Chicken manchurian recipe

Updated: August 1, 2022, By Swasthi

Chicken Manchurian recipe – Delicious fried chicken in slightly sweet, hot & sour Manchurian sauce. Chicken Manchurian is an Indo chinese food that is much popular in the Indian subcontinent. The vegetarian versions like Gobi manchurian, Veg manchurian & Paneer manchurian are also popular & are loved by many.

chicken manchurian



Chicken Manchurian is not an authentic Chinese dish. But is a fusion food from the Indian Chinese cuisine which is developed with the adaptation of Chinese seasoning & cooking methods to suit Indian taste buds.

Chilli chicken and chicken manchurian are 2 dishes that are made similarly but they taste very different. I had chicken Manchurian in a couple of fine dining Indochinese restaurants and had absolutely loved it.

In the regular restaurants it is usually made with cubed chicken in a much similar way like the chilli chicken. Just the flavor of soya sauce is much more intense in Manchurian.

However the ones I had tasted was made with minced chicken balls which were crisp fried & then tossed in Manchurian sauce. It just tasted awesome & very unique.

After several experiments I got hold on the recipe and loved the way it turned out similar to the restaurant chicken Manchurian except for the color.

Usually manchurian dishes look darker in color due to the liberal use of soya sauce. Since I prefer to minimize it mine turned out pretty bright in color.

If you do not prefer to make the chicken balls, you can just make the recipe with diced or cubed chicken. The recipe will remain the same & will still taste awesome & delicious.

Chicken manchurian is best served as a starter or as a side with Hakka noodles or Fried rice.

For more Chicken recipes visit
Chicken kebab
Chicken burger
Shawarma recipe
Chicken lollipop

Photo Guide

Preparation for chicken manchurian

1. Make sure there is no excess moisture in the chicken before you use it. You can either use cubed chicken or chicken mince (keema).

I prefer to chop finely and then use. Add soya sauce, ginger garlic, salt , red chili powder (optional) and pepper to a mixing bowl. Mix well. For Chinese recipes, generally no chili powder is used. But i prefer to use to get a a good color which otherwise is got by food colors in restaurants.

marinate with sauces

2. Add egg white, rice flour and corn flour. 1 egg white works good for half a kg chicken. I used only half of 1 egg white since i used only 250 grams chicken. Do not add more egg otherwise the mixture will turn soggy.

addition of egg

3. Mix everything well and set aside for at least 1 hour. You can also skip this.

resting marinade for chicken manchurian recipe

Frying chicken

4. Heat oil in a pan for deep frying. Check if the oil is hot enough by sliding in a small portion of batter. It must rise without browning. If using cubed chicken then slide the batter coated pieces to the hot oil. Fry on a medium heat until the chicken is golden and crisp. When the chicken is cooked fully bubbles will reduce.

If using minced chicken. Take small portions of the mixture and make balls. Fry them in hot oil. You may not get round balls, that is just fine. In case you want to make perfect round balls, then you need to reduce egg or add more flour. But that alters the texture of the ball.

Egg is used to lock the meat juices and prevents the meat balls from turning dry. A reduction of egg may turn the balls dry and hard.

frying balls

5. We need to stir often while frying to cook the meat evenly.

frying meat balls

6. Transfer all the balls to a kitchen towel. Switch off the stove.

draining balls for chicken manchurian recipe

7. Add 2 tsp corn flour to a bowl and mix with ¼ cup water. Stir and set aside.

corn flour for manchurian sauce

8. Add vinegar, soya sauce, sugar and red chili sauce to a bowl. You can also add little tomato sauce if you prefer. Set this aside as well.

Prepare manchuriya sauces

How to make chicken manchurian

9. We can use the same pan further. Transfer the hot oil to a cup, keep only ½ tbsp oil. Fry chopped garlic ginger till you begin to smell good.

frying garlic ginger in oil

10. Add onions and spring onion whites and saute till they turn transparent.

addition of onions to pan

11. Add bell peppers, these are optional. If you do not have skip them. Fry for 2 to 3 minutes.

addition of bell peppers

12. Pour the sauces. Stir and mix.

adding in more chilli powder in manchurian sauce

13. When the sauces begin to bubble, Stir the corn flour mixture and then pour it to the pan.

bubbling sauces

14. Pour 1 ¼ cup water and begin to cook. Taste the sauce and adjust salt & spice. This has to be slightly sweet, sour and hot.

addition of water

15. When the sauce begins to bubble, add the fried chicken and spring onions. Toss well to coat them in sauce. If you have made the chicken balls then simmer for 2 minutes, this helps the balls to absorb the flavors. If the sauce becomes very thick, you can add one to 2 tbsp water and stir.

