Chicken Manchurian is a beloved Indo-Chinese dish that beautifully blends the flavors of tender chicken with a savory and slightly tangy sauce.

Originating from the fusion of Indian and Chinese cuisines, Chicken Manchurian is a delightful dish that is both comforting and full of flavor.

Creating Chicken Manchurian at home may seem daunting at first, but with a simple step-by-step guide, you’ll be amazed at how easy and delicious it can be.

This recipe brings together marinated chicken pieces with a flavorful stir-fry sauce, resulting in a dish that’s sure to please your taste buds.

Marination is the key to infusing the chicken with flavor and ensuring it’s tender and juicy. By coating the chicken pieces in a mixture of egg, cornflour, salt, and black pepper, you create a crispy outer layer that perfectly complements the rich sauce.

Once the chicken is marinating, it’s time to prepare the stir-fry components. Chopped garlic, green chilies, red and green bell peppers, and onions add depth and texture to the dish.

These veggies are sautéed until tender, then combined with a savory sauce made from soy sauce, vinegar, chili sauce, oyster sauce, tomato ketchup, and a hint of brown sugar for balance.

To thicken the sauce and bring everything together, a cornflour slurry is added, creating a luscious coating that clings to the chicken and veggies.

Garnished with fresh spring onions for a pop of color and flavor, Chicken Manchurian is best served hot alongside steamed rice, creating a hearty and satisfying meal that’s perfect for any occasion.

Expert Tip: Adjust the amount of chili sauce and green chilies according to your spice preference. Start with a smaller amount and add more gradually to suit your taste.

Ingredients

Chicken: The main protein in this dish, chicken becomes tender and flavorful when marinated, adding texture and substance to each bite.

Egg: Acting as a binder, egg helps the cornflour and spices adhere to the chicken, creating a crispy coating when fried.

Cornflour: This ingredient adds a crunchy texture to the chicken while also helping to thicken the sauce later on.

Salt and Black Pepper: These seasonings enhance the flavor of the chicken, ensuring it’s well seasoned and delicious.

Stir Fry:

Oil: Used for frying the chicken and sautéing the vegetables, oil adds richness and helps to cook the ingredients evenly.

Garlic: Aromatic and flavorful, garlic adds depth to the dish, infusing the oil with its delicious taste.

Green Chillies: These add a hint of heat and freshness to the dish, balancing out the other flavors.

Bell Peppers (Red and Green): Colorful and crunchy, bell peppers add sweetness and texture to the dish, complementing the other ingredients.

Onion (Red): Onion adds sweetness and depth of flavor to the stir-fry, enhancing its overall taste.

Soy Sauce, Vinegar, Chilli Sauce, Oyster Sauce, Tomato Ketchup, Brown Sugar: These sauces and condiments form the base of the stir-fry sauce, providing a savory, tangy, and slightly sweet flavor profile that is characteristic of Chicken Manchurian

Water and Cornflour: Used to thicken the sauce, the cornflour slurry creates a glossy and luscious coating that clings to the chicken and vegetables, ensuring each bite is flavorful and satisfying.

Spring Onions: Fresh and vibrant, spring onions add a pop of color and freshness to the dish, enhancing its presentation and flavor profile.

Expert Tip: For extra flavor, marinate the chicken for at least 30 minutes or refrigerate it overnight to allow the flavors to develop.

Serving Suggestions

• With Steamed Rice: Chicken Manchurian pairs wonderfully with steamed white rice or fried rice. The fluffy texture of the rice complements the saucy chicken dish, creating a satisfying and comforting meal.
• As a Side Dish: Serve Chicken Manchurian as a side dish alongside other Chinese-inspired dishes such as vegetable stir-fries, noodles, or dumplings. It adds a burst of flavor and variety to your meal.
• With Noodles: For a complete meal, serve Chicken Manchurian with cooked noodles such as chow mein or lo mein. The noodles soak up the delicious sauce, making each bite even more flavorful.
• With Fried Rice: Pair Chicken Manchurian with homemade or store-bought fried rice for a delicious and satisfying meal. The combination of savory chicken and flavorful rice is sure to please your taste buds.
• As Appetizers: Serve Chicken Manchurian as bite-sized appetizers for parties or gatherings. Skewer the chicken pieces with toothpicks and serve them with a side of dipping sauce for a crowd-pleasing snack.
• With Crispy Noodles: Garnish your Chicken Manchurian with crispy fried noodles for added texture and crunch. The contrast between the tender chicken and crispy noodles creates a delightful eating experience.
• With Vegetable Side Dish: Accompany Chicken Manchurian with a simple vegetable side dish such as stir-fried broccoli, snow peas, or bok choy. The fresh and crunchy vegetables complement the rich flavors of the chicken dish.
• As a Main Course: Enjoy Chicken Manchurian as the main course of your meal, served with a side of steamed vegetables or a fresh salad. It’s a hearty and flavorful dish that is sure to satisfy your hunger.

