Veg. Manchurian:

The year 2000:

Somewhere in the city of Ahmedabad in Gujarat, India lived an 8-year-old girl, M with her family. Her family and M had a ritual to try different street foods for dinner every Sunday. On one pleasant Sunday evening, M and her family went out for their usual Sunday dinner.

Maya asked, “what are we eating today Mummy?”

“We’re going to try something new today, a dish which you have never tried before”, responded Maya’s mother.

“I am excited to try it, what is it Mumma?”, excited Maya questioned.

M’s mother smiled and said, “we’re going to have Indo-Chinese street-food today.”

“What’s that Mumma? How is it made? What is it made of?”, inquisitive M asked.

The very next moment, M’s father drove up in his car, honking - an indication for M, her mother, and younger sister to get into the car.

While climbing into the car, thrilled M stated, “Daaaaaaaad, you know we’re going for Indo-Chinese street-food today! I am soooooo excited to try this new food!”

“Yes, honey! I am sure you’re gonna love it”, responded M’s father.

The excitement was rising as they neared the food place. M jumped out of the car at the very next moment they arrived at the food stall. M was super excited and started jumping on the side of the road as she awaits her mother, father, and sister to get out of the car. In the meantime, M kept repeating, “Come on hurry up Mom, Dad”. As they walked up to the food stall, M was mesmerized by the flames coming out of food bowls, the sparkling noise from the hand-sprinkled oil on the pan, and smiles on the faces of the people enjoying their Indo-Chinese food roadside.

M’s mother questions, “What do you want to eat?”

“I like that stringy thing, but I also want to eat that, Mom”, replied as she point towards a pan of Manchurian.

Her mother ordered 2 Hakka noodles, 2 Veg. Manchurian Dry and 1 fried rice. As the food was being prepared at the stall, M observed keenly. When the food arrived at their table, M’s hands went straight to the Veg. Manchurian Dry and boy oh boy, It was love at first bite! She did not touch any other dish.

Her intrigued mother asked M, “Darling, what did you love so much about Veg. Manchurian Dry that don’t even try other dishes?”

“It the crispiness Momma and its so spicy and its so delicious and omg smells so good, I wish I can keep eating this for the rest of my life, it’s made me feel so happy, Mom”, said with her glistening eyes staring at the last Veg Manchurian on her plate.

Later that evening, at home, M kept remembering Manchurian and its lingering taste and how it made her feel.

On the next morning, she asked her mother, “Mom, you didn’t tell me about how is Veg. Manchurian Dry made? What is it made of? Can you please make it at home today?”

“No, sweetheart, we just had it yesterday, we can make it next week okay?”, her mother politely responded.

“Not next week Mom, please today-today, please Mom, pretty please?”, urged M.

“Okay fine, but promise me you’ll quickly finish all your homework!”, offered her mother.

“YAAAAAY, Sure Mom!!!! Can I watch you cook it please”, thrilled M asked.

With a big smile, her mother responded, “Sure baby girl!! Now go finish your homework quickly.”

Excited M ran back to her room, finished her homework came down to the family room after a few hours. It was 5 PM as she went up to her mother who sat by the window sipping her evening tea. Fifteen minutes later they started preparing for Veg. Manchurian Dry. 8-year-old M really wanted to know how to make it, her mother started with summarizing all the ingredients to be included in the recipe.

Her mother summarized the ingredients by reciting it as a sweet song as M listened, 

Firsssst, let’s talk aboooouuuuut all the veggies we’d be uuusingg…

Repeat after me M…

Cabbage...cabbage,

Carrot...carrot,

Bell pepper...Bell pepper,

Green onion...green onion,

Nooooow coooooooomes the turn of our binders!

What do Binders do?

It will hold our Manchurian together… What do we call them M?

Bindersssss!!!!

First is All-purpose flour...All-purpose flour

Then comes the Cornflour...Cornflour,

You're doing a good job M!

Next, shall we make it flavourrrr fulllllll?

Yes Mumma!!

So to do so, we’d add? Salt and pepper,

Yaay, yes! Salt and pepper!

After the lovely recipe song, M watched her mother grate the veggies, mix it with salt and pepper, and both flours. Her mother sprinkled some water on the mixture and started making round shaped balls as the frying pan simmered with hot oil. Her mother started putting the Veg. Manchurian balls into the frying pan. Thirty minutes later…TADA….!

The family enjoyed their homemade Veg. Manchurian Dry, little did M know, the food for which she was so excited for was going to become her so-called “comfort food” in her adult days.



Present-day, 2020:

Somewhere in cold Canada, over the years, M has turned to Veg. Manchurian Dry during her winning moments to her failures. She has indulged in it, craved for it, and even tried making it herself however she prefers her Mother’s handmade Manchurians. Veg. Manchurian Dry is her comfort food, her soul food, and her guilty pleasure. M is very passionate about Veg. Manchurian Dry that she even defends this dish if someone critiques it. This passionate Veg. Manchurian Dry lover is none other than - me. Yes, this girl is me and I LOVE Veg. Manchurian Dry. For it, not only makes me happy, I feel a soul connection to it. Veg. Manchurian Dry brightens my day, soothes my mind, and refreshes my soul. It’s my state of Nirvana. Now that I think about it, it surely was - love at first bite!