Despite its name, the dish is virtually unknown in Manchuria - China or Russia

Americans could call this as General Tso's cauliflower or as Rashmi Bansal posts on her blog -

Then, one day  (a few decades ago) Nelson Wang ( a Mumbai restaurant owner) deep fried some boneless pieces of chicken, dunked them in a hot n spicy Indian style sauce and came up with the exotic sounding name 'Manchurian'. And Chinese was permanently de-chinkified and took on Indian culinary citizenship.

Gobi manchurian is sometimes also called Gobhi Manchurian, Gopi Manchurian or Cauliflower Manchurian.

This recipe of gobi manchurian makes the outside crunchy and chewy and the cauliflower or the gobi is just done. Variations of the gobi manchurian recipes also turn out some other interesting finger foods like chilli gobi (HOT stuff).

This recipe of gobi manchurian serves 6.

Gobhi manchurian can be made in 2 styles - dry gobi manchurian and gobi manchurian gravy... we usually prepare the dry gobi manchurian in the Isha kitchen.

The recipe with instructions seems slightly long but if you follow it, I can assure you success = crunchy and a little chewy on the outside and well done inside, in a mouth watering, sweet, tangy and a spicy sauce.

Ingredients for gobi manchurian –

Batter

• 1 Tbsp soy sauce
• 1 Tbsp ginger paste
• ¼ tsp black pepper powder (coarse)
• ¼ tsp salt
• 3/4 cup all purpose flour or maida
• 3/4 cup corn starch (NOT corn meal or corn flour). Substitutes like tapioca starch or arrowroot powder may not work well
• 6-8 cubes of ice
• Water (if you don’t have ice, add very cold water)

Mix all the dry ingredients, then add the ginger paste followed by the soy sauce, ice cubes and water. The batter should not be too runny nor thick. Don’t over mix.

Mix the batter after all the prep work is done and while the oil is warming up.  

• 1 medium Gobi / Cauliflower (5 inches in diameter) serves 5-6 people
  Cut the cauliflower into small bite sized florets by vertically slitting the stem of the bigger pieces with a pointed knife.
• 1 green bell pepper chopped to 1 inch x 1 inch pieces

Heat enough oil for deep frying in a thick bottomed skillet or wok on medium high heat. Test the oil temperature buy dropping a small piece of gobi dipped in batter in the hot oil. If it bubbles and rises to the top within seconds, then the temperature is right. If it sinks to the bottom that means the oil is not hot enough.
When the oil is hot, carefully add 5 – 6 pieces of the battered gobi and bell pepper. Don't overcrowd the pan. Carefully add the florets dipped in batter, leaving space around each piece so it cooks evenly. If you add too many pieces at once, the oil temperature will suddenly drop and the food will absorb the oil and become soggy and may clump up. If the pieces stick together, separate them and fry.
Fry till it is golden in color. If it looks whitish, it is still not cooked.

Keep aside. DO NOT COVER it with a lid after frying.

The Manchurian sweet, tangy, spicy sauce ingredients

• 3 Tbsp soy sauce
• 1 Tbsp ginger paste
• 3 Tbsp Tomato Ketchup OR tomato paste mixed with 3 Tbsp water (use tomato paste if you want to avoid the onion powder in the ketchup)
• 3 Tbsp sugar
• ¼ tsp black pepper powder
• ½ tsp paprika powder (this is added for flavor and color)
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 tsp chili paste (optional) – To make the chili paste blend 10 dried red chilies (without seeds) in ½ cup of lime juice or vinegar or water. Or simply soak hot red pepper flakes without seeds in lime juice or vinegar overnight. Sprinkle a pinch of salt on top of left over chili paste to store in refrigerator for future use.
• 1 tsp oil
• ½ tsp corn starch mixed with 3 Tbsp water for slurry

Making the sweet, tangy, spicy Manchurian sauce

The cooking time for the sauce will not be more than a couple of minutes so have everything ready in small bowls to add.

Heat the oil in a pan and add the ginger paste, paprika and black pepper powder, sauté for ½ - 1 min on low heat, add the chilli paste according to taste, turn heat to high.

Keep stirring and add the tomato ketchup or tomato paste mixed with water and soy sauce. As this comes to a boil add the sugar.

After a minute add the cornstarch slurry and keep stirring for a minute on high heat. To avoid over cooking the slurry, add it only near the end of your cooking time.

Taste and add salt if necessary (this will depend on your soy sauce). Remove the pan off the stove.

Your gobhi Manchurian sauce is ready.

Pour the hot sauce on the fried Gobi pieces and toss. Do not cook the fried gobi in the sauce.

Sprinkle white sesame seeds and coarsely chopped cilantro leaves. Serve hot.

Please let me know how it turns out or if I you face any challenges.

Yoga, religion, California and more...

What is yoga? As per Wikipedia - Yoga refers to traditional physical and mental disciplines that originated in India. The word is associated with meditative practices. Major branches of yoga include Bikram yoga, Isha yoga, Rāja Yoga, Gyana Yoga, Karma Yoga, Kriya Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, and Hatha Yoga. Other forms of yoga known and practiced in the west and all over the world are - bikram yoga, kundalini yoga, hot yoga, iyengar yoga, vinyasa yoga and even Christian Yoga.
The Sanskrit word yoga has many meanings and is derived from the Sanskrit root "yuj", meaning "to unite". Someone who is dedicated to practicing yoga is called a yogini.

