Lasuni Gobi (feeds 2-3)

Delicious Lasuni Gobi

This is a yummy and filling appetizer from India with a Chinese twist on it. And this makes it different from the traditional Indian taste. It comprises of fried cauliflower florets coated with tangy and spicy sauce concoction. This recipe can be made well in advance and can be heated up when needed. It goes well with Punjabi food. Also it tastes great all by itself.

As its name suggests, it uses 2 main ingredients - Gobi i.e. cauliflower  and Lasun i.e. garlic. It also uses chinese sauces - soy (which gives a salty tangy taste)  and chili (to spice it up). Other ingredients are easily available in your day-to-day pantry.

Let's have a look at the ingredients and then its process.

Ingredients :-

For the batter :

1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp salt
3 cloves garlic (grated fine)
3/4 - 1 cup water (for thick batter)

20-25 bite sized cauliflower florets, washed and rinsed
Oil for frying

For the gravy/sauce :

2 tbsp oil
1 onion chopped
4 cloves garlic chopped fine
2 green chillies chopped fine
Salt (as required)
1 tsp dark soy sauce
1 tsp red chilli sauce
3 tsp tomato ketchup
coriander, chopped for garnish
scallions (green part), chopped  for garnish

Process :-


1. Mix flour, salt and garlic. Add water to form a thick paste. Thick enough to coat the cauliflower florets. Keep aside.

Bite sized cauliflower florets -washed and rinsed

Florets dipped in thick batter - ready to get fried

2. Pour oil in a large frying pan. Heat the oil over medium heat. Start dipping 4-5 florets in the thick batter (make sure they are coated evenly) and fry till they are golden brown and cooked through.

Do not over crowd the pan with more florets else the temperature of oil will be reduced and florets will turn soggy instead of crispy.

Deep fried golden florets

3.  Once all the florets are fried, mix soy sauce, chili sauce and ketchup in a bowl properly. Keep this mixture aside. Heat 2 tbsp oil in a wok or a skillet.

Soy sauce, Chili sauce and tomato ketchup

Soy, chili and ketchup mixture

4.  Add onions and saute it they turn slightly golden and translucent. Now add garlic, saute for a minute - don't let it burn. Add green chillies, saute and then add all the fried yummy florets. Also add the sauce mixture and mix gently - don't let the florets fall apart. Taste and add salt if necessary as soy sauce already contains salt.

Sauteed onions - slightly golden and translucent

Chatpati Lasuni Gobi - garnished and ready to eat

5.  Garnish with finely chopped coriander and scallions. Serve hot.  

Eat, live and enjoy!!!