Soya chunks Pulao

Soya chunks or “meal maker” is my latest fascination. I love them in all my curries, cutlets, rice and the list will go on. As soya chunks are a great source of protiens and vitamin B12, I make it a point to buy these and store, so that I can use any time I want and I mostly include this in my little one’s food. She loves them a lot.

I made this Pulao for lunch on a weekend so that I dont have to spend much time in kitchen :) and also a pulao can also make a complete meal by itself. I make this often with different combinations of veggies.

Soya is very healthy and low in fat and has a high protein content, which promotes growth.
This can be made easily without any effort. I made this in a pressure cooker as this will take less time to prepare. Only thing to note with cooking rice in a cooker is that we should know the  correct time limit and measurement for the rice to become fluffy and still not stick to each other.

Ingredients:

1. Soya chunks- 1cup
2. Onions (sliced)- 2nos
3. Ginger and garlic paste- 1tbsp
4. Carrots (sliced)- 2nos
5. Cloves- 3nos
6. Cinnamon stick- 1
7. star anise- 2nos
8. Cardamom poda- 2nos
9. Bay Leaf- 1
10. Garam Masala powder- 1tsp
11. Lemon juice- 1tbsp
12. Salt- as per taste
13. Oil- 1tbsp
14. Ghee- 1tbsp
15. Rice- 2cups
16. Water- 2 ½ cups

Method:

1. Boil water and soak the soya chunks in boilng water. After 10 minutes drain the soya chunks, give them a good rinse and squeeze out the excess water. keep this aside.
2. Wash and drain the basmathi rice and keep it aside.
3. Heat oil and ghee in a pressure cooker, add the sliced onions and whole garam masala (cloves, cinnamon, cardamom, bay leaf and star anise). Give them a nice mix till the onion turns light brown in colour.
4. Add the ginger and garlic paste and mix well till the raw smell disappears. In this add the sliced carrots (or any other vegetable you want) and mix well. Cook till the vegetable is half done.
5. Add the drained soya chunks, garam masala powder and salt. Stir till everything is well blended.
6. In the above add drained rice and mix well. After 3- 5 minutes add water and pressure cook. Keep the flame high till 1 whistle and then reduce the flame and cook for 3 minutes.
7. Switch off the flame and when it is completely cool open the lid and add lemon juice and stir well.
8. Serve this hot with raita or any curry of your choice.