Soya Chunks Biryani (Meal maker biryani) recipe is a perfect one-pot dish that is healthy, flavorful, and high in protein and can be prepared in an Instant Pot pressure cooker or stovetop in just under 30 minutes. This Soya Biryani is also a good lunchbox option for kids and adults.
Love Biryani but tired of the usual vegetable biryani, paneer biryani, or chana biryani? Try this easy and flavorful soya chunks biryani made in the pressure cooker! Soy chunks do not have a flavor of their own. However, it tends to absorb the flavors well. You can also add your favorite vegetables for extra taste and nutrition.
With its amazing health benefits, I make sure to include it in our diet often. You can prepare many dishes using soya chunks, like pulao, curry, fried rice, kurma, nuggets, etc.
Jump to:
- What are Soya Chunks?
- What are Soya Chunks made up of?
- Ingredients
- How to Make Soya Chunks Biryani/Meal Maker Biryani
- Stovetop Pressure Cooker Method
- Serving Suggestions
- Storage Suggestions
- Tips to Make the Best Soya Biryani Recipe
- Variations
- Frequently Asked Questions
- More Vegetarian Biryani Recipes
- Soya Chunks Biryani - (Instant Pot & Stovetop)
What are Soya Chunks?
Soya chunks are also known as Meal makers, Soya Nuggets, Nutrela Nuggets, Soya Granules, or textured vegetable protein. They are an excellent source of plant-based protein. They are said to lower cholesterol levels, prevent heart diseases, reduce the risk of osteoporosis, control hypertension, blood pressure, etc. They look like meat but are 100% vegetarian.
What are Soya Chunks made up of?
According to Wikipedia, Soya chunks are made from defatted soy flour, a by-product of extracting soybean oil. It has a protein content that is equal to that of meat. It is quick and also easy to cook.
Ingredients
You will need the following main ingredients to make this soya chunks biryani recipe.
- Soya Chunks (meal maker): I used Nutrela brand Soya chunks, it is readily available in any Indian grocery store or on Amazon.
- Rice: Traditionally, extra-long grain Basmati Rice is used for making soya biryani, and I have used white basmati rice for this recipe.
- Onion & Tomato: I have sliced the onions lengthwise and diced the aroma tomatoes for this recipe.
- Ginger and garlic: I used homemade ginger paste and garlic paste. You can also add minced ginger garlic.
- Yogurt: I used homemade yogurt. You can use non-dairy yogurt if you are a vegan or add the extra lime juice at the end for the tartness.
- Whole & Ground Spices: I used cumin seeds, bay leaf, cardamom, cinnamon, and cloves, for whole spices and turmeric powder, red chili powder, and biryani masala powder for ground spices.
- Spices & Herbs: Mint leaves and coriander leaves are added for additional taste in the biryani, so do not skip them.
How to Make Soya Chunks Biryani/Meal Maker Biryani
Soaking the Soya Chunks
Soak 1 cup of soya chunks in 2 cups of hot water for at least 15 minutes until soft.
Marinate the Soya Chunks
Squeeze out all the water from the soya chunks and transfer them to a bowl. Add ½ cup thick yogurt (or hung curd) and spices like ½ teaspoon turmeric, ½ teaspoon red chili powder, and salt.
Mix everything well until they are well coated. Cover and allow it to marinate for at least 30 minutes.
To Cook Biryani in Instant Pot
Press SAUTE on Instant Pot. Heat 2 tablespoons of oil (or ghee), then add whole spices like 1 teaspoon cumin seeds, 1 inch cinnamon, 3 cloves, 2 cardamom, and 1 bay leaf. Saute for a few seconds until fragrant.
Add 1 large onion (thinly sliced), and saute for 2-3 minutes until they turn soft and light brown - stir regularly.
Then add 1 tablespoon ginger garlic paste, 2 green chilies and saute for another few minutes till the raw smell of the ginger garlic goes away.
Add 1 medium finely chopped tomato, along with spices like ½ teaspoon turmeric, ½ teaspoon red chili powder, 2 teaspoons biryani masala powder, salt, and cook until tomatoes are soft and mushy.
Add the marinated soya chunks and cook for 1-2 minutes. Keep stirring. Otherwise, the masala paste may get burnt.
