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Home >> Recipes >> Rice Recipes

Soya chunks biryani

By swasthi , on May 24, 2019, 52 Comments, Jump to Recipe

Soya chunks biryani or meal maker biryani is one of the protein enriched easy biryani that one can make. It can be served without any side dish, however a simple onion raita or a mint raita also goes well with this.

soya chunks biryani recipe swasthis recipes

Soya chunks biryani can be made in a pressure cooker or in a pot, however you are comfortable. To make a pulao, just eliminate the biryani masala powder and coriander leaves from the recipe, you will be left with a great tasting pulao rice.

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This can be made quickly anytime either for lunch or dinner and also goes well in office lunch box or school box. This recipe is roughly adapted from the most flavorful veg biryani recipe on this blog.

soya chunks biryani recipe

1. Bring 3 cups of water to a boil, add soya chunks and leave them to soften. Rinse them and squeeze off the excess water. Repeat washing and squeezing.

boil chunks in a pot for soya chunks biryani recipe

2. Blend the ingredients mentioned under to grind and make a paste.

blend the ingredients for paste for soya chunks biryani recipe

3. Marinate soya chunks with the paste, lemon juice and set side for 15 to 30 minutes.

marinate chunks to make soya chunks biryani recipe step 3

4. Add oil to a pan or pressure cooker and heat it. Fry the spices for a minute.

frying dry spices in oil for soya chunks biryani recipe

5. Add marinated chunks and fry for about 2 minutes.

frying marinated nuggets in pan for soya chunks biryani recipe
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6. Add curd or coconut milk and turmeric. Stir and cook till the mixture begins to leave the sides for about 2 to 3 minutes.

addition of curd for meal maker biryani

7. Add biryani masala powder. Stir it. Pour water.

addition of spice powder masala for meal maker biryani recipe

8. Add rice and cook till all the water evaporates.

addition of rice to the pot for meal maker biryani recipe
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9. Cover it with a tight lid and cook on a low flame for about 5 to 6 minutes. For pressure cooker, switch off before the cooker whistles.

cover and cook meal maker biryani

Serve soya chunks biryani/ pulao with a onion raita or mint raita.

Serve soya chunks biryani

For more Soya recipes, you can check
Soya keema biryani
Soya chunks manchurian
Soya chunks curry
Meal maker fry

Recipe card

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Soya chunks biryani (soya chunks pulao)

Simple biryani/pulao made with soya chunks also known as meal maker, rice, spices and herbs.
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For best results follow the step-by-step photos above the recipe card

Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time45 minutes
Servings2
AuthorSwasthi

Ingredients (US cup = 240ml )

  • 1 cup basmati rice , heaped
  • ½ cup soya chunks
  • 2 tablespoon curd (yogurt or 3 tbsp. thick coconut milk)
  • oil as needed
  • salt as needed
  • ¾ to 1 teaspoon garam masala or biryani masala powder (adjust the quantity as needed)
  • ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
  • 2 cups water to cook in pot (1 ¾ cups for cooker)

Whole spices

  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 star anise
  • 2 green cardamom
  • 3 cloves
  • 2 Inch cinnamon stick
  • 1 strand mace small (optional)
  • ¼ teaspoon shahi jeera or cumin seeds
  • 4 black pepper corn (optional)

To grind and marinate with 1 tbsp. lemon juice

  • ½ cup mint leaves pudina
  • ¼ cup coriander leaves (updated)
  • 1 to 2 green chilies
  • 1 Inch ginger pieces
  • 3 garlic cloves
  • 1 onion , medium
  • salt to taste
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Instructions

  • Soak soya chunks in warm water till they soften, squeeze off the excess water,
  • Wash with cold water and squeeze to remove excess water, repeat this twice. Make sure there is no water left in the chunks.
  • Grind to a smooth paste (as smooth as possible) the ingredients listed under to grind. Add lemon juice to this.
  • Marinate the soya chunks with this paste. Set aside for at least 15 to 30 mins.
  • Soak rice for 15 mins and drain off the water and set aside.
  • Heat oil in a deep pan or pressure pan. Add whole spices and sauté till you get an aroma for about a minute.
  • Add the marinated soya chunks along with the ground paste. Fry for 2 mins on a medium flame. This gets burnt very fast so take care.
  • Add curd or coconut milk and turmeric. Mix well. Now the chunks begin to release moisture.
  • Keep stirring. Cook till the mixture begins to leave the pan. Takes around 2 to 3 mins if done on a medium flame.
  • Add biryani masala powder and 2 cups water. Bring the water to boil.
  • Add salt and rice. Taste test and adjust salt.
  • Cook on a low flame without covering till no water is left in the pan. Refer pic.
  • Close the pan with a tight lid and cook on a low flame for 3 to 5 mins. If you are using a pressure pan, close the lid and put on the weight and cook for exactly 5 to 7 mins on the lowest flame. Do not let the cooker whistle. If you do not have a tight lid, spread a moist thick kitchen cloth around the rim of the pan and close the lid. Make sure that no steam escapes.
  • Do not open the lid for at least 15 mins.
  • Serve soya chunks biryani with any raita of your choice.
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Alternative quantities provided in the recipe card are for 1x only, original recipe.