This recipe yields a semi dry chicken manchurian. If you like to have more gravy, just add 1 tsp more of cornflour and ½ cup more water.

addition of balls

Serve right away as a appetizer or as a side to fried rice or hakka noodles or simple veg noodles.

chicken manchurian

Tips to make chicken Manchurian

  1. Most often I marinate the chicken before frying as it helps to tenderize the chicken. You can also skip this step but for best flavor & texture setting aside for at least 45 mins is recommended. It helps in tenderizing & enhancing the flavor.
  2. Usually chicken stock is used to make the chicken Manchurian sauce but I have used water as I did not have it in hand. However you can just replace the water & use chicken stock.
  3. I have deep fried the chicken. However you can also grill it and then add it to the Manchurian sauce.
  4. You can also whip up an entire meal in the same pan. Just set aside the chicken manchurian and retain some sauce in the pan. Add cooked noodles or rice and stir fry for a minute. You meal is ready in minutes.

Related Recipes

Chicken manchurian

4.96 from 190 votes
Fried chicken in manchurian sauce, a popular Indian Chinese appetizer also served as a side with fried rice or noodles.
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For best results follow the step-by-step photos above the recipe card

Prep Time1 hour
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time1 hour 20 minutes
Servings3 people
AuthorSwasthi

Ingredients (US cup = 240ml )

To fry

  • 250 grams chicken breast boneless, (cubed or minced)
  • ½ egg white (1 egg white for ½ kg chicken)
  • 1/8 tsp pepper coarsely crushed
  • 1 tsp soya sauce (Prefer naturally brewed)
  • 2 pinches chili powder (optional, for color)
  • 2 tbsp corn starch (white corn flour)
  • 1 ½ tbsp all-purpose flour or maida (or rice flour)
  • 1 tsp ginger garlic paste or minced
  • salt little
  • oil as needed for frying

for manchurian sauce

  • 1 tbsp garlic chopped finely
  • ½ tbsp ginger chopped finely
  • 1 medium onion chopped finely or 2 tbsps spring onion whites
  • 1 tbsp soya sauce (use more for intense flavor)
  • 2 tbsp red chili sauce
  • 2 tbsp tomato sauce optional
  • 1 tsp vinegar (add more if needed)
  • 1 cup water or chicken stock
  • 2 tsp corn starch (white corn flour) (3 tsps for gravy)
  • 3 tbsp water to mix with flour
  • salt little
  • ½ to 1 tsp sugar
  • ¾ cup capsicum or bell peppers cubed
  • 2 tbsps scallions or spring onions greens


Instructions

Preparation for chicken manchurian

  • Mix chicken with soya sauce, salt, ginger garlic paste, red chili powder (optional) and pepper powder.
  • Add egg white and flour. Mix well. Set aside for at least 1 hour.
  • If you have used chicken cubes then skip this step. If you have used the mince divide the mixture to 12 portions. Make balls. If you don’t get round balls, that’s just fine.
  • Heat oil until hot enough to fry. Test by sliding a small portion of the batter to the hot oil. It has to rise without browning. This is the right temperature. 
  • Deep fry chicken on a medium flame until golden & crisp.  When the chicken is done cooking bubbles will begin to reduce. Remove the fried chicken to a kitchen towel. Please make sure the chicken is cooked completely inside before you add it to the sauce.

Making manchurian sauce

  • Stir in the corn flour with 3 tbsp water in a small bowl. To another small bowl, add vinegar,soya sauce, tomato sauce (optional) and red chilli sauce.  Mix all of these and set aside.
  • Transfer the oil to a bowl and retain only half a tbsp. Fry ginger garlic until aromatic. Fry onions or scallion whites until transparent.
  • Add bell peppers and fry for 2 minutes. Pour the sauces.
  • When they begin to bubble, Stir the corn flour mixture & pour it along with 1 cup water or stock.
  • The sauce begins to bubble and thickens. Taste the sauce and add in more salt or any sauces you desire. Turn off the heat. Then add fried chicken & spring onions.
  • Stir and coat the chicken with the sauces. If you have made to chicken balls then cook for 2 mins.
  • Garnish with spring onions and serve chicken manchurian as a appetizer.


