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Home » Recipes » Biryani

Instant Pot Soya Chunks Biryani

Published: Aug 25, 2017 · Modified: May 20, 2022 by Bhavana Patil ·This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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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 just under 30 minutes. This Soya Biryani is also a good lunchbox option for kids and adults.

instant pot soya chunks biryani served in a white bowl with raita on side
Soya Chunks Biryani

I have made this easy biryani just with soya chunks, but you can add other vegetables with the biryani. Considering the health benefits it offers, I try to include it in our diet often. You can prepare many dishes using soya chunks like curry, fried rice, kurma, nuggets, etc.

Soya Chunks does not have a flavor of its own. However, it tends to absorb the flavors well. Today I am sharing with you an easy method to prepare Soya Chunks/Meal maker biryani using the Instant pot pressure cooker.

What is Soya Chunks?

Soya chunks are also known as meal makers or textured vegetable protein. They are said to lower cholesterol levels, prevent heart diseases, reduce the risk of osteoporosis, controls hypertension, blood pressure, etc. They look like meat but are 100% vegetarian.

What Soya Chunks is 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.

How to Make Instant Pot Soya Chunks Biryani

Take some Hot Water in a bowl and add salt. Next, take 1 cup of Soya Chunks and shake them in hot water for 15 minutes until they soften and keep aside.

step to soak soya chunks in water collage

Press SAUTE on Instant Pot. Add oil or ghee, and once it's hot, add all the whole spices, green chili. Saute for 30 secs.

steps to saute spices and green chilli collage

Add sliced onions, ginger-garlic paste. Saute for 2-3 minutes until they turn soft and light brown - stir regularly.

step to saute onions till light brown collage

Then add mint leaves, tomatoes, cook until tomatoes are soft.

step to cook tomato collage

Add yogurt/curd, turmeric powder, biryani powder, garam masala, and give a quick stir.

step to add curd and spices collage

Add soaked soya chunks (squeeze excess water) and cook for 1-2 minutes. Keep stirring. Else masala paste may get burnt.

step to add soaked soya nuggets collage

Add rinsed basmati rice, water, salt, and give a stir.

step to add rice water and pressure cook collage

Close the Instant Pot with pressure valve to Sealing. Cook on High Pressure for 6 minutes.

After pot beeps, wait for NATURAL PRESSURE RELEASE (NPR). Then, remove the lid away from you, garnish with coriander leaves.

step to garnish cilantro collage

Pressure cooker Soya Biryani/Meal Maker recipe is ready. Serve with Raita or plain yogurt.

soya chunks biryani served in a bowl garnished with cilantro with raita and lemon wedge on the side

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.

Tips & Variations

  • Vegans can skip ghee and use any kind of vegetable oil.
  • Vegans can skip yogurt and add juice of half lemon or use plant based yogurt.
  • You can use any vegetables of your choice like green peas, carrot, green beans along with soya chunks.
  • Increase or decrease spices accordingly.
  • You can also do a Quick Release (QR) once the Pot beeps if you less time.
  • You can also mix together soya nuggets, water, and salt in a bowl and cook in the microwave for 2-3 minutes to save more time.

FAQs

Is Soya Chunks Vegan & Gluten-Free?

Yes, soya chunks are both vegan and gluten-free

More Instant Pot Rice Recipes

  • Paneer Biryani
  • Spinach Rice
  • Chole/Chikpeas Biryani
  • Beetroot Rice
  • Coconut Milk Pulao
Tried this recipe?Don’t forget to give a ★ rating below
Soya Chunks Biryani served in a bowl garnished with cilantro and raita on the side

Instant Pot Soya Chunks Biryani

Bhavana Patil
Instant Pot Soya Chunks Biryani is a perfect one pot dish which is healthy, flavorful and high in protein and can be prepared under 30 minutes.
4.58 from 7 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Servings: 2
Calories : 395
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Indian, South Indian
Diet: Gluten-Free, Vegetarian
Method: Instant Pot/Pressure Cooker
Prep Time : 10 minutes
Cook Time : 10 minutes
Total Time : 20 minutes

