What is inside
What is inside Veg Manchurian?
Veg Manchurian is fried vegetable balls tossed in a tangy soy-garlic sauce. Here is what is inside it, layer by layer, and why each one is there.
From the Tapri Chai kitchen · November 2026 · 3 min read
Layers
5 in all
Key ingredient
Vegetable balls
Heat
Medium
Served
Hot, with thick gravy
The 5 layers of Veg Manchurian
Veg Manchurian is built from 5 parts. They are listed in the order you meet them, and the numbers match the diagram.
The vegetable ball
Finely grated cabbage, carrot and other vegetables bound with cornflour and flour, shaped into small balls and deep-fried until crisp outside and soft inside.
The aromatics
Ginger, garlic and green chilli fried briefly in a hot wok. They give the sauce its sharp, savoury base.
The sauce
Soy sauce, vinegar, chilli sauce and a little sugar cooked together into a tangy, salty, slightly sweet liquid.
The thickener
A cornflour slurry stirred in at the end, which turns the liquid into a glossy gravy that clings to the balls.
The garnish
Chopped spring onion greens, scattered on top for freshness and a little crunch.
01
What it is made of
A good veg Manchurian is two things put together: crisp vegetable fritters and a quick wok sauce. The balls have to be firm enough to hold, and the sauce has to be sharp enough to flavour them.
- Cabbage and carrot
- Cornflour and flour
- Ginger, garlic and green chilli
- Soy sauce
- Vinegar
- Chilli sauce
- Spring onion
02
How the layers work together
The balls are crisp at the edge and soft inside, and the sauce is salty, tangy and a little hot, with a hint of sweetness. With the gravy, the balls soften slightly, which is why many people eat them quickly, with noodles or rice.
03
Where it comes from
Manchurian is a classic of Indo-Chinese cuisine and is commonly credited to a Mumbai chef in the 1970s. The vegetable version became one of the most-ordered dishes in Indian Chinese restaurants. Despite the name, it is not a traditional dish of Manchuria.
04
Variations and other names
You will see it served in a few forms:
- Dry Manchurian: a starter with a thick glaze and no gravy.
- Gravy Manchurian: more sauce, eaten with fried rice or noodles.
- Gobi Manchurian: made with cauliflower florets instead of balls.
- Paneer Manchurian: made with fried paneer cubes.
05
How to eat it
Eat it hot with a fork or toothpicks if it is dry, or spoon the gravy over noodles or rice if it is the gravy version. A little of the sauce on the noodles is the classic combination.
06
Veg Manchurian at Tapri Chai
Veg Manchurian is $14.99 CAD on our menu. We make it in a 100% vegetarian kitchen at 200 Kennevale Dr Unit 104, Barrhaven, Ottawa, open Tuesday to Sunday, 11am to 11pm, closed Mondays.
Questions, answered.
What is Veg Manchurian made of?
Veg Manchurian is made of cabbage and carrot, cornflour and flour, ginger, garlic and green chilli, soy sauce, vinegar, chilli sauce and spring onion.
How many layers does Veg Manchurian have?
Traditionally 5: the vegetable ball, the aromatics, the sauce, the thickener and the garnish.
Is Veg Manchurian vegetarian?
Yes. The traditional recipe is vegetarian, and every dish at Tapri Chai is vegetarian.
Is Veg Manchurian spicy?
It has medium heat from green chilli and chilli sauce, and it is easy to adjust.
Where can I try Veg Manchurian in Ottawa?
At Tapri Chai, 200 Kennevale Dr Unit 104, Barrhaven, Ottawa. Veg Manchurian is $14.99 CAD on our menu.
At Tapri Chai
Taste it for yourself.
Our kitchen in Barrhaven is 100% vegetarian. 200 Kennevale Dr Unit 104, Ottawa. Tuesday to Sunday, 11am to 11pm. Closed Mondays.