Soya Chunks Curry / MealMaker Curry

Cooking Time : 30 mins
Serves           : 2

Soya.. As you all know, It is a high source of protein and is highly beneficial for health and is important to have it in our diet. It is a healthy meat replacement ingredient. I have made this curry with the easily available ingredients in your pantry. Adding Peas with Soya chunks serves a good combination. This goes well with Chapathi/Roti.

INGREDIENTS:

Soya Chunks	15 no
Salt	To Taste
Peas	Handful
Onion	2
Tomato	2
Turmeric Powder	1/4 tsp
Red Chilli Powder	1 tsp
Green Chilies	2
Curd	2 tsp
Coriander Leaves	As Required
Gingelly Oil	As Required

To Grind:

Ginger	1"
Garlic	4 cloves
PepperCorns	1 tsp
Cumin Powder	1 tsp
Coriander Powder	1 tsp
Garam masala	1/4 tsp

STEPS:

1. Soak the soyachunks in water. Add salt and boil in medium flame. Once the water starts to boil, remove from the flame. Take the soyachunks from water after 10 mins so that the water will be cooled by that time. Drain the water and squeeze all water from soyachunks and cut it into 4 pieces. Repeat the same for all the remaining Soyachunks. 
2. In a Pan, heat Gingelly Oil and saute Onion till it turns to light golden brown. remove from the flame and keep it aside. In the same pan, saute Tomatoes and remove from the flame. Grind the items mentioned in "To Grind" section to a fine paste along with the Onion and Tomato.
3. In a pressure cooker, heat enough oil and add green chillies, ground paste, Peas and stir for few mins. Add turmeric powder, red chilli powder, Salt and stir well. If required add some water. 
4. Wait til the Oil gets seperated. At this stage, add soya chunks, curd and stir well.
5. Pressure cook for 2 whistles in medium flame and keep in low flame for 10 mins and remove from flame. Allow the cooker to cool and open.
6. Garnish with coriander leaves and serve hot.
Tips:
• Add freshly ground ginger-garlic paste to get good taste.
• While preparing Soya Recipes, use more oil since soya  requires more oil.
• You can also take Tomato Puree.
• Wait till the ground paste seperates from the oil properly so that the raw smell won't be there after cooking. 

Meal Maker Biriyani / Soya Chunk Biriyani

Cooking time : 30 mins
Serves           : 2

Soya is very good for health since it is rich in protein and is the best substitute for Non-Veg. Veg lovers can try this yummy Biriyani. My mom used to add soya chunks even in Vegetable Biriyani. Since it tastes very much like meat, even my hubby started eating soya recipes. Here is a simple recipe to make Meal Maker Biriyani. I use this method to make all kind of Veg Biriyanis. Addition of Peas serves as a good combo with soya.

INGREDIENTS:
Soya Chunks                                                          - 10 nos
Basmathi Rice/ Seeraga Samba Rice                       - 1 1/2 cups
Green Peas                                                             - 1/2 cup
Onion (medium sized, chopped lengthwise)              -  2
Tomato                                                                   -  1 (Big Size)                                
Ghee                                                                       -  3 tbsp
Oil                                                                           -  3 tbsp
Cloves                                                                     -  2
Aniseed                                                                    -  2
Cinnamon                                                                 -  1 "
Bay leaves                                                                - 2
Fennel seeds                                                             - 1/4 tsp
Cardamom                                                                -  2
Curd                                                                         -  2 tbsp
Lemon                                                                      -  1 tsp
Mint leaves                                                               - 1 strand
Coriander leaves                                                        - To Garnish
Salt                                                                            - To Taste

To Grind:
Cashew nuts                                                     - 10
Fennel seeds                                                     - 1/2 tsp
Green chillies                                                     - 6
Poppy seeds                                                     - 1/2 tsp
cloves                                                               - 2
Onion                                                               - 1/2 piece
Ginger                                                              - 1 "
Garlic                                                               -  6
Coriander leaves + mint leaves                          -  1/4 cup (Optional)

                 

METHOD:

1. Initial Preparation : Soak Rice in hot water for 10 mins and drain the water completely. Dont soak more than that. Grind all the items mentioned in "Items to grind" section. Soak the soya in water and allow the water to boil for 10 mins in medium flame and remove from the flame. Take the soya from water after 10 mins. Drain the water and squeeze all water from soya and cut each soya into 4 pieces. 
2. In a pressure cooker, heat oil and ghee. Add Mint leaves, Bay leaves, Fennel seeds, Cinnamon, Star anise, Cloves, Cardamom and when the aroma comes, add Onion. Fry Onion till it becomes golden brown. Add Tomatoes and fry well till the oil and tomato seperates. Dont add water.
3. Add Soya Chunks,Peas and cook for 3 mins. Dont add water. Add Curd
4. Add the ground masala and stir well. At this stage, add rice and stir well.
5. Add 2 cups of water (Rice and water Ratio is 1:1 1/4). If required, u can add another 1/4 cup of water. Add salt, Lemon, coriander leaves and let it boil for 2 mins. Adding lemon prevents the rice from becoming sticky.
6. Pressure cook in medium flame for 2 whistles and leave it in low flame for 10 mins. Remove from the flame and allow it to cool.
7. Serve hot with Raitha.