What are all these different types and which is right for me? Should I do kriya yoga or moksha yoga or is raja yoga appropriate for me? How do I choose between the various yoga schools? Should I do yoga at home or go to a yoga studio or the local YMCA?

A few years ago, I used to think that a few fit women practiced yoga and meditation until I came across a flyer of  Sadhguru J Vasudev. Little did I know that this yogi and mystic from India would change my life.

When I first looked at the flyer, I frowned at it, thinking here is another swami, dressed in orange robes, come to hit the gullible people of US… offering “hundred dollar blessings”. I shook my head in disgust.

A few nights later while flicking tv channels, there he was on an obscure local channel – Sadhguru Vasudev, introducing Inner Engineering one of his basic program. That was it….  

Where did yoga originate? Yoga originated somewhere between 20,000 to 40,000 years ago. Shiva also know as the Adhi Yogi or Adhi Guru imparted the teachings to seven rishis in the Himalayas who then spread it all over the world. It is interesting to note that there are some Americans who think that yoga originated in California.

Is Yoga Hindu?

Yoga is non religious. Yoga has nothing to do with the so called hindu religion. In fact there is no such thing as the Hindu religion. Hindu comes from Sindhu  which is a river, The Persian people called the people who lived in India or the Indus valley as "Hindus". In their language "S" becomes "H". For example in Persian the word Asura of Indian Vedic origin became the word Ahura of Persian mythology. So the Sindhus – people living along this river became Hindus. The term Hindu was used primarily to describe a  geographical located society and was made up of people of different religions. It is the confused British who first coined "Hinduism" and called it a religion.

Is yoga a religion? If I practice yoga am I religious?

NO.

In religion, the following are usually a part of religion – worship, services to attend, rituals, clergy or a priest to lead religious services, an institutional structure, membership procedures, congregation, temple, churches, mosques or places of worship and deities. Yoga has none of these.

BUT religion can be helpful. Yoga does not conflict with any religion. Yoga encourages meditation on and cultivation of lovingness, compassion, non-violence, truthfulness, goodwill and acceptance, as well as training the senses, non-possessiveness, and other such virtues. Religion also recommends cultivating such virtues.

Then what about meditation? Is that religious?

Common people may sometimes consider meditation as prayer or worship. But it is not so. Meditation simply means bringing awareness. Whatever activity you do with awareness is meditation or meditating. Watching your breath is one of the most common form of meditation; listening to the music is meditation and can make you become meditative. This is not a technique but a state that one can be in. Some years ago meditation was considered as something not meant for modern people, but now it has become popular with all kinds of people especially the so called intellectuals. Published scientific studies and growing medical research has proven the benefits of meditating and meditation beyond doubt. To ignore this any more is stupidity. Most successful people are meditators or practice yoga in some form, including well known astronauts, rocket scientists, doctors, engineers, priests, Christians, Muslims, biologists, philosophers, writers, actors, celebrities, millionaires and many Pastors.

Some basic information on different types yogas found in the US-

What is Bikram yoga? Popularized by Bikram Choudhury in the US, BikramYoga is a system of yoga that Bikram Choudhury synthesized from traditional yoga techniques. His studios are located all over the US and can be found here . This practice has been developed from Hata yoga and is a 26 postures sequence which helps the body to maintain optimum health and maximum function. Their website states that Bikram Yoga can be practiced under the guidance of a certified Bikram Yoga Teacher at any one of their affiliated bikram yoga studios. Hatha Yoga flushes away the waste products in the system and the toxins from the glands and organs of our body bringing nourishment to every cell of our body so that each one can perform its function and keep the body healthy. Bikram Yoga also employs heat to facilitate sweating out the impurities out of the body thus like a cleansing process.

What is Isha Yoga – Ishayoga is a customized system of yoga. Isha Yoga distills powerful, ancient yogic methods for a modern person, creating peak physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. This basis of total wellbeing accelerates inner growth, allowing each individual to tap the wealth of vibrant life within oneself. Sadhguru's introductory program, Inner Engineering, introduces Shambhavi Maha Mudra - a simple but powerful kriya (inner energy process) for deep inner transformation.
The Inner Engineering approach is a modern antidote to stress, and presents simple but powerful processes from yogic science to purify the system and increase health and inner well being. Program components include guided meditations and transmission of the sacred Shambhavi Maha Mudra. When practiced on a regular basis, these tools have the potential to enhance one's experience of life on many levels.

Health

•Optimize health and vitality and promote emotional balance

•Reduce stress and increase ability to handle stressful situations

•Increase and maintain high energy levels throughout the day

•Prevent chronic diseases like Asthma, Allergies, Sinusitis, Hypertension, Diabetes, Obesity, Rheumatism, Arthritis, Epilepsy, Insomnia, Back pain, Skin and eye ailments, Migraine

Performance

•Enhance focus, concentration & memory

•Raise productivity and efficiency

•Improve communication & inter-human relationships

Experience

•Establish a positive & open approach towards life

•Evaluate personal values and life goals

•Generate inner peace and fulfillment

•Transcend limitations and fears

•Live & experience each moment to the fullest

What is Raja Yoga – the word Raja means royal or king like and yoga means union, so raja yoga literally means royal yoga. All forms of yoga, whether rajayoga  or isha yoga all employ  the body and the mind using meditation to advance one's aspirations toward liberation. Raja yoga meditation helps one realize the ultimate potential within oneself.