Soya Chunks Pulao

I haven't posted a vegetarian rice dish, a one-pot meal in a long time. Pulao on a weekday made easily in a pressure cooker with handful of spices is perfect for your tiffin, lunch Dabba and as a complete meal with raita.

Soya Chunks or meal maker is protein enriched ingredient and goes really well as a meat replacement in most cases. This versatile ingredient can be used to make starters, gravies and curries.

You can make this dish either with a pressure cooker or a deep vessel which you normally use to cook rice. Remember not to add too much water or stir constantly while making this dish, this prevents the rice grains from breaking or turning mushy.

This is not a spicy pulao and the soya chunks can be easily replaced with other veggies, mushrooms, baby corn etc.

INGREDIENTS:

1 Large Onion - Chopped

2 Medium Tomato - Chopped

1/2 Cup -Peas

6-8 - French beans

1 Carrot - Chopped

1 - Star Anise

1 - Black Cardamom

4 - Cloves

2 - Bay leaves

1/2 tsp - Turmeric Powder

1 tbsp - Coriander powder

2 tbsp - Ghee

3 tbsp - Oil

1/2 tsp - Biryani Masala

1/2 tsp - Kasuri Methi

2 Cups - Jeera Rice (soaked)

1 cup - Soya chunks (pre-cooked in hot water)

Salt to taste

For masala - to be ground into a fine paste by using little water

Part 1: 4 Green Chillies

1/2 cup - Fresh Mint leaves

1/2 cup - Coriander leaves

Part 2: I inch - Ginger

6 pods - Garlic

3 - Green Cardamom

1 inch - Cinnamon

4 - Cloves

PROCEDURE :

1. Heat oil and ghee together, add in the whole spices - Star Anise, Cardamom, Cloves and Bay leaves.

2. Fry onions with Masala 2 until the raw smell disappears, this should take about 4 mins on medium flame.

3. Next add the tomatoes, turmeric and coriander powder, salt to taste. Cook until the tomato turns soft.

4. Add in chopped veggies, pre-cooked soya chunks and Masala 1. Stir well and cook for 4-5 mins on medium flame.

5. Add insufficient water to cook rice, check for spice: salt levels and adjust as per preference. If you are using 2 cups of rice, then you will need 3.5 cups water.

6. Once the mixture comes to a rolling boil, add in soaked rice, biryani masala and Kasuri methi. Put on the pressure cooker lid and cook on low flame for 2-3 whistles.

7. If you're cooking this in a vessel, cook with intermittent stirring with a closed lid on for 15- 20mins on low flame.

Serve hot with Raita.