One Pot Meal:Soya Chunk Biryani

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Ingredients

1 cup Basmati rice,soak for an hour in 2 cups of water
3/4 cup mini soya chunks
1/4 cup carrots, cubed
1/4 cup green pepper,cubed
1/4 cup green peas,defrosted
1 medium onion,thinly sliced into half moons
1 tbsp ginger garlic paste
1 large tomato,chopped
1 tbsp roasted unsalted cashew pieces
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp turmeric
1/2 tsp garam masala
2 tbsp finely chopped cilantro
1 cloves
1 black pepper
1 green cardamom
1 dry bay leaf
1/4 tsp cinnamon powder
1/2 tsp cumin seeds
1/2 tsp kasoori methi
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp ghee/clarified butter
1 tbsp oil
salt

Marinate
2 tbsp curd,lightly beaten until smooth
1/2 tsp ginger garlic paste
1/2 tsp chili powder
1/4 tsp turmeric
1/8 tsp salt
1/2 tsp kasuri methi
1/2 tsp garam masala
1/2 tsp finely chopped cilantro

What you need to do
  • Soak the soya chunk in 2 cups of warm water with 1 tsp salt for 30 mins.
  • Mix all the ingredients under marinate.
  • Drain the soya chunks.Squeeze them to remove water and drop them in the marinate.Mix and let it stand for atleast 15 mins.
  • Drain the rice as well.
  • Heat a pressure cooker,add oil and ghee.When hot drop in the cumin seeds,bay leaf,cinnamon,clove,cardamom and pepper.
  • Add the onions and cook until soft.
  • Add the ginger garlic paste and cook till the raw smell goes off.
  • Drop in the tomato and cook for 2 mins until soft.
  • Next come the veggies.Cook them for 3 mins.
  • Add the soya chunks along with the marinate followed by the rice.Saute for another 2 mins.
  • Then goes the spices-chili powder,turmeric,garam masala,kasuri methi,cashews and salt.
  • Pour in 1 3/4 cup of water.Close the cooker.Cook till you hear 3 whistles.Switch off the heat and let it stand for 15 mins.
  • Open the cooker and puff the rice with a fork.Add the lemon juice and cilantro give it a gentle mix.
  • Voila! Aromatic biryani is ready.
Notes
  • Adjust the spice level as per your liking.
  • You can use sona masoori rice for this recipe with great results.
  • Kids love to have this biryani in their lunch box.
  • Add 2 tbsp of chopped fresh mint leaves to the marinate to enhance the flavor.
  • Serve with raita.

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