For best results follow my detailed step-by-step photo instructions and tips above the recipe card.

NUTRITION INFO (estimation only)

Nutrition Facts
Soya chunks biryani (soya chunks pulao)
Amount Per Serving
Calories 572 Calories from Fat 27
% Daily Value*
Fat 3g5%
Sodium 153mg7%
Potassium 1611mg46%
Carbohydrates 110g37%
Fiber 12g50%
Sugar 8g9%
Protein 27g54%
Vitamin A 2210IU44%
Vitamin C 179.8mg218%
Calcium 553mg55%
Iron 17.1mg95%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Tried this recipe?Mention @SwasthisRecipes or tag #swasthisrecipes!

© Swasthi’s Recipes

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About swasthi

I’m Swasthi shreekanth, the recipe developer, food photographer & food writer behind Swasthis recipes. My aim is to help you cook great Indian food with my time-tested recipes. After 2 decades of experience in practical Indian cooking I started this blog to help people cook better & more often at home. Whether you are a novice or an experienced cook I am sure Swasthi’s Recipes will assist you to enhance your cooking skills.
Read more..

Recipe Rating




Recipe Rating




52 Comments
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Amruta
March 10, 2021 2:14 am

5 stars
Hi, I. tried this recipe today. It turned our really well and my little one loved it too. Keep sharing. Thank you 😊

Reply
swasthi
Reply to  Amruta
March 10, 2021 2:20 am

Welcome Amruta
That’s awesome! Thank you!

Reply
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Leena
February 13, 2021 7:02 am

5 stars
All your recipes are super good and I as a Punjabi get that authentic taste in all your recipes.♥️. Thanks for adding taste in my kitchen and my kids now love home made more than restaurant made.

Reply
swasthi
Reply to  Leena
February 17, 2021 3:18 am

Hello Leena,
So glad to know! Thank you so much!
🙂

Reply
Helena
January 24, 2021 8:24 pm

Hi for some reason the marinade was extremely bitter especially after cooking. It was bitter even after i made it and became more bitter when cooking. I simply don’t understand why as there aren’t any bitter foods in it. Would you know why?

Reply
swasthi
Reply to  Helena
January 26, 2021 3:16 am

Hi Helena
It should be the ginger or the onion. Hope you peeled the ginger. Ginger skin can leave a bitter taste. Also try skipping the onion next time & follow the recipe. Some kind of onions when pureed impart a bitter taste. Hope this helps

Reply
Helena
Reply to  swasthi
February 4, 2021 8:55 pm

Thank you for the tips

Reply
Claire Fairweather
January 8, 2021 5:11 pm

The recipe mentions to use turmeric (step 6), but it doesn’t explain in what form ie grated, chopped etc.

Please can you help –

Many thanks!

Reply
swasthi
Reply to  Claire Fairweather
January 9, 2021 2:27 am

Hi Claire
It is ground turmeric.

Reply
Rupa
October 4, 2020 6:30 pm

5 stars
Very flavourful recipe … Swasthi… you are the best . All your recipes are so perfect ?

Reply
swasthi
Reply to  Rupa
October 6, 2020 4:59 am

Thank you so much Rupa!
🙂

Reply
Madhu
May 30, 2020 5:36 pm

5 stars
I tried the several youtube briyani receipes but this one it turned out well and happy about that.. thanks swathi.

Reply
swasthi
Reply to  Madhu
May 31, 2020 3:03 pm

Welcome Madhu
Glad to know
Thank you

Reply
Soumya
March 12, 2020 3:32 am

How much water shall I use to cook rice???…

Reply
swasthi
Reply to  Soumya
March 12, 2020 4:29 am

Hi Soumya,
Use 1 & 3/4 cups water if making in pressure cooker & 2 cups if making in pot. I will update in the post.

Reply
Soumya
Reply to  swasthi
March 12, 2020 1:02 pm

Thank you… Definitely I ll try this recipe….

