Chilli Mushroom is a popular Indo-Chinese dish that features stir-fried mushrooms in a spicy, tangy, and flavorful sauce. This quick and easy dish combines the earthy flavor of mushrooms with bold spices, soy sauce, and garlic, making it a great appetizer or side dish. It’s perfect to pair with fried rice or noodles.
Ingredients:
- 200g button mushrooms, cleaned and halved
- 2 tablespoons cornflour
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- Salt, to taste
- Oil, for frying
For the sauce:
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 1 green bell pepper, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1-inch ginger, minced
- 2-3 green chilies, finely chopped (adjust to taste)
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon chili sauce (or adjust to taste)
- 1 tablespoon tomato ketchup
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 cup water (for the sauce)
- 1 teaspoon cornflour (mixed with 2 tablespoons water to thicken)
- Fresh spring onions, chopped (for garnish)
- Fresh cilantro, chopped (optional)
Instructions:
- Coat and fry the mushrooms:
- In a bowl, mix the cornflour, all-purpose flour, black pepper, and a pinch of salt. Add the cleaned and halved mushrooms to the mixture, tossing to coat them evenly.
- Heat oil in a deep frying pan and fry the mushrooms in batches until golden brown and crispy. Remove and set aside on a paper towel to drain excess oil.
- Sauté the vegetables:
- In a large skillet or wok, heat 2 tablespoons of oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion, bell pepper, green chilies, garlic, and ginger. Sauté for 2-3 minutes until the onions turn soft and the bell peppers are slightly tender but still crunchy.
- Prepare the sauce:
- Add the soy sauce, chili sauce, tomato ketchup, sugar, and black pepper to the skillet. Stir well to combine, and add 1/4 cup water to the mixture. Let it simmer for a minute.
- Thicken the sauce:
- Stir in the cornflour slurry (cornflour mixed with water) to the skillet and cook for another 1-2 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly.
- Add the fried mushrooms:
- Add the fried mushrooms to the sauce and toss to coat them evenly with the sauce. Cook for another minute to let the flavors meld.
- Garnish and serve:
- Garnish the chilli mushrooms with fresh chopped spring onions and cilantro, if using. Serve hot as an appetizer or as a side dish with fried rice or noodles.
This Chilli Mushroom is a deliciously spicy and tangy dish that’s packed with bold flavors, perfect for lovers of Indo-Chinese cuisine!