Soya Chunks Pulao | Meal Maker Biryani

My introduction to soya

I am proud of my growing-up experiences because I have picked up so many learnings just by observing people cook! It's not just my parents but also my neighbors, friends, and their moms who have inspired me! It was like a free unintentional teaching school all along!

Growing up, I was in awe of my neighbor's daughter who was just good at everything I loved doing. She could knit, cook, direct plays, choreograph dances, and overall a very warm and beautiful person inside and out. I have learned many things from her.

It was she who would make Nutrela Soya Chunks Pulao. Back then in India, it was marketed as a meat alternative for vegetarians and very soon became popular in Indian households. We would devour it every time she made it. She even taught my mom this rice recipe. I still follow her recipe whenever I make this pulao and thank her every time!

What are they

Soya chunks is a processed soy product. They look like meat but are 100% vegetarian. You can use soya to achieve that “meaty” texture you’ve been craving and to help keep you on your plant-based diet. It’s perfectly fine to consume soy recipes in moderation.

It is a by-product of extracting soybean oil. Once the oil has been extracted, the remaining defatted soy flour is cooked under pressure, extruded into various shapes and sizes (you may see it as crumbles, flakes, chunks, or strips) then dehydrated. It has a protein content that is equal to that of meat. It is quick and also easy to cook. 

When cooked, it resembles a meat-like texture and they are soft, juicy, and chewy. Since they don't have any flavor of their own, they absorb other flavors easily. Soya nuggets have protein that is almost equal to meat with no fat as in meat.

One ingredient - many names

I was only aware that these are called soya nuggets or soya chunks but now I have realized that it is known by some more names - soy curls, textured soy protein, TVP mince, soy meat, or Meal maker. TVP means textured vegetable protein.

There are many recipes that you can cook with TVP but my favorite is Soya Chunks Pulao. It is one of the easiest Indian biryani/pulao recipes that you can make using this versatile vegan meat alternative - meal maker!

Great plant-based meat alternatives

Yes, soya chunks are both vegan, gluten-free, and great meat alternatives. Soy chunks are known for their various health benefits like their high protein content that exceeds eggs, meat, and milk! Soya nuggets are also a good source of vitamins especially vitamin D. No wonder TVP recipes are very popular among vegans and vegetarians! 

Why make this

• A vegan, gluten-free, nut-free biryani recipe
• Made with soya
• Quick, easy, and simple to make
• Made under 40 minutes
• Uses basic pantry staples
• Perfect for a large gathering

Soya Chunks - I prefer the Nutrela Soya chunks that are available at all leading grocery stores. You can also get the mini chunks or Butler Soy Curls. You can make a variety of recipes using soya nuggets. I have shared a vegan curry recipe in my cookbook.

Rice - Whenever I am making pulao, biryani, or fried rice, I prefer using Basmati rice because it is light, has a fluffy consistency, and the grains remain separate rather than clumped together.

Soaking them 30 minutes prior to cooking helps remove any starches from the surface of the grains which tend to make the cooked rice stickier. Also, Basmati is gluten-free and low in fat. 

Veggies - I have used onions, tomatoes, and bell peppers. I also like to add spinach and green peas to this vegan biryani sometimes. You can add or omit any veggies you want.

Spices - Cumin seeds, garlic, ginger, Jalapeno, or green chilies are some common aromatics that help bring out the flavors of this rice dish.

Whole spices - Bay leaf, cloves, and cinnamon are what you need. Spices in any form add rich flavor to the dish without adding any calories, fat, sugar, or salt.

Ground spices - Biryani masala, garam masala, and ground turmeric. You can skip Biryani masala if it's unavailable to you. 

Cilantro is added as a garnish for the aromatic finish to this meal maker biryani. You can also add lemon juice on top.

1. Soak rice for 30 minutes before cooking it. There are two ways to do that. You can either cook the rice along with the veggies in the Instant Pot/Pressure Cooker or on the stovetop. The other alternative is to cook the rice separately in a rice cooker or any other way you cook your rice. Chef Tip - If doing this, add bay leaf, cinnamon stick, and cloves along with it because it allows the full depth of their flavor to permeate the dish. You can discard the spices once the rice is cooked.
2. Add water to a pan and bring to a boil. Add salt and turmeric powder followed by soya chunks. Using a ladle, press down the chunks so that they absorb all the water. Let it cook in hot water for 10-12 minutes on medium flame.
3. Once they have turned soft and doubled in size, drain the water and allow it to cool down. take some in your palm and squeeze out the excess water as shown in the pic. Soya chunks are now ready to use.
4. In the same pan, add oil and once it's hot, add cumin seeds. Let it fry for 5 seconds and then add minced garlic, ginger paste, minced jalapeno, and sliced onions.  Saute till the onions turn translucent.

5. Then add chopped tomatoes along with little salt. Saute till they have turned soft and are cooked. Adding salt speeds up the cooking process.
6. Add sliced bell peppers, turmeric, garam masala, and biryani masala. Mix it and saute for 2 more minutes. If adding spinach, add it at this point.
7. Add the squeezed soya chunks to the pan, mix, and cook it with all the masala for about 4-5 minutes.
8. Lastly, add the cooked rice and mix it all well together. Drizzle some lemon juice (optional) and garnish with chopped cilantro. You can also garnish it with fried onions. Chef Tip - Turn off the flame and cover the pan with a lid. Let it cook in the steam for 2 more minutes.

Serving suggestions 🍽

Soya Chunks Pulao is ready! Serve this rice pot pulao with some raita on the side or even Mirchi Ka Salan. You can also serve Cucumber Buttermilk with it. You can serve this meatless meal as the main course for lunch, dinner, parties, potlucks, brunches, etc. It is so good that you can also include it in your holiday (Diwali, Thanksgiving, Christmas) menu.

This Nutrela soya chunks pulao also makes a perfect lunch box recipe and is very good for growing children as it is rich in protein. Vegan rice recipes like these are loaded with flavors and spices making this meal maker biryani very appetizing and satiating. It is also one of the easiest TVP recipes that you can make!

Top recipe tips 💭

If you are cooking rice along with all the veggies and not separately, then add the whole spices like cloves, cinnamon, and bay leaf along with cumin seeds. If you are not following a vegan diet, cook this recipe in ghee. This is a pulao recipe, but I like to add little Biryani masala for more flavor. You can skip it if you want. 

Feel free to add more veggies like carrots, green peas, beans, mushrooms, etc, or skip some if you don't have any. But do add onions and tomatoes. You can either use jalapenos or Indian green chilies. You can also add some mint leaves as a garnish for that extra zingy flavor. You can follow this TVP recipe and make Paneer Pulao.

Recipe FAQs 📖

Did you try this recipe? Please let me know how it turned out by leaving a comment below or sharing a picture on Instagram @cookilicious with the hashtag #cookiliciousveg. I love hearing your feedback! 

Like this recipe? Please show your love by leaving a 5-star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟rating below!

You can also follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest to see more delicious vegetarian and vegan recipes and what I’m getting up to.