Next, add ¼ cup coriander and ¼ cup mint leaves and mix well.
Add 1 cup of rinsed basmati rice, 1.5 cups of water, and give a stir.
Select "MANUAL/PRESSURE COOK" (High Pressure) and adjust the time to 5 minutes.
After the pot beeps, Natural Pressure Release for 5 minutes, and then quick release the remaining pressure.
Add 1 tablespoon of ghee (if preferred) and garnish with 2 tablespoons coriander leaves. Fluff up the rice using a fork.
Instant pot pressure cooker soya chunks biryani is ready. Garnish with fried onions, and cashews, to make it rich. Serve with raita or plain yogurt.
Stovetop Pressure Cooker Method
Follow the same steps as Instant Pot in a stovetop pressure cooker and close the lid. Cook for 2 whistles on medium flame. All other steps remain the same.
Serving Suggestions
Serve Soya Biryani with a side of yogurt, cucumber raita, and laccha pyaaz (Indian onion salad) for a complete meal. Pair it with a refreshing drink like mango lassi or nimbu pani.
Storage Suggestions
- Storage: Leftover soya biryani will last in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 days when stored in an airtight container.
- Freezer: You can freeze in a freezer-safe container or ziplock for up to 2 months in the freezer. Make sure to cool down the soya biryani to room temperature before storing it in the freezer.
- Reheat: Add a few tablespoons of water and reheat in a microwave or stovetop until warm through.
Tips to Make the Best Soya Biryani Recipe
- Soaking Soya Chunks: Soak the soya chunks in hot water for at least 15 minutes to soften them.
- Microwave: You can soak soya chunks in hot water for a few minutes, but if you're short on time, simply mix soya chunks and water in a bowl and microwave for 2-3 minutes. This quick method helps soften them faster.
- Marinating the Soya Chunks: Marinating the soya is an optional step, but I highly recommend it because it enhances the biryani's flavors.
Variations
- Rice: Use top-quality long-grain basmati rice to make fluffy and fragrant authentic soya chunks biryani recipe. However, you can also use short-grain rice like seeraga samba rice or sona masoori rice if that's what you have in hand.
- Veggies: You can use vegetables of your choice, like carrots, green beans, potatoes, peas, and capsicum, along with soya chunks.
- Protein: You can replace soya chunks with sauteed paneer or tofu for a protein-rich variation.
- Biryani masala powder: Use Shan Biryani Masala to get a restaurant-style soya biryani flavor. I highly recommend this brand. If you don't get biryani powder, replace it with the same quality of garam masala powder.
- Coconut Milk: You can also use thin coconut milk instead of water to make the biryani rich and flavorful.
- Vegan: Use plant-based yogurts like almond milk yogurt, or coconut yogurt, and substitute ghee with oil.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, soya chunks are both vegan and gluten-free.
To make this soya/meal maker biryani Vegan, substitute yogurt (curd) with plant-based yogurt or skip it. Also, use cooking oil instead of ghee.
Classic biryani is made using basmati rice. This rice is thinner and longer than traditional rice. I prefer Daawat Traditional Basmati Rice or Tilda Legendary Rice Pure Original Basmati brands.
Yes, you can add vegetables like carrots, green beans, potatoes, mushrooms and bell peppers along with soya chunks while marinating.
Yes, if you can't find biryani masala, substitute it with garam masala.
More Vegetarian Biryani Recipes
Soya Chunks Biryani - (Instant Pot & Stovetop)
Ingredients
To Soak Soya Chunks
- 1 cup soya chunks (or meal maker) (I used nutrela brand, available in indian grocery store)
- 2-2.5 cups hot water for soaking
To Marinate
- ½ cup yogurt (curd)
- ½ teaspoon turmeric powder
- ½ teaspoon red chili powder
- salt to taste
Whole Spices
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1 inch cinnamon
- 3 cloves
- 2 cardamom
- 1 bay leaf
Other Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons oil (or ghee)
- 1 large onion thinly sliced, (about 1 cup)
- 1 tablespoon ginger garlic paste
- 2 green chilies slit lengthwise
- 1 medium tomato finely chopped
- ½ teaspoon turmeric
- ½ teaspoon red chili powder
- 2 teaspoons biryani masala powder
- salt to taste
- ¼ cup coriander leaves roughly chopped
- ¼ cup mint leaves roughly chopped
- 1 cup basmati rice
- 1.5 cups water
- 1 tablespoon ghee optional
- few coriander leaves for garnish
Instructions
Soaking the Soya Chunks
- Soak 1 cup of soya chunks in 2 cups of hot water for at least 15 mins until they soften.
