← Nouns Cooking · Indian

Ingredients

• 150 g Cabbage, very finely chopped
• 1 Carrot, finely grated
• 50 g Green beans, finely chopped
• 3 spring onions, for the balls, finely chopped
• 1 tsp ginger-garlic paste
• 1 Green chilli, finely chopped
• 3 tbsp cornflour, for the balls
• 3 tbsp plain flour (maida)
• ½ tsp salt, for the balls
• ¼ tsp Black pepper
• oil, for frying
• 2 tbsp oil, for the gravy
• 1 tbsp Garlic, finely chopped
• 1 tbsp Ginger, finely chopped
• 1 tbsp Celery, finely chopped (optional)
• 2 green chillies, for the gravy, slit
• ½ Onion, finely chopped
• ½ green pepper, diced
• 1½ tbsp Soy sauce
• 2 tsp White vinegar
• 1 tsp red chilli sauce
• 1 tbsp Ketchup
• 500 ml hot water or vegetable stock
• 2 tbsp cornflour, mixed with 4 tbsp water
• ¼ tsp White pepper
• 2 tbsp Coriander (cilantro), chopped

Method

1. Mix the cabbage, carrot, beans, spring onions, ginger-garlic paste, chilli, salt and pepper. Leave for 5 min so the vegetables release a little water, then mix in the cornflour and flour. Don’t add water: the vegetable juices bind it.
2. With oiled hands, roll into walnut-sized balls (about 16).
3. Heat 5 cm of oil to about 170°C (340°F). Fry the balls in batches for 4–5 min, turning, until deep golden and crisp. Drain on paper.
4. For the gravy, heat 2 tbsp oil in a wok over high heat. Stir-fry the garlic, ginger, celery and chillies for 1 minute, then the onion and pepper for 2 min.
5. Add the soy sauce, vinegar, chilli sauce, ketchup and hot water and bring to the boil. Stir in the cornflour water and simmer for 2 min until the gravy is glossy and lightly thickened. Season with white pepper.
6. Just before serving, drop in the fried balls and simmer for 1 minute. Scatter with coriander and serve with fried rice or hakka noodles.

Tips

• Add the balls at the very last moment so they stay a little crisp; they soak up gravy fast.
• Contains soy and wheat; tamari and rice flour make a gluten-free version.

Sources

Written in our own words after cross-checking these recipes:

Hebbar's Kitchen My Food Story Padhuskitchen