NUTRITION INFO (estimation only)

Nutrition Facts
Chicken manchurian
Amount Per Serving
Calories 302 Calories from Fat 117
% Daily Value*
Fat 13g20%
Saturated Fat 3g19%
Cholesterol 64mg21%
Sodium 609mg26%
Potassium 445mg13%
Carbohydrates 22g7%
Fiber 2g8%
Sugar 6g7%
Protein 20g40%
Vitamin A 1630IU33%
Vitamin C 55.5mg67%
Calcium 28mg3%
Iron 1.5mg8%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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About Swasthi

I’m Swasthi Shreekanth, the recipe developer, food photographer & food writer behind Swasthi’s Recipes. My aim is to help you cook great Indian food with my time-tested recipes. After 2 decades of experience in practical Indian cooking I started this blog to help people cook better & more often at home. Whether you are a novice or an experienced cook I am sure Swasthi’s Recipes will assist you to enhance your cooking skills. More about me

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5 stars
I made this and my husband loved it! I am a vegetarian so I have to depend on his reviews. He liked it enough that he is willing to eat it for next three weeks while I am away to India. I hope it freezes well. I use rice starch which I believe freezes better than corn start. I used air fryer making it very healthy. Your recipes have never failed me. Thank you!

5 stars
Wanted to make this after eating at a restaurant. This turned out even better!! Thanks for the recipe

Swaasti Mam Can I use curd instead of egg white?

Then any substitute of egg white?

So swaasti mam if I am making without egg then instead of egg I can use curd?

5 stars
Very tasty and delicious recipe. Followed the step by step instructions and it turned out great!!!

Hi , can you please tell me what’s the temperature of the oil should be to the minced chicken balls. Thanks for the recipe recipe.

5 stars
Fantastica!!!

5 stars
absolutely fab. our new party dish. well done bravo

5 stars
Hello Swasthi,

I have blindly followed your recipes because they are just perfect. You are like my mother (who i would call everytime I didn’t understand things), i turn to your website if get stuck while cooking or for some amazing tips. Please keep adding more and more lovely recipes.
My child is allergic to eggs. So can I skip eggs or can use any substitute?

Kind regards,
Sharmeen

This looks so good. Do you think I could airfry the chicken instead of frying?

5 stars
Really nice, I have made it, thank you ?

5 stars
This turned out really good, and was perfect with some veg noodles! Thank you for the recipe 🙂

5 stars
A classic Delhi bar dish. Capsicum ads a nice crunch and freshness, hallmark of Chinese cooking vs Indian. Rice/noodles, I prefer rumali roti, if I can get it, that to me is the Indo Chinese twist.
Your recipe is excellent, simple ingredients !!!
I prefer chicken thigh, it’s a little more forgiving. So to the guy who had problem getting “hard” chicken. He is lucky, it is a sign of good quality chicken. Industrial chickens are softer. But overcooking still results in dry and hard. Buttermilk/yogurt classic Indian marinating technique. Check the Chinese “velveting” techniques, baking SODA, just 20 minutes. It transforms all tougher meat into very soft when stir frying. Signature Chinese, makes cheap cuts, tenderloin soft. It is useful when preparing large volume, restaurant secret.

5 stars
Mam still can you tell difference between manchurian and chilli chicken???? If we made both dishes with one type of chicken then what will be the difference between those two??? I not understand the concept of soya sauce as you said in this page.. Can you tell in details?????? If you can understand hindi then explain in hindi

Sister Swasthi,
Your recipe is not printer friendly. we cannot keep the laptop open and follow cooking. It would be nice, if you could think of keeping it as printer friendly.
Thanks
ed

5 stars
I used to go to a restaurant in Stanmore, called Raw Lasan. It was Indo-Chinese fusion.

They had some amazing dishes, Chicken Crunchy, Chicken Lollipop, Chicken Manchurian, Their Fish Kolapuri was amazing. They also had the best naan breads ever.

Does anyone know the place of which I speak? Or whatever happened to them or their chef, I’d love to keep eating their food.

Which is why I came to this recipe, going to make it tomorrow. What really pleases me is that I am a middle-aged white working class bloke, and I have 23/24 of the components in my house ready to cook this. The only one missing is optional, and that’s bell peppers.

Anyway, just want to say that the content and formatting of this website are absolutely first rate.
I will certainly be back looking for more.

5 stars
Hello. Can we oven bake the chicken balls instead of deep frying? Thanks!

5 stars
Thank you! My son asked me to make Chicken Manchurian and I followed your recipe. It was so tasty, my son was very happy. Thanks once again. I request you to send some chicken recipes as evening snacks.

Came out very well, I doubled everything as I had 500 grams chicken but I used Sriracha instead of regular chilly sauce so it was spicy but we enjoy spicy so it worked well.

5 stars
Mam I tried your recipe and it turned out so well. But I couldn’t make the chicken pieces soft enough. Can you please give me some tips to make the chicken soft and juicy ?

5 stars
Great Recipe of chicken manchurian sauce to, i recomended to others to

Everything looks perfect but I believe corn starch needs to be used instead of corn flour since corn starch is a thickening agent.