In a large pot, boil water. Add cabbage leaves, carrot, onion, garlic, mushroom salt, peppercorns, and start boiling. Simmer for 5 - 6 minutes.
Add soba noodles and boil till al dente or just done.
Transfer the boiled noodles to a colander. Use stock to make the soup.
Rinse boiled noodles with cold water to stop the cooking process. Let them sit in a colander for 10 minutes to dry completely. Coat the noodles with a teaspoon of oil.
Preheat air fryer at 170 degree celcius.
Arrange noodles on a single layer in the air fryer basket. Air Fry for 10 – 15 minutes or till crisp and golden, shaking the basket two to three times during the process. Transfer the crispy noodles in a bowl to add as a garnish later.
In a small bowl, mix ragi flour with ¼ cup stock to make a smooth slurry. Ensure there are no lumps. Set aside for later use.
Heat oil in a stockpot or wok over medium heat.
Add minced garlic, ginger, coriander stalks, and red chilies. Sauté for a minute until fragrant. This is the base of the soup.
Pour in the vegetable stock prepared and bring it to a boil. Stir in the vegetables, soy sauce, vinegar, salt and pepper.
Lower the heat and let the manchow soup simmer for 2 – 3 minutes.
While the soup is simmering, slowly add the ragi slurry. Continuously stir the soup to avoid lump formation. Let the manchow soup simmer for 5 minutes over low heat or till it thickens and get a luscious consistency.
Turn off the heat and add chopped spring onions, cubed paneer or silken tofu (optional) and coriander leaves.
After serving, top each bowl of soup with air fried crispy noodles. Serve healthy manchow soup warm.