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.
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.
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.
Add sliced onions, ginger-garlic paste. Saute for 2-3 minutes until they turn soft and light brown - stir regularly.
Then add mint leaves, tomatoes, cook until tomatoes are soft.
Add yogurt/curd, turmeric powder, biryani powder, garam masala, and give a quick stir.
Add soaked soya chunks (squeeze excess water) and cook for 1-2 minutes. Keep stirring. Else masala paste may get burnt.
Add rinsed basmati rice, water, salt, and give a stir.
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.
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.
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
Yes, soya chunks are both vegan and gluten-free
Instant Pot Soya Chunks Biryani
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.
- 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.
- Add sliced onions, ginger-garlic paste. Saute for 2-3 minutes until they turn soft and light brown - stir regularly.
- Then add mint leaves, tomatoes, cook until tomatoes are soft.
- Add yogurt/curd, turmeric powder, biryani powder, garam masala, and give a quick stir.
- Add soaked soya chunks(squeeze excess water) and cook for 1-2 minutes. Keep stirring. Else masala paste may get burnt.
- Add rinsed basmati rice, water, salt, and give a stir.
- 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.
- Soya Biryani is ready. Serve with raita or plain yogurt.
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
- Vegans can skip ghee and use any kind of vegetable oil.
- Vegans can skip yogurt and add the 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 have 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.
Nutrition
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Poonam says
Can we double this recipe without altering the time in instant pot ?
bhavana says
Hi Poonam,yes we can double recipe with same time mentioned in the blog.
let me know if you have more questions.
Karen M says
I just made this on the stove and it was delicious! Thankyou
Bhavana Patil says
Thank You so much Karen for sharing your feedback. Glad you liked it.