Reply
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Sushmita Chintala
October 11, 2018 8:52 am

4 stars
Too good, Swasthi. Delectable! Thank you. 🙂

Reply
swasthi
Reply to  Sushmita Chintala
October 12, 2018 3:01 am

Welcome Sushmita
Thanks for trying

Reply
Meghna
August 15, 2018 6:17 am

Being a southindian, i dont like the flavour of too much mint and corriander. So wat else can be added to marinate soya???? Still the receipe looks so promising…. ?

Reply
swasthi
Reply to  Meghna
August 15, 2018 6:26 am

Hi Meghana,
Just skip marinating in the mint paste. Use 1 tbsp curd, with some turmeric, red chili powder, ginger garlic paste and garam masala. You can just slice the onions and fry with the spices until golden. Hope this helps

Reply
minu
March 3, 2018 9:02 am

5 stars
it was awesome!

Reply
swasthi
Reply to  minu
March 4, 2018 3:15 am

Thanks minu

Reply
Shwetha Vinod
September 2, 2016 3:40 pm

Hi mam….2mrw v hv potluck in our school. I wanted 2 make pulav bt nt d regular one. Found diz soya chunks pulav nd seems 2 b easy. But d ques is can I use veggies lyk beans carrot nd gobi along wid soya chunks…..kindly reply. Thank u

Reply
swasthi
Reply to  Shwetha Vinod
September 3, 2016 2:11 am

Yes shwetha
You can make it with the vegetables like peas, carrot and beans. Don’t think gobi will go well in this. Hope this help. Good luck
🙂

Reply
Rupa simon
July 19, 2016 8:20 pm

5 stars
My boy baby very like this rice

Reply
swasthi
Reply to  Rupa simon
July 20, 2016 2:05 am

Hi Rupa
So glad to know your little boy likes this.
Thank you

Reply
Ana
June 3, 2015 11:11 am

I tried this recipe. Amazing everyone njyed. Thanks for wobderful recipe

Reply
swasthi
Reply to  Ana
June 4, 2015 2:20 am

Welcome, iam glad you all enjoyed the biryani

Reply
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Chethana Ravi
April 27, 2015 6:55 am

Ur dishes looks yummy.

Reply
shalini
December 28, 2014 4:47 pm

AMAZNG TASTE “”
Today some vegetarian guest had cum to my place. I prepared this biryani & Paneer Tikka Masala for the 1st time & every 1 appreciated a lot. I never serve any of the dishes to my guest without trying it myself first, but I had a confidence in ur recipe, so I just made it.

Every1 & even I felt that Soya Chunks Biryani tasted like Mutton biryani. & Paneer Tikka Masala, exactly tasted like restaurant style.

I served Paneer Tikka Masala with multrigrain roti.

Reply
swasthi
Reply to  shalini
December 29, 2014 3:42 am

Thank you so much shalini,
you made my day. For a recipe to yield good results, one needs to be good at understanding the recipe and cooking as well. This shows you are a good cook too.
Im glad all the dishes turned out good
🙂

Reply
Ana
April 29, 2013 7:11 pm

Hi,Very Nice recipe:). can u plz let me know what is the rice:water ratio if cooking in cooker and for how many whistles. Thanks,Shama

Reply
Swasthi
Reply to  Ana
April 30, 2013 5:17 am

I generally use 1 rice : 1.5 cups of water for aged basmathi rice soaked for at least 20 mins.. foe pressure cooker method. There is also moisture from yogurt. Check my post on veg biryani using pressure cooker to get it perfectly non mushy.

Reply
varnasi79
March 12, 2013 2:09 pm

Hi Swasthi i tried dis recipe today at my mum's house. Everyone enjoyed the biryani. I cooked on stove top then transfer it to rice cooker. Perfect but I made a mistake though. I didn't soak the soya chunks in the warm water.. but still it is a hit. Thanks for sharing. Good day.

Reply
Swasthi
Reply to  varnasi79
March 12, 2013 5:27 pm

Hi! Glad to know that you all enjoyed it. Soya chunks are soaked in warm water mainly to remove the dirt and dust as they are sun dried and also to soften them and remove the smell. next time, do soak them.Good day

Reply
Amrita Vishal
February 28, 2013 9:25 pm

another lovely recipe..must try it soon

Reply
Aysha
February 27, 2013 12:41 am

Healthy and interesting recipe….

Reply
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Hari Chandana
February 26, 2013 9:22 am

Very healthy and delicious recipe.. love it 🙂

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Ruxana Gafoor
February 25, 2013 10:08 am

delicious biriyani…sure to try..<br />

Reply

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