SPICY MANCHOW SOUP / INDO-CHINESE CUISINE

 

Manchow soup is a very popular one from Indo-Chinese Cuisine as it has a hot and spicy taste. It may be veg or non veg. The origin of this soup is said to be Meghalaya which is well known for it's spicy cuisine.

This soup is dark brown in colour. It is prepared with finely diced vegetables, chicken or sea food (for non veg version) and sauces. Before serving some crispy fried noodles are added to it. 

Ingredients:

Cabbage ................ 1/4 

Carrot ................... 1/2

Mushrooms ......... 3-4

Capsicum / bell pepper ...  1/2

Radish ............................ 1/2

Spring onions ................. 1 or 2 

Ginger ........................... 1 " piece

Garlic ............................ 2-3 cloves

Red chilli sauce ............ 1/2 or 1 tbsp as you prefer

Dark soy sauce .............. 1 tsp (little less or more adjust while cooking)

Corn starch ................... 2 tbsps + 1 tbsp 

Salt ................................. to taste

Noodles ........................ 1 cup

Oil ............................... for cooking 2 tbsps and 1 cup for frying the noodles

Method:

1. Boil the noodles adding little salt. Drain them and set aside for cooling. Add little oil so that they don't stick and become mushy.

2. When they are cool enough sprinkle 1 tbsp of corn starch. Coat them well and separate them. 

3. Heat oil in a wok and deep fry the noodles adjusting the flame until crisp. Do not make them brown. 

4. Now dice all the vegetables that you are using very finely.

5. Peel and crush the garlic and ginger. 

6. In a wok heat 2 tbsps of oil and saute the ginger and garlic.

7. Next add the diced vegetables, white part of spring onions and toss them well. Keep a crunchy texture and do not over cook them.

8. Stir in the sauces and add salt carefully as the sauces already contain salt.

9. Dilute the remaining 2 tbsps of corn starch with water and add it to the vegetables.

10. Give it a stir and add 2 cups or little more water according to the consistency you like.

11. Give it a nice boil. Check the flavours and adjust if required. 

12. Add some spring onion greens towards the end. 

13. Serve the soup in individual bowls and garnish with crispy fried noodles and spring onions. 

14. Keep some extra noodles to add while having the soup. 

15. Make some fried rice as an accompaniment and enjoy a simple Chinese meal.

Yield - 2 servings.

 Check out the video

About the group:

Shhhhh Cooking Secretly is a monthly challenge in a facebook group where we are paired with a different partner every month. Two secret ingredients are  chosen by each partner for the other one and we prepare any dish with those ingredients based on the selected theme of the month which was " HOME MADE RESTAURANT STYLE FOOD " This was suggested by Aruna Saraschandra who blogs at Vasus Veg Kitchen 

This month I am paired with Kalyani Sri and she gave me RADISH and  CORN FLOUR (STARCH) as my secret ingredients. I chose to make this delicious Indo-Chinese Veg Manchow Soup which is my favourite.

Check out Kalyani Sri's Instant Pot Darshini Style Veg Pulao. It is so delicious.

Pin for later

You may also like:

Hot and Sour Soup

Chicken Coriander Soup

Sweet Corn Chicken Soup

UPMA WITH LEFT OVER DHOKLAS

We have all learnt from our elders not to waste any left-overs.  We should re-use them in some innovative way to create a new dish. I had about 7-8 pieces of rice and mix dal dhoklas left-over after a party. I crumbled them and made upma for breakfast. It turned out so good.

Ingredients:
Dhoklas .............. 7-8 pieces
Onion ................. 1 small (about 1/4 cup chopped)
Green chillies ... 1-2
Curry leaves ..... few
Coriander leaves .. handful
Mustard seeds .. 1/2 tsp
Cumin seeds ..... 1/2 tsp
Urad dal ........... 1/4 tsp
Asafoetida ....... 1 pinch
Salt ................ to taste
Oil ................. 2-3 tbsps

Method:

Take the left over pieces of dhoklas in a plate.

Crumble them.

Heat oil in a pan. Add the mustard seeds, cumin seeds, urad dal and asafoetida.

When they crackle add the curry leaves and green chillies.

Next add the chopped onion and saute until translucent.

Now add the crumbled dhoklas and mix well.

Add salt to taste. Sprinkle little water and simmer for a minute or two.  Finally add the coriander leaves.

 Serve hot with any chutney of your choice.

