Bendakaya-Soya Chunks Pulusu (Okra-Soya Chunks in Spicy Sauce)

I was wondering how soya chunks would taste in a tamarind sauce. After some thought, decided to combine okra & soya chunks. I was happy with the result! The soya chunks absorbed the spicy sauce - they were chewy & juicy! This sauce variety is good with rice.

Ingredients

Bhindi - 12 (wash, dry & cut into 1 1/2 " pieces)

Soya chunks - 12 (soak in warm salted water for 10 mins. wash & squeeze water)

1 big onion, thinly sliced and halved

1 big tomato, roughly chopped

2 tbsp tamarind pulp

Turmeric - 1/2 tsp
Salt to taste

Red chillie powder (Paprika) - 1 tsp
Sambar powder - 1 tsp
Fennel seed powder - 1 tsp
Green chillies - 4, slit lengthwise
Cilantro (Coriander) leaves - 2 tbsp, finely chopped

Oil - 2 tbsp

Water - 3 cups

For seasoning:

Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
Cloves (lavang) - 3, crushed
Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp

Dried red chillie - 2, tear and deseed
Garlic - 3 cloves, minced
Curry leaves - sprig

Method

1. Heat oil in a saucepan, do the seasoning - starting with mustard seeds. When they crackle, toss in cloves, cumin seeds, red chillie, garlic & curry leaves
2. Immediately add onion, saute just until tender
3. Add in tomato pieces, salt & turmeric. Mix, cover & cook until tomatoes soften
4. Add 3 cups water, tamarind pulp, green chillies. Toss in cut bhindi & soya chunks
5. Let boil until bhindi softens, stir in red chillie, sambar and fennel seed powders.
6. Boil for 10 minutes, turn the heat off & sprinkle chopped coriander leaves

Soya Chunks - Vegetable Pulav

Proteins, Vitamins, Fiber, Carbohydrates - all in one pot! How easy is that?

I was feeling a little lazy to cook during the weekend and since my toddler son prefers rice, I had decided on this simple, nutritious, one pot meal!

Ingredients

2 cups rice (Basmati)

3 1/2 cups water to cook rice

1 cup chopped french beans and carrots

1 cup soya chunks (I use Nutrela)

(Note : For measurement of rice and water, I always use the CUP that comes with electric rice cooker)

 Turmeric

Salt to taste
1/4 tsp red chillie powder (optional)
2 tsp pulav masala (homemade or store bought)
4 green chillies, slit lengthwise
2 tbsp butter
1 tbsp oil

For seasoning:

1/2 tsp cumin seeds

4 cloves (lavang) coarse powder

a small sprig of stoneflower (optional)

2 garlic cloves, minced

10 curry leaves

1 tsp poppy seeds powder

 

Method

1. Soak soya chunks for 15 minutes, in hot water with a pinch of salt. (I normally put soya chunks in a bowl of salted water, microwave on high for 2 minutes) When they are soft, squeeze the water from the soya chunks and rinse them 2-3 times in fresh water. Squeeze excess water, set them aside.
2. Start electric rice cooker on 'Cooking', add butter and oil. When hot, add the seasoning ingredients. Let fry for a minute
3. Add chopped carrots, french beans, green chillies, turmeric and salt. Saute for a couple of minutes, cover and cook for 5 minutes
4. Add washed soya chunks, red chillie powder, mix, cover cook for 5 more minutes
5. Add washed rice and pulav masala powder. Mix well, let fry for 5 minutes
6. Add water, adjust salt, cover and cook until done.