Soya or textured soy protein is a very important source of protein for a healthy body. I am a big fan of soya chunks and have a couple of recipes based off that.
In my latest dive into getting something quick and healthy for my family for dinner yesterday, I managed pretty good.
Ingredients :
For the Tadka
- Cummin seeds - 2 tablespoons
- Oil - 3-4 tablespoons
- Hing - a pinch ( Asafoetida )
- Cloves - 2-3 pieces
- Black Cardamon - 2-3 pieces
- Bay leaves - 2 medium sized
- Basmati Rice - 1 cup
- Soya Nuggets - 1 cup ( Boiled in salt water)
- Baby Spinach leaves ( Spinach leaves cut into small pieces is also OK ) - 2 cups
- Cut vegetables of your choice - Carrots, beans, cauliflower etc. - I cup total
- Corn - half a cup
- Onion - 1 medium cut into small pieces
- Tomato - 1 medium cut into small pieces ( Optional )
- Ginger Garlic paste - 2 teaspoons
- Kasuri Methi - a handful
- Salt - to taste
- Black Pepper corns - 10 pieces
- Lemon Juice - 1 teaspoon
- Garam Masala - 2 tablespoons
- Coriander powder - 2.5 tablespoon
- Red chili powder - 1 tablespoon
- Biryani Masala - 1 tablespoon (Optional)
For the soya chunks
Boil water in a pan, put 2 teaspoons salt and put the soya chunks it the boiling water.
Let it cook for 15 min. Then drain out the water and rinse the soya chunks with cold water.
Then drain the remaining water and squeeze the chunks with your palm so that the excess water if any is removed.
Rice
Take 1 cups of Basmati wash and wash it under running water. Then add 2 cups of water, Add half a teaspoon of salt to the water, 1 teaspoon of lemon juice and 1 tablespoon of oil. Microwave it for 15 minutes till the rice is properly cooked.
Slighly fluff the rice with a fork so that it does not stick together.
Add the 1 cup of washed rice in a pan & add 1 teaspoon of lemon juice and 1 tablespoon of oil. and fried cummin seeds. Add 1 bay leave for flavor. Then fill it up with 2 cups of wate. Add half a teaspoon of salt to the water, add the lemon juice and cover with a lid. Let it cook for 20 min on low flame. Do not stir in between.
When the water has evaporated from the rice we have our aromatic rice ready for more....Slighly fluff the rice with a fork so that it does not stick together.
For the pulao
Heat oil in a pan and add the cummin seeds and the hing into it, when it starts splattering add the cloves and black cardamon into it. Immediately add the cut onions and saute them till golden brown.
Add tomatoes and saute the mix for another 3-4 minutes.
when the oil starts leaving the edges of the mix, add some garam masala, Black pepper corns, Salt, coriander power and the red chili powder and mix it well. Saute the mix for another 3-4 minutes. Add the ginger Garlic paste now and str well.
Then add the Greens and the cut vegetables and saute on medium flame for 5 minutes.
Add the cooked rice and mix it well for about 4-5 minutes till all the dry gravy mix is evenly distributed with the rice. Add the Biryani Masala now and stir it well.
Sprinkle some lemon juice on the rice and Server it hot with boondi Raita...
and pickle and enjoy the YUM flavorful healthy guiltless dinner / Lunch!