Pin for later

You may also like:

Tomato Upma / Tomato Bath

Vermicelli Upma / Semiya Upma

Quinoa Flakes Upma

IDLI WAFFLES

If you have left over idli batter try out these waffles.. a nice way of making a variation dish instead of repeating the same snack. You can add diced or grated vegetables of your choice or even cooked chicken pieces, ham, cheese etc etc. Add chillies if you like. Your tasty fusion snack is ready.

Ingredients:
Idli batter ..... 3-4 cups
Onions ........ 2 tbsps (finely chopped)
Coriander leaves .. 2 tbsps (finely chopped)
Carrot .................. 2 tbsps (finely chopped)
Capsicum ........... 2 tbsps (finely chopped)
Tomato .............. 2 tbsps (discard the seeds and cut into small pieces)
Oil ................. to grease the waffle maker

Method:

Take the idli batter in a bowl. Add all the diced vegetables.

Mix it well.

Brush oil on the waffle moulds. Spoon sufficient batter on it.

Close the lid and switch it on.

When done remove the idli waffles.

Delicious idli waffles are ready to be served.

Serve hot with chutney/ sambar / sauce ..( anything you like.)







    See the recipe video

       

Pin for later

You may also like:

Multigrain and quinoa waffles

PAV BHAJI MASALA PASTA

Try out this Indo-Italian fusion pasta recipe. It tasted so delicious. You can use any variety of pasta of your choice.

Ingredients:

Macaroni .... 1 cup

Red capsicum.. 1

Yellow capsicum .. 1

Green capsicum ... 1

Tomatoes .......... 4-5

Garlic paste ..... 1 tbsp

Red chilli powder .. 1/4 tsp

Pav bhaji masala ... 1 tbsp 

Salt .................. to taste

Olive oil .......... 3-4 tbsps

Method:

Blanch the tomatoes giving light cuts.

Peel and blend them into a puree.

Wash the capsicums and cut into long strips.

Boil the macaroni adding a little salt and a tbsp of oil until almost done. Do not over cook them. Drain the water and set aside. You can mix little oil so that they don't stick.

In a pan heat 1 tbsp oil and lightly saute the capsicum strips adding a little salt. Remove them into a bowl.

Now add 2 tbsps oil. Saute the garlic and add the tomato puree.

Season with salt, red chilli powder and pav bhaji masala.

Saute to mix and tip in the macaroni and the sauteed capsicum strips saving few for garnishing.

Stir well . Garnish with some sauteed capsicum strips and serve immediately.

Pin  for later

You may also like:

Masala Pasta with Bell Peppers

Pasta with Indian Flavours

Macaroni Upma

DOZZA ( Pizza Dosa)

Pizza is a very popular Italian dish loved by everyone especially kids. These days we have so many fusion pizzas made with rotis, naans, parathas, bhakris, as a base. One such variation is Dozza made with dosa batter. We can use any toppings of our choice.

Ingredients:
For Dosa Batter:
Urad dal .... 1 cup
Rice ........... 3 cups
Methi seeds .... 1 tsp.
Baking soda ... a pinch
Salt ... to taste

For the Sauce:
Tomatoes ... 1-2
Garlic ......... 1 tbsp
Chilli sauce .. 1 tbsp
Tomato ketchup .. 1 tsp
Oregano / basil ... 1 tsp
Salt ........... to taste
Olive oil .... 2 tbsps

For the Topping:
Capsicums ... Red, Yellow and Green chopped
Pizza seasoning ... as needed
Cheese ....... grated
Cherry Tomatoes... few
Olives ................ few (optional)
Oil .......... to make dosas (as needed)

Method:

Soak the rice and dal for few hours. Grind them to a smooth paste adding a little salt. Set it aside to ferment.

To make the pizza sauce heat oil in a pan and saute the garlic. Add the blanched and chopped tomatoes and simmer to cook. Add the sauces and tempering. Set aside to cool.

Make thick dosas by spreading a ladleful of batter on a hot griddle.

Spoon a little oil and fry both sides lightly.

Place a dosa in a greased baking tray.

Spread the pizza sauce evenly on it.

Spread the finely chopped toppings.g

Spread grated cheese and sprinkle pizza seasoning. Garnish with few cherry tomatoes or olives.

Bake it in the oven until the cheese is melted. Serve hot.

Pin for later

You may also like:

Egg Dosa

Pizza Cups

Bread Pizza