Soya Chunks Biryani | Soya Chunks (Meal Maker) Biryani Recipe

Soya Chunks add great texture to a dish especially for vegetarians. Since Biryani is primarily seen as a non-vegetarian's dish, I thought why not add some kick to a vegetarian biryani by tossing in some soya chunks and adding some moong sprouts to boost. What resulted is a flavourful soya chunks biryani whose recipe I am glad to share with you all. If you love biryani, check also try my popular egg biryani recipe. It's a sure-to-please, easy recipe.

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 teaspoon of freshly ground mixture with 2 cloves, 2 cardamom, 1" piece of cinnamon
½ teaspoon of black pepper powder
1 cup of moon bean sprouts
¼ cup of soya chunks, cooked in boiling water for 5 mins, drained, and squeezed of extra water
½ teaspoon of jeera / cumin
1 teaspoon of coriander powder
½ teaspoon of red chilli powder
A pinch of turmeric
1 tablespoon 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.