Equipment

  • Instant Pot/Pressure Cooker
  • Stovetop Pressure Cooker

Ingredients
  

Measuring cup used [1 cup = 250 ml]

  • 2 tablespoon cooking oil or ghee
  • 2 green chilies slit lengthwise
  • 1 tablespoon ginger-garlic minced
  • 1 medium onion thinly sliced
  • ¼ cup mint leaves (15-20 leaves)
  • 1 large tomato finely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons yogurt (curd) or non dairy yogurt
  • 1 teaspoon biryani masala powder
  • 1 teaspoon garam masala powder
  • ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
  • 1 cup soya chunks/granules i used nutrela brand,available in indian grocery store
  • 1 cup basmati rice (long grain rice)
  • 1.5 cups water
  • salt to taste
  • 2 tablespoons cilantro (coriander leaves)

Whole Spices

  • 1 inch cinnamon stick
  • 2 cardamom
  • 3 cloves
  • 1 bay leaves
  • 1 teaspoon cumin(jeera seeds)

Instructions
 

Instant Pot Method

  • Take some hot water in a bowl and add salt. Next, take 1 cup of soya chunks and shake them in hot water for 15 minutes until they soften and keep aside.
    step to soak soya chunks in water collage
  • Press SAUTE on Instant Pot. Add oil or ghee, and once it's hot, add all the whole spices, green chili. Saute for 30 secs.
    steps to saute spices and green chilli collage
  • Add sliced onions, ginger-garlic paste. Saute for 2-3 minutes until they turn soft and light brown - stir regularly.
    step to saute onions till light brown collage
  • Then add mint leaves, tomatoes, cook until tomatoes are soft.
    step to cook tomato collage
  • Add yogurt/curd, turmeric powder, biryani powder, garam masala, and give a quick stir.
    step to add curd and spices collage
  • Add soaked soya chunks(squeeze excess water) and cook for 1-2 minutes. Keep stirring. Else masala paste may get burnt.
    step to add soaked soya nuggets collage
  • Add rinsed basmati rice, water, salt, and give a stir.
    step to add rice water and pressure cook collage
  • Close the Instant Pot with pressure valve to Sealing. Cook on High Pressure for 6 minutes.
  • After Pot beeps, wait for NATURAL PRESSURE RELEASE (NPR). Then, remove the lid away from you, garnish with coriander leaves.
    step to garnish cilantro collage
  • Soya Biryani is ready. Serve with raita or plain yogurt.
    Soya Chunks Biryani served in a bowl garnished with cilantro and raita on the side

Indian 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

I have prepared this dish in my electric pressure cooker, Instant Pot DUO60 6 QT
  1. Vegans can skip ghee and use any kind of vegetable oil.
  2. Vegans can skip yogurt and add the juice of half lemon or use plant-based yogurt.
  3. You can use any vegetables of your choice like green peas, carrot, green beans along with soya chunks.
  4. Increase or decrease spices accordingly.
  5. You can also do a Quick Release (QR) once the Pot beeps if you have less time.
  6. You can also Mix together soya nuggets, water, and salt in a bowl and cook in the microwave for 2-3 minutes to save more time.
 
Note: Nutrition values are my best estimates. If you rely on them for your diet, use your preferred nutrition calculator.

Nutrition

Calories: 395kcalCarbohydrates: 37gProtein: 27gFat: 17gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 273mgPotassium: 609mgFiber: 7gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 750IUVitamin C: 9.9mgCalcium: 130mgIron: 6.8mg
Keyword biryani recipes, healthy, instant pot, instant pot soya chunks biryani, protein-rich, soya chunk biryani
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Poonam says

    March 29, 2018 at 10:54 am

    Can we double this recipe without altering the time in instant pot ?

    Reply
    • bhavana says

      April 03, 2018 at 11:39 am

      Hi Poonam,yes we can double recipe with same time mentioned in the blog.
      let me know if you have more questions.

      Reply
  2. Karen M says

    September 06, 2021 at 12:12 pm

    I just made this on the stove and it was delicious! Thankyou

    Reply
    • Bhavana Patil says

      September 06, 2021 at 7:50 pm

      Thank You so much Karen for sharing your feedback. Glad you liked it.

      Reply

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