easy starter

An easy potted crab recipe makes a quick starter to serve at a dinner party. You can also make it ahead of time.

Potted crab

tbsp crème fraîche

tsp horseradish

spring onions, very finely chopped

½ tsp ground cayenne pepper

butter, melted

pink peppercorns

Lemon

sourdough bread

Mix the crabmeat, crème fraîche, horseradish, spring onions, cayenne and half the melted butter.

Spoon into 6 x 120ml ramekins, then pour over a thin layer of melted butter. Press a few pink peppercorns into the top of each.

Wrap the pots individually in baking paper, then cling film, then freeze for up to 1 month. (Or chill in the fridge for at least 1 hour and up to 24 hours.)

Thaw in the fridge overnight until defrosted. Serve with lemon wedges and toasted sourdough.

Paneer Manchurian is a spicy, and delightful Indo-Chinese dish which is considered to be one of the   most delicious Indo-Chinese recipes.

Paneer Manchurian

For Paneer Manchurian

paneer

all-purpose flour (maida)

cornstarch

soy sauce

ginger garlic paste

red chili powder

water

For sauce

ginger, chopped

Garlic 2 tablespoons, chopped

green chili, chopped

spring onions, sliced (white + greens)

onion, diced & petals released

medium-sized bell pepper/capsicum, diced (you can use any color)

black pepper powder

chili sauce

tomato ketchup

Salt -

For serving

sesame seeds

spring onion greens, sliced

NOTE: Some ingredients can be replaced

Place the paneer onto the cutting board, cut the paneer (Indian cottage cheese) into cubes, and keep them aside. Add maida (all-purpose) flour, cornstarch, ginger-garlic paste, and soy sauce to a bowl. TIP: Also, add salt if you like. The soy sauce I am using is very salty, so I didn't have to add salt. 

Add paneer cubes and mix well to coat. Also, add 3-4 tablespoons of water to make a semi-thick batter of flour mixture so that paneer cubes are coated well in the flour mixture. Tip: The batter should neither be too thick nor too thin to get a crisp outer layer. Keep the paneer cubes aside for 30 minutes to marinate. 

NOTE: Watch the recipe video to learn how to perform these cooking steps.

Marinate paneer

Heat oil in a wide pan or kadai. Add the marinated, batter-coated paneer cubes to the pan and deep fry them over medium heat until they are lightly golden. Drain and transfer them to a kitchen-tissue-lined plate to remove excess oil. Keep them aside.

Fry Paneer

Add cornstarch and 2-3 tablespoons water to a small bowl. Mix well until combined. Corn starch slurry is ready. Set it aside till use.

Make cornflour slurry

Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a wide non-stick pan on medium heat. Once hot, add chopped ginger, chopped garlic, chopped green chili and sauté for 1 minute or until the ginger-garlic slightly changes color. Next, add 2 tablespoons of spring onions and sauté 30-40 seconds. After that, add onion petals, and bell pepper. Mix well and sauté for 2-3 minutes or till the onions are slightly fragrant. 

Add soy sauce, chili sauce, black pepper, and vinegar, mix and cook for 30 seconds. Add tomato ketchup and mix again. Tip: you can adjust the quantity of chili sauce and tomato ketchup to get the desired flavor. Add 1/4 cup spring onion greens and cook for a minute. 

Turn the heat to low. Mix the cornstarch slurry, and add it to the pan. Mix well and cook till the sauce thickens. TIP: To make paneer Manchurian gravy add 1 cup of more water or vegetable stock. At this point, taste and add salt to taste, if needed. Add the fried paneer cubes and toss well to combine. Cook for 1 minute on high heat. Paneer Manchurian is ready.

Make sauce 

Transfer Paneer Manchurian to a bowl. Garnish it with spring onions and toasted sesame seeds. Serve immediately.

Serving

ENJOY THIS RECIPE.

ENJOY THIS RECIPE

Top 2 easy starter recipes from across the web

The most viewed easy starter recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 20,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engine

Top Tags

Potted crab

Paneer Manchurian

Top 2 easy starter recipes from across the web

The most viewed easy starter recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 20,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engineic_arrow_forward_48px

Top Tags

Potted crab

Paneer Manchurian

The most viewed easy starter recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 20,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engine