Marinate the Soya Chunks
- Squeeze out all the water from the soya chunks and transfer it to a bowl. Add thick yogurt (curd) and spices like turmeric, red chili powder, and salt. Mix everything well until they are well coated. Cover and allow it to marinate for at least 30 minutes.
To Cook Biryani in Instant Pot
- Press SAUTE on Instant Pot. Heat oil (or ghee), then add all the whole spices, and saute for a few seconds until fragrant.
- Add sliced onions, and saute for 2-3 minutes until they turn soft and light brown - stir regularly.
- Then add ginger garlic paste, green chilies and saute for another few minutes till the raw smell of the ginger garlic goes away.
- Add finely chopped tomatoes along with spices like turmeric, red chili powder, biryani masala, salt, and cook until tomatoes are soft and mushy.
- Add the marinated soya chunks and cook for 1-2 minutes. Keep stirring. Else masala paste may get burnt.
- Next, add coriander and mint leaves and mix well.
- Add rinsed basmati rice, water, and give a stir.
- Select "MANUAL/PRESSURE COOK" (High Pressure) and adjust the time to 5 minutes.After the pot beeps, Natural Pressure Release for 5 minutes, and then quick release the remaining pressure.
- Add 1 tablespoon of ghee (if preferred) and garnish with coriander leaves. Fluff up the rice using a fork.
- Pressure cooker Soya Biryani/Meal Maker recipe is ready. Serve with Raita or plain yogurt.
Stovetop Pressure Cooker Method
- Follow the same steps as Instant Pot in a stovetop pressure cooker and close the lid. Cook for 2 whistles on medium flame. All other steps remain the same.
Notes
Tips to Make the Best Soya Biryani Recipe
- Soaking Soya Chunks: Soak the soya chunks in hot water for at least 15 minutes to soften them.
- Microwave: You can soak soya chunks in hot water for a few minutes, but if you're short on time, simply mix soya chunks and water in a bowl and microwave for 2-3 minutes. This quick method helps soften them faster.
- Marinating the Soya Chunks: Marinating the soya is an optional step, but I highly recommend it because it enhances the biryani's flavors.
Variations
- Rice: Use top-quality long-grain basmati rice to make fluffy and fragrant authentic soya chunks biryani recipe. However, you can also use short-grain rice like seeraga samba rice or sona masoori rice if that's what you have in hand.
- Veggies: You can use vegetables of your choice, like carrots, green beans, potatoes, peas, and capsicum, along with soya chunks.
- Protein: You can replace soya chunks with sauteed paneer or tofu for a protein-rich variation.
- Biryani masala powder: Use Shan Biryani Masala to get restaurant-style soy biryani flavor. I highly recommend this brand. You can easily find biryani masala in any Indian grocery store or on amazon. If you don't get biryani powder, replace it with the same quality of garam masala powder.
- Coconut Milk: You can also use thin coconut milk instead of water to make the biryani rich and flavorful.
- Vegan: Use plant-based yogurts like almond milk yogurt, or coconut yogurt, and substitute ghee with oil.
Nutrition
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Hema
You motivate me to cook Bhavana! Thank you so much for all the recipes! My daughter loves them! ❤️
Anuja
Perfect flavor!! As a total beginner with a history of terrible outcomes, this was amazing! Will be a staple for me from now on
Bhavana Patil
Wow Anuja, I am so glad to know the dish turned out well..:). Do try other recipes from my blog and let me know how they turned out.
Karen M
I just made this on the stove and it was delicious! Thankyou
Bhavana Patil
Thank You so much Karen for sharing your feedback. Glad you liked it.
Poonam
Can we double this recipe without altering the time in instant pot ?
bhavana
Hi Poonam,yes we can double recipe with same time mentioned in the blog.
let me know if you have more questions.