Expert Tip: Ensure the oil is hot enough before adding the chicken for frying. This helps in achieving a crispy and golden exterior.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to fry the chicken?

The chicken should be deep-fried for about 4-5 minutes until it turns crispy and golden brown. Ensure the oil is hot enough before adding the chicken to achieve the desired texture.

Can I use boneless chicken thighs instead of chicken breast?

Yes, you can substitute boneless chicken thighs for chicken breast in this recipe. However, keep in mind that chicken thighs may require slightly longer cooking time due to their higher fat content.

Is it necessary to add all the listed sauces in the stir-fry?

While the listed sauces contribute to the authentic flavor of Chicken Manchurian, you can adjust the quantities or omit certain sauces based on your taste preferences. Experiment with the sauce ratios to customize the dish to your liking.

Can I make Chicken Manchurian ahead of time?

While Chicken Manchurian is best enjoyed fresh, you can prepare the components ahead of time and assemble them just before serving. Store the fried chicken and stir-fry sauce separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 1-2 days.

Can I make Chicken Manchurian without deep frying the chicken?

If you prefer a healthier alternative, you can pan-fry or bake the marinated chicken pieces instead of deep frying them. However, keep in mind that deep frying yields a crispier texture.

Check Out These Other Recipes

Here are some more recipes for you to enjoy! If you my recipes don’t forget to rate and leave a comment.

• Cauliflower Manchurian
• Crispy Chilli Chicken
• Black Pepper Chicken
• White Chicken Chilli
• Sweet Chilli Chicken

If you have any recipe suggestions, please do not hesitate to ask me. A great way to stay in contact with me is through Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Don’t forget to tag me @CookwithNabeela in your recipe photos!

Chicken Manchurian

by Nabeela Kauser

Chicken manchurian is prepared with fried chicken in a sweet and savoury manchurian sauce. A common appetiser in Indo-Chinese cuisine.

5 from 13 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 40 minutes mins

Course Dinner, Main Course

Cuisine Indo-Chinese

Servings 4

Calories 314 kcal

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients

Marination

• ▢ 500 g Chicken
• ▢ 1 Egg
• ▢ 50 g Cornflour
• ▢ 1 tsp Salt
• ▢ 1 tsp Black Pepper

Stir Fry

• ▢ 2 tbsp Oil
• ▢ 3 cloves Garlic Chopped
• ▢ 2 Green Chillies
• ▢ 1/2 Bell Pepper Red
• ▢ 1/2 Bell Pepper Green
• ▢ 1 Onion Red
• ▢ 1 tbsp Soy Sauce
• ▢ 1 tbsp Vinegar
• ▢ 1 tbsp Chilli Sauce
• ▢ 1 tbsp Oyster Sauce
• ▢ 2 tbsp Tomato Ketchup
• ▢ 1 tsp Sugar Brown

Slurry

• ▢ 100 ml Water
• ▢ 1 tbsp Cornflour

Garnish

• ▢ Spring Onions

Instructions

• Cut the chicken into small bite-sized pieces then add the egg, salt, black pepper, and corn flour then mix until the chicken is evenly coated.
• Set aside and as it marinates finely dice the garlic cloves, slice the green chillies, and cut the onion and bell peppers into chunks.
• Once you have prepared your veggies, heat up some oil in a pan until medium-hot then add the chicken pieces into the oil and deep fry for 4-5 minutes until crispy and golden (See Note 1)
• In a separate wok heat up two tbsp of oil, then add the garlic cloves and green chillies and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
• Add the onion and bell peppers then cook for 2-3 minutes until softened.
• Add the soy sauce, vinegar, tomato ketchup, chilli sauce, and brown sugar then cook for a few minutes. (See Note 2)
• In a small bowl combine the water and cornflour then mix until it is smooth and there are no lumps before adding to the wok then bring the mixture to a boil. (See Note 3)
• Add the cooked chicken and cook until the desired consistency is reached.
• Garnish with spring onions then serve with rice and enjoy!

Video

Notes

Note 1 – Be careful not to overcrowd the pan as this prevents the chicken from cooking evenly and the chicken will become soggy

Note 2 – Oyster sauce enhances the sauce’s savoury flavour and adds a touch of sweetness and salty. The use of oyster sauce is highly recommended but if you don’t have it, then you can exclude it.

Note 3 – When you add the sauce it will continue to thicken whilst cooking. Try not to cook it for too long if you want to keep it saucy.

Nutritional facts:

The provision of nutritional information is done so merely as a courtesy and should not be taken as a guarantee.

Nutrition

Calories: 314kcalCarbohydrates: 25gProtein: 14gFat: 17gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 86mgSodium: 1371mgPotassium: 288mgFibre: 2gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 1142IUVitamin C: 45mgVitamin D: 0.3µgCalcium: 34mgIron: 1mg

Keyword Chicken, Cooking, Food, Manchurian, Meat, Recipe

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