Tips:

• Dont add much water else the rice will become sticky.
• Use freshly ground ginger garlic paste.
• Use mint leaves and coriander leaves to get nice aroma.
• Soya Chunks absorbs Oil much. So you need to add more oil than you add for other Biriyanis.

Minced Soya chunk Curry

Cooking Time : 30 mins
Serves            : 2

Soya Chunk is a very healthy food. Those who hate to eat Non-Veg can prefer Soya. I have prepared this recipe similar to Mutton Kheema (kothu curry). This goes well with Poori, Chapathi.

INGREDIENTS:
Soya Chunks                         12 no
Big Onion                               1
Big Tomato                            1
Ginger garlic paste                   1 tbsp
Turmeric powder                      1/4 tsp
Red Chilli Powder                   1 tsp
Garam masala powder             1 tsp
Cinnamon sticks                      1
Cloves                                    1
Bay Leaves                             1
Salt                                        To Taste
Coriander leaves                     To Garnish

TO GRIND
Cashew nuts                5
Grated Cocunut          1/4 cup
Cumin seeds               1 tbsp
Coriander seeds          2 tbsp
Dry Red chillies           3-4
Fennel seeds               1/2 tsp


METHOD:

1. Soak the soya in water. Add salt and boil in medium flame. Once the water starts to boil, remove from the flame. Take the soya from water after 10 mins so that the water will be cooled by that time. Drain the water and squeeze all water from soya and grind the soya in mixer in slow mode for 2 times only. Don't grind much.
2. Grind the items mentioned in "To Grind" section to a fine paste along with the cocunut and fennel seeds.
3. In a pressure cooker, heat oil and add Bay leaf, cinnamon sticks, cloves and wait till the aroma comes.
4. Add onion and fry well till it becomes light brown. Add ginger garlic paste. Add tomatoes and cook till it becomes tender. Add turmeric powder, red chilli powder, minced soya chunks, salt and stir well. Add the ground paste and stir well. Pressure cook for 2 whistles in medium flame and keep in low flame for 10 mins and remove from flame. Allow the cooker to cool and open.
5. Add Garam Masala and boil for 2 mins and Garnish with coriander leaves and serve hot.

Tips:

• Add freshly grated Cocunut and ginger-garlic paste to get good taste.
• While preparing Soya Recipes, use more oil since soya  requires more oil.
• Squeeze the soya well to drain the water.
• Grind the soya in mixer in slow mode for 2 times only. 

I am very happy to link this recipe to the event "Serve It - Pressure Cooked" Organised by Krithi's Kitchen. This is my first entry too.

Also linking to Healty Diet -Vegeterian Side dishes @ Cooksjoy.com

Also Linking to the event Show Me Your Hits @ Spicy Treats

Soya Chunk Pakoda

Cooking time : 30 mins
Serves           : 2

Soya chunks is a very healthy food. Those who dont love to eat Non-Veg can go for Soya chunk recipes.

INGREDIENTS:
Soya                                                          20 no
Maida Flour                                               4 tbsp
Corn flour                                                  2 tbsp
Rice flour                                                   1 tbsp
Ginger Garlic paste                                     1 tsp
Red Chilli powder                                       1 tsp
Cumin powder                                            1 tsp                                                                          
Coriander powder                                        1 tsp
Garam masala                                              1/2 tsp
Curd                                                            2 tbsp
Soya sauce                                                   2 tsp
Chilli sauce                                                   1 tsp
Salt                                                            To Taste

STEPS:

1. Soak the soya in water and allow the water to boil for 10 mins in medium flame and remove from the flame. Take the soya from water after 10 mins. Drain the water and squeeze all water from soya and cut each soya into 2 pieces. 
2. Mix the soya with the ingredients mentioned  thickly. Allow it to marinate for 10 mins.
3. Deep fry the Soya and drain the excess oil.
4. In a seperate pan, add the fried soya chunks and add chilli sauce, soya sauce and stir for 30 secs in a medium flame till the sauce gets coated to soya chunks and remove for the flame. (Dont burn).
5. Serve hot.