Anu, a good friend of mine wanted me to make something with an ingredient or set of ingredients that I haven’t cooked with so far or avoid because we don’t like it. Soya chunks are something we like so that was out of the question.
My initial plan was to go make something with Quinoa. I have eaten many Quinoa dishes over the past couple of years but never tried to make anything with it myself. Work interfered and soon I was left with little time to figure out what to do, and that’s when I came across a bag of moong bean sprouts in the supermarket. While I make vegetable biryani very often, a biryani with soya chunks and moong sprouts was a new idea so I decided to follow that route.
TH hates sprouts and wouldn’t even come anywhere near it, let alone eat a salad or chaat made with sprouts. I had to think a bit creative here. I knew I would have to add something into the mix that he really likes – and soya chunks was the answer.
Soon, the idea for the biryani formed in my head and here we are. A healthy and very flavourful biryani for vegetarians and easily made vegan if you so desire.
Browse all biryani recipes here.
Soya Chunks Biryani Recipe
Serves 2
Ingredients:
2 cups of cooked rice
1 large onion
2 tomatoes, pureed
4 green chillies
1″ piece of ginger
4 garlic cloves
1 tsp of freshly ground mixture with 2 cloves, 2 cardamom, 1″ piece of cinnamon
1/2 tsp of black pepper powder
1 cup of moon bean sprouts
1/4 cup of soya chunks, cooked in boiling water for 5 mins, drained, and squeezed of extra water
1/2 tsp of jeera / cumin
1 tsp of coriander powder
1/2 tsp of red chilli powder
A pinch of turmeric
1 tbsp of ghee or oil
To taste salt
How to make Soya Chunks Biryani:
1. Grind together the onion, green chillies, ginger, and garlic.
2. Heat oil or ghee and add the cumin. When it sizzles, add the onion paste and fry together until it turns a darker shade of brown.
3. Next, add the red chilli powder, turmeric, and coriander powder, fry for 5 seconds, and add the pureed tomato. Coon until the oil begins to show on the sides – about 10 mins.
4. Now add the bean srouts and the soya chunks. Mix well and heat until the mixture mingles well – about 3 mins.
5. Finally mix in the cooked rice, salt and pepper and mix well.
6. Garnish with freshly chopped coriander leaves / cilantro and serve hot with any raita of choice.
Priyanka says
May 11, 2016 at 3:26 amits yum and so healthy and temting
notyet100 says
November 10, 2011 at 3:11 pmThis looks perfect one pot meal,,,
thamarai says
November 7, 2011 at 11:22 pmHello Nags, I am soo impressed with your blog and have been following several of your recipes! many many thanks!
I am curious to know one thing though…How do you manage your time?? Seriously? May be some tips that I can follow? 🙂
Keep it up!!!
Tina says
November 5, 2011 at 12:33 amHealthy and delicious biriyani.
San says
November 4, 2011 at 9:24 pmMoongbeans biryani is really scrumptious nags. Thanks for posting a healthy recipe.
Spandana says
November 4, 2011 at 11:21 amlooks very healthy.. and delicious too!!
Padhu says
November 4, 2011 at 6:32 amUnique and healthy combo!
Nitha says
November 4, 2011 at 12:13 amDelicious biriyani.. Loved the healthy ones…
Krithi's Kitchen says
November 3, 2011 at 4:24 pmFlavorful, Colorful and healthy too..
Krithi's Kitchen
Event: Serve It – Savory Baked
Priti says
November 3, 2011 at 2:32 pmNice recipe n love the pics
Priya says
November 3, 2011 at 1:31 pmQuite a rich looking biryani..
divya says
November 3, 2011 at 1:26 pmOMG,very tempting recipe dear…Amazing clicks.Loved ur biryani n the presentation too gud…
soujanya says
November 3, 2011 at 12:01 pmVery healthy n tasty…
definitely will gve a try….
Thanks for sharing!!
jeyashrisuresh says
November 3, 2011 at 10:42 amThats indeed a healthy combo ,i have to try using soya chunks in my cooking soon.
Vegetarian Zest says
November 3, 2011 at 10:02 amThis looks yummy!
MyKitchen Flavors-BonAppetit!. says
November 3, 2011 at 8:52 amHealthy and Good Combo recipe Dear.Luv this Briyani version.Mouthwatering Click as well
Sharmilee! :) says
November 3, 2011 at 8:47 amFlavourful and intesresting combination biriyani
Kadhyaa says
November 3, 2011 at 7:16 amVery different and innovative helathy biryani..
Anusha Praveen says
November 3, 2011 at 7:12 amMissed your posts nags. Lovely idea. Sprouts in my biriyani. Intriguing.
RAKS KITCHEN says
November 3, 2011 at 7:06 amBoth make awesome and unique combo,sounds delicious!
Premalatha Aravindhan says
November 3, 2011 at 6:48 amwow healthy combo of briyani…Very interesting recipe…Outstanding Clicks…
Smitha says
November 3, 2011 at 6:21 amIn the recipe , did u miss out "adding the rice" part. Or am i missing it?
-Smitha
chinmayie @ love food eat says
November 3, 2011 at 6:18 amLove this recipe! I have to try adding sprouts to my biriyani next time 🙂 Thanks
Sanjeeta kk says
November 3, 2011 at 6:18 amAbsolutely delightful..moong bean sprouts and soya chunks in Biryani! Health bhi aur taste bhi 😉
Saee Koranne-Khandekar says
November 3, 2011 at 5:54 amWould have never thought of using moong beans in a biryani although I make soy chunk biryani and masoor biryani quite often. This looks so